Chocolate Ale - Boulevard Brewing Co.

kevincleary

5/5  rDev +31.9%

10-28-2012 14:12:49 | More by kevincleary

fostah

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

From the infected batch:

I realized this after my initial taste of the bottle (with a "Best By" date of 08/2012, by the way... guess I missed that) and it tasted... off. I checked the bottle, something I should've done a year or so (or more!) ago, and thought I had, but obviously hadn't: 2011-1. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a Winnah!!! So, with that information in my head, I settled in to review the beer I HAD, not the beer Boulevard intended, or the beer I THOUGHT I had. The beer in the glass: a known infected batch of Boulevard's Chocolate Ale, that has been sitting upright in my basement, in temperatures varying from approximately 55-60 degrees for about a year (give or take).

Pours a nice mahogony, with a tan/off-white head. Head sticks around for a bit, and laces the glass. Nose of bitter cocoa, some gentle funk that I didn't expect .
Initial tastes: sharp sour funk, with bitter choocolate flowing underneath. This beer is clearly not right, but in an "oh so good" way. The chocolate, though strong, stays underneath a stiff tart, that turns fruity toward the end. It finishes acidic, with that chocolate underneath, giving the impression of a mouthfull of pennies, kind of metallic

I wonder if every bottle was bad in the recalled batches, or just some? Also, along those lines, did aging the beer work with the infection, and improve the flavor (completely unlike that of the fresh infected bottle reviews I've read), or did I have a clean bottle in a bad batch, and catch something in the cellar? Either way, this was a delight.

If I review the beer against what it was SUPPOSED to be, its a total miss. Maybe a 2.0, because the chocolate is still noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 01:45:15 | More by fostah

iL0VEbeer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.5%

06-10-2013 12:17:19 | More by iL0VEbeer

acurtis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.5%

06-09-2013 15:44:21 | More by acurtis

Rihup

Illinois

3/5  rDev -20.8%

06-04-2013 01:33:09 | More by Rihup

FrostyJenbaJuice

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

05-23-2013 04:24:55 | More by FrostyJenbaJuice

MooSully

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

05-22-2013 04:26:16 | More by MooSully

Bandi

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-18-2013 13:39:56 | More by Bandi

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is very hazy amber orange in color. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that died down a bit, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of chunky yeast (the kind of yeast you taste at the bottom of a large bottle) are present in the nose.
T: Unlike the smell, the taste has flavors of cocoa nibs.
M: It feels medium-bodied but a little thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Considering its strength, this beer isn't that difficult to drink because it hides its alcohol very well from the taste.

Note: February 2010 vintage

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:52:46 | More by metter98

lernerlift

Kansas

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-05-2013 22:00:20 | More by lernerlift

Crash_the_Dog

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

03-31-2013 02:42:08 | More by Crash_the_Dog

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-24-2013 02:49:28 | More by Sparky44

benjamincarter

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

03-16-2013 14:20:15 | More by benjamincarter

wmobley

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

03-13-2013 20:04:11 | More by wmobley

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-09-2013 23:57:23 | More by spycow

tdmccarthy

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-04-2013 19:30:04 | More by tdmccarthy

match1112

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-03-2013 00:34:47 | More by match1112

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

02-26-2013 06:34:21 | More by CaptainNomihodai

UCLABrewN84

California

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to jmgrub for sharing this one at his birthday tasting.

Batch 2010-2. Best by 9/2011.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, cocoa, and a nutty aroma. Taste is much the same with cocoa and spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some interesting aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 03:11:01 | More by UCLABrewN84

drewone

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

02-25-2013 02:06:02 | More by drewone

tuckerlikesbeer

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

02-12-2013 22:53:10 | More by tuckerlikesbeer

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.8%

02-03-2013 22:26:23 | More by ejimhof

Jesi

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-28-2013 23:35:07 | More by Jesi

afksports

New York

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

01-24-2013 20:07:15 | More by afksports

brandoman63

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

01-16-2013 23:35:23 | More by brandoman63