Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale - Boulevard Brewing Co.

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Their flagship beer!

Pours out a pretty hazy, bright, golden orange with a huge, 3 finger white head.

The aroma is filled with tropical fruit notes, some sweet bready malt, banana, clove, some slight spiciness, very subtle funky notes and of course the traditional Belgian yeast.

The taste is also filled with sweeter tropical fruit notes like mango, pineapple, some grapefruit, orange peel, lemon zest, a slight white pepper type of spice, banana, clove, subtle earthy/grassy notes and some funk, but not too much.

The body is light and mouthfeel is crisp and bubbly with tons of carbonation. The 8% is completely hidden; can't smell, taste or even feel the alcohol.

This is such a tasty and refreshing Saison all the while incorporating some juicy tropical fruit notes. It's a little light on the traditional funk and Belgian characteristics, but very good and slightly bitter for the style too.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:55:00 | More by JohnnyMc

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours hazy pale golden with a tall and very light crystal white head. After some time the head settles and leaves decent lacings.

S: Funk and Belgian yeast up front. Lots of fruit, and quite some spice. Malty. Dry grass , stable and leather. Some faint smoked ham in the back.

T: Follows the smell, but is a tad better in every aspect. The spice is stronger as is the citric fruits.

M: Funky aftertaste that lingers. Body is medium and a bit harsh, while carbonation is rich but very smooth.

O: A very nice American take on a complex Belgian style.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 19:43:41 | More by Sunnanek

dertyd

California

5/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle to a challice

A: wow the most beautifull beer I have yet to see poures a fogy golden orange color with a head that's like 4 fingers and so fluffy like clouds on top of this beautifull saison

S:sweet fruits with a little bittering hops,and some malt smells also verry balanced smell

T: first sip is sweet then you get that funky yeast flavor then here comes the spice and it all blends togeather with the perfect amount of carbonation what a great tasteing beer its like the flavors keep coming with every sip

M: crisp,mouth watering goodness

Overall: this may be one of the greatest beers I have ever tasted I recently fell in love with saisons and this is by far the best one I have tasted yet such a wonderfully ballanced beer

Live life drink beer!!!:-)

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 20:47:02 | More by dertyd

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

There are beers that produce heads of whipped egg whites, and this is one of them. It's just gorgeous to look at, with those stiff peaks of froth.

And the smell! Clove and spice, LOTS of pear, and subtle tropical fruits. I could bury my nose in the glass. And I would, except for that massive head.

The intensity of flavor is unexpected. The aromas are complex, but they suggest subtlety. This beer is not subtle. The smell does not prepare you for the intensity of juicy goodness. Want an over-the-top farmhouse ale? Mekka lekka hi mekka hiney ho! Your wish is granted.

My only complaint is that it drinks a little flat from the bottle. On tap, where the carbonation can be manipulated, it can be an almost perfect beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 04:08:28 | More by DaveAnderson

Bosoxfan20

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. Golden and cloudy. Big head of 2 fingers. Not real thick though. Super carbonated . Bar tender had to open 2 bottles because they both were like bottle bombs.

S- Metallic notes seem to be dominating the nose. Some citrus and fruity smell finds a way to break through. Not a huge aroma, but enough to let you know what you are getting yourself into.

T- Metallic flavors that i smelled lead the way. Yeasty and earthy. Citrus hops come through. Touch of sweetness after the metallic flavor subsides. Not overly bitter with a moderately dry finish. Very solid flavor for a farmhouse ale. Exactly what you expect.

M- Drinkable and refreshing. Would be great on a hot day. Highly carbonated. Mid bodied.

O- Fits the profile of a saison perfectly. Not the style of beer that I prefer, but i had to give it a shot. Would think it to be very pleasing for a more farmhouse person.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:47:27 | More by Bosoxfan20

Bung

North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz. Into the Boulevard narrow snifter. Gold pour, lots of carb throughout. Billowing white head fill the rest of the glass. Two fingers retained damn near the whole glass.

Aroma, quite citrusy. Pineapple, lighter clove, Italian spice.

Taste, sweeter pineapple and stone fruit upfront. Pear. Lemon zest. Some earthy spice, pepper. Slight herbal bite in the finish.

Just a little stickier than I would like, and maybe a tad sweet. Otherwise this is lively and quite drinkable. Pretty refreshing. Well worth trying.
Got the 4 pack with glass for half off, definetely worth that.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:56:29 | More by Bung

MighHighBrewer

Colorado

4.06/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle with "Best Buy Date" of September 2013 tasted on March 10th, 2013. Tasted from tulip glass. Note that they sell this beer both as a 750ml and as a four-pack of 12 oz bottles (at least at my liquor store).

A: Hazy and straw-colored. I dont see much (if any) of an orangish hue as you get with some Saisons. It's also more transparent than I expect. It's definitley not clear, but it's not as hazy as other Saisons. Head is solid: creamy with small bubbles. Overall, appearance is average. I love the characteristic orangish hue of Belgian Saisons coupled with the haze that's indicative of good yeast suspension. This beer has neither of those characteristics to my eye.

S: Initial smell is fruity - tropical fruits to be exact. I get some pineapple, mango...a little apple. Definitely an estery brew. I don't get much (if any) black pepper. Subsequent smells reveal a little more of the beer's yeasty character, although it's not as funky as some Saisons can be.

T: Initial taste: biscuity/bready, spicy, and sour. The beer is much more buscuity than it looks. It provides solid base for the sour apple and pineapple notes that dominate its sour characteristics. It's also pretty spicy. Get lots of black pepper. Subsequent tastes reveal more of a sweeness/honey taste. Very dry beer, as you would expect. Aftertaste is a little more alcoholic than I would like.

M: Very effervesent beer. Light/medium body, but very dry as indicated earlier.

O: Overall, I'm impressed. I think its appearance is this beer's weakest point while it's taste is its strongest. Things I liked: its tropical fruit aroma, its biscuit::sour ratio, and it's spicy notes. Things I didn't like: it's somewhat simple appearance (for a Saison). Also, I personally like my Saisons to be a bit sweeter and have a bit more of a yeast flavor than this one possesses. If I were to improve on this beer, I'd add some more honey to give it a slightly sweeter flavor and also keep more yeast in suspension to give it a bit more body. Overall though, I'm impressed. Not my favorite commercial Saison (that belongs to Funkwerks) but I'd say it's in my Top 5.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 23:22:44 | More by MighHighBrewer

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.31/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into Boulevard Tulip

A- pours a pale golden-yellow color with an enormous white pillowy and fluffy head the seems to retain forever. As it finally starts to reduce, it leaves thick patches of lace around the rim.

S- powerful nose of phelonic yeast provides light and fruity notes of apple, pear and lemon. Some floral notes with sour-dough bready malt on the back.

T- belgian like yeast gives a slight phelonic flavor that is balanced by a dough-like malt, some barnyard hay, fruity notes on the finish of peach, apple and banana from the yeast. The finish is bone dry with a nice long linger

M- light carbonation, medium body, foamy mouthfeel, smooth and easy drinking

O- one of the first that ive tried of the style, very good fruity notes. All of Boulevard's smokestack series beers have been awesome.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:51:36 | More by Treyliff

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.26/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

BEST BY 10/12/13

A: Pours a straw yellow color with a massive 3+ fingers of head that retains for a while

S: Lightly funky chalky yeast, farmhouse, light fruits, lemon, bready malts

T: Belgian yeast, light fruits, farmhouse, bready malts, light spice, light alcohol

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Lightly dry

O: A nice American farmhouse ale with good, crisp flavors and solid aromatics. A must-drink in the summer

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 22:34:52 | More by BEERMILER12

hitter114

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tank 7 poured into a stella chalice

A: cloudy yellow nice bubbles
S: saison
T: Belgain Pale ale
M: farmhouse ale

O: Tank 7 is blvd's flagship beer I would have to say. They are one of those breweries where every single one of their beers shares a common backbone, particularly due to the yeast which is in most of them. Tank 7 to me is their best wisely available beer. It is the definition of a saison to me, with mabey slightly a higher hop content. It drinks great. That being said it is nothing crazy creative or innovative but hitting a style so right on deserves just as high praise as one that pushes boundaries. This is a beer for sipping

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 18:11:58 | More by hitter114

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Sampled at the brewery and had a full pour at their brewpub at the MCI airport. Pours a golden straw with a finger of white head into tulip glass. Nice carbonation.
Nice Belgian yeast and straw aromas...sweet grapey notes. Taste is hopped belgian straw...some sweetness is present. Its an easy drinker and strong...scary combination.
Overall its a really great saison...the aggressive hops really make this more American then Belgian. Also could be a bit drier...but its a solid brew. Id get again for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2013 19:29:01 | More by DrinkSlurm

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz Bottle from Cost Plus World Market Palm Springs CA for 4$

Appearance - Slightly hazy yellow colour with a large size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some fairly good lacing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, lemons, peaches

Taste & Mouth - There is an above average amount of carbonation and I can taste bread/grains mixed with some lemons, peaches and yeast. There is also some coriander/clove and a peppery spice mix. It ends with a dry yet fruity aftertaste.

Overall - My first beer from this brewer and it's a winner for sure. The scent is fantastic and the appearance is spot on. I'd be happy to drink this again anytime and would make it a go to beer if it was readily available to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 04:31:03 | More by spinrsx

brewskis

Indiana

3.46/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy golden orange with a three finger head that dissipates fairly slowly and leaves. Lively carbonation. Smells grass, belgian yeast, little funk, a tiny bit of lemon or lime, pepper. Taste starts with bright flavors of lemon and grass. Then is followed in the middle by the belgian yeast, some peppery spice, slight breadiness. Then the finish is more of the belgian yeast, some light funkiness, some light citrus notes like lemon and grapefruit, more spiciness, some slight floral notes, sweet breadiness from the malt. Creamy, refreshing mouthfeel. High medium body. This was supposed to be drank by January, which was two months ago. Still in pretty good shape with some hop qualities, but I’m sure it is far better beer fresh. Not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 02:27:59 | More by brewskis

Yokoono76

Colorado

2.38/5  rDev -42.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2

A: 4 finger head, funny, the carbonation on the bottom is a perfect circle floating to the top. The head goes down quickly. Nice mellow golden color.

S: Citrus aroma, slightly mettallic, grapefruit.

T: Bitter, bitter, bitter! Hoppy with some grapefruit and other citrus. The bitter taste stays with you as you drink it. Gets more bitter as you drink on.

M: great carbonation, good feel.

O: I was so disappointed in this beer. I was really bitter and just kept getting more and more bitter as I drank it. The grapefruit is nice and refreshing, but the hoppy, bitterness overwhelms any other tones within the beer. I will not be buying this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 00:27:44 | More by Yokoono76

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very similar to Goose Island Matilda. Reddish brown with better tan foam that Matilda.

Smell: Quite herbal and floral. Some orange notes that were a good transition from the previous beer I had (Gumballhead). Falls on the fruity side of the saison scale, as opposed to the yeasty one. Clean, bready finish. Sourdough-like.

Overall Drinkability: A very good American Belgian.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 23:39:00 | More by tjsdomer2

ubenumber2

Arkansas

3.18/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at local bar , 3 dollar pint day so thought I Would have a go

Very yellow colored beer , hazy with small head a little lacing

Smell is very sweet and spicy , not a lot of balance in the aroma , but not bad

Nice mouth full when you take a drink , goes down smooth and silky

Taste is super sweet , the yeast and the spice are there but the super sweet , almost candy type sweetness is way too much for me

Overall I wouldnt try this beer again , it was way to sweet and candy tasting which are not appealing to me

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 02:07:45 | More by ubenumber2

theveganbrewer

Oregon

4.93/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Yellow, nice head, great lacing. Bits of yeast floating around from an overly aggressive pour. Stunning.

Smell - Belgian yeast & spice, bread, citrus zest, apple, bubble gum, and pear.

Taste - Bubblegum, bread, apple finished with a nice pepper.

Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel is almost medium, high carb, crisp. A little bit tart and sweet at times.

Overall - Excellent. Nice combination of tart and sweetness. Will be going back to buy a lot more of these.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 07:30:06 | More by theveganbrewer

humuloner22

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I have recently got into this style of beer. I had never really had any until this last year but it is quickly becoming one of my favorite styles. This one is definitely leading the way. This one came in a four pack and I poured it into a standard pint glass. The color was a nice pale gold. It did have a lot of head which slowly subsided into a nice lacing pattern. I allowed it to be exposed to the air for a few minutes more then I took a whiff.

The smell was floral with a nice spiciness. You can smell those esters in there, to me that is what makes the Belgian styles so interesting. Lots of alcohol, but they don't overwhelm. Some fruit, maybe apricot? and of course the ever present clove that seems to dominate this style.

The taste was not surprising considering I picked up a great deal of the flavors from the aroma. You get that funkiness from the Belgian yeasts, clove, honey, and fruit. It had a really clean yet flavorful taste.

Overall one of the better Saison's I have tried and I am happy this is being distributed in my area. I am constantly searching for new and interesting brews. Nevertheless, this one stands up to most of the ones I have tried and would recommend this one for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 23:35:45 | More by humuloner22

XxNitExX

Nebraska

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into Tulip

A- Pours brilliant straw yellow with a MASSIVE white head that will stay around like a cloud all day. Very nice looking beer.

S- Citrus, Pepper, then hops. Mix in a little funky belgian yeast and you got the aroma right there.

T- Lovely citrus taste up front mixed with a floral peppery back of the tongue taste. Simple malt taste, nice little alcohol hit also.

M- Nice bubble action, makes this a delight to drink and very smooth. Got to love the lingering taste in the mouth!

Overall my second favorite saison behind saison dupont but a very good beer overall!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:13:04 | More by XxNitExX

--Dom--

Missouri

4.19/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Pours a hazy yellow-orange with some nice floaties. Smells sweet, slightly citrus.

Taste is bright citrus notes up front. I get a strong coriander coming across in the middle. Taste is on the sweet side. There's definitely some booziness in there. Finish is crisp.

Mouthfeel is well carbonated, crisp. Overall I think it's a great american representation of the style. Any more coriander would've been too much for me as this is a problem I have with a lot of belgians. But it's pretty spot on. An excellent beer. I'd love to find it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 04:28:34 | More by --Dom--

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. best before 9/13/13

Poured into a Duvel glass with a huge bright white head and bright hazy golden body packed full of whizzing bubbles.

The aroma is wonderful. Some citrusy grapefruit, sweetness, peppery spice, wheat, bread, a little floral, and banana.

Slight bitterness up front followed by some sweetness. Pepper, banana, apple, grapefruit, wheat, grass, and bread.

Smooth, crisp, dry, and light bodied.

A great saison. At 8% I could see that getting dangerous with how easy drinking this is.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:49:52 | More by MattSweatshirt

95stategrad

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

As far as Farmhouse/Saisons made in the US, this is on par with Hennepin and just about as good as it gets. I'm still completely sold by the relatively high alcohol content as I just don't think that is true to style (can't serve 8% beer as a "refreshment" to field workers, they'd pass out in the fields after lunch!), but the flavor cannot be denied. And Boulevard has at least resisted over-hopping like so many US brewers want to do with this style. This is legitimate stuff. From the funky/horsey aroma when you open it to the slightly peppery finish, it's all there. Very few brewers in the US "get it" as far as Farmhouse ales go. These guys are on the list. Well done. Having said that, Farmhouse/Saisons are not for everyone. If you don't like the style, this beer probably won't change your mind.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:59:53 | More by 95stategrad

pauldonath

Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Good foam and color. OK nose. Taste is a cross between a Belgium ale and an IPA, done very well. I like the mix of the floral with a bit more hop bitterness than in a typical Belgium ale. Finish is very long, starting with the fortunately not too sweat malt and ending with just the right amount of bitter bite.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 20:21:46 | More by pauldonath

blackcompg

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Pours a substantial foamy 3 finger head, both tight and large bubbles, body is a hazy bright yellow gold with tons of bubbles in the body, huge action, head comes down to about a finger & a half of thick bumpy cumulus. Great thick lacing.

Smell - Big belgian yeast & spice, sourdough bread, citrus zest, touch of white pepper. light pear, bubble gum.

Taste - Begins big bready yeast, bubblegum banana esters, dried apple, touch of semi-sweet citrus, coriander, white pepper. Finish is dried sourdough crusts with more white pepper and bitter dried citrus peels.

Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel is lighter side of medium, carb is on the higher side, very bright and crisp, wonderful tingly edges on the sides of the tongue, finish is dry, but a few pockets of tart & sweetness in the mouth corners.

Overall - A very good and refreshing beer. Complex and fairly well balanced. This is my first beer of this style, reminds me a bit of Duvel. A favorful beer that I would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:43:26 | More by blackcompg

suspect

New York

4.59/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Real Ale Snifter.

A: Pure golden color, hazy by nature. Lots of sediment. When I popped the cap, the foam came RUSHING out. Gentle pour after that led to a frothy white 2 finger head that fizzed down after a few minutes. Lacing is strong and thick.

S: Perfect blend of funk, wheaty grains, malts and bitterness with a lemon zest and grassy undertone.

T: MM! Follows the nose absolutely. Lots of funk, wonderful mix of malt and citrus. Really really well done.

M: Perfectly carbonated, bubbles lift the spice of my dinner right off the tongue and away. Crispy finish, no bitterness.

O: Really wonderful beer. I've been wanting to try this one for some time now and I'm glad I not only had the opportunity, but I have another one to enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:06:58 | More by suspect