Boulevard / Sierra Nevada Terra Incognita - Boulevard Brewing Co.

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The pour is sort of brown in color with a khaki colored head. Starts off with a floral hop aroma and a strong citric and earthy Brettanomyces aroma. Bready malt, lots of yeast, and a bit of spice character. The flavor is heavy on the bread with lots of floral and earthy notes. Mushroom, grass, damp soil, and a bit of citrus peel. Lots of yeast, a hint of pepper, sweet caramel, and a very dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 00:03:25 | More by womencantsail

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy dark brownish red in color and poured with a quarter finger-high off white head that has excellent retention properties and consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are very light aromas of sourness in the nose.
T: The taste has a moderate amount of sourness but also has notes of malts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and a bit smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer seems to be rather malty for a sour beer, but is quite easy to drink. No alcohol is apparent in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 01:45:42 | More by metter98

drabmuh

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared generously by Katie. Thanks! Served in a wine glass. Beer is brown and hazy, nice tan head of small bubbles, some lacing, good retention, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is little yeast, bready, biscuit, sweet, malt.

Beer is quad. This is so quad like, no "wildness" or anything very interesting, nutty, sweet, clean. A rather boring beer maybe it will evolve into something good in the bottle but otherwise I'm not impressed. I had high hopes for this beer but was ultimately let down. That's OK though, still love Boulevard.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 13:24:01 | More by drabmuh

kojevergas

California

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork acquired at Wally's Wine in Westwood, CA a few nights ago for ~$14.99. Reviewed live. Label art is uninteresting. 8.5% ABV according to my bottle's label. "Ale Aged in whiskey Barrels." Not sure what to review it as; it's currently listed as a wild ale. I'll decide the style a bit later, methinks. Barrel aged for nearly three months. Best by: 02/2015. Expectations are fairly high; I like Boulevard's offerings usually but Sierra Nevada tends to disappoint.

Served cold - straight from the fridge - and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Yields a forceful powerful pop upon removal of the cork. No beer surges out. Carbonation seems high.

A: Pours almost entirely foam - this is definitely overcarbonated. Or at least highly pressurized from active yeast. Head is nicely creamy and khaki in colour. Nice thickness. Good (~6+ minute) retention. No bubble show. No lacing as the head slowly recedes.

Body colour is a solid opaque black. No yeast particles are visible.

Overall, it's looking atypical of any style. Overcarbonation is definitely suspected. I'm not sure what to think; it isn't all that inviting.

Sm: It's official; this actually is a wild ale if we're going to classify it. Dominant lacto yeast is prevalent. Brown bready malts. Biscuit malt. Some bretts, but lacto largely drowns them out. Caramel. Damp. Not really sour, but enough so to intrigue. No alcohol is detectable. Any hop character is so limited as to be unnoticeable. Notes of indistinct fruit. Perhaps brown or unrefined sugars. It definitely doesn't come off as spontaneous or alive; this was fermented under controlled conditions. As a result, it's more clinical than natural or Belgian. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing how it tastes. A moderate strength interesting aroma. I get some rye, but very little whiskey. Just a biteen of spiciness.

T: Unrefined sugars abound, with some brown sugar. Subtle timid indistinct dark fruits - perhaps grape, date, plum or all of the aforelisted. Some light raisin as well. Plenty of biscuit malt forms the core of the foundation. Hop character is largely imperceptible. Some rye malt, but little spiciness. Biscuity yeast. Some light sourness is pretty well covered up, but I guess some lacto yeast does come through. I wanted far more. Not getting much whiskey at all; it's not even subtle - just practically nonexistent. The whole whiskey barrel thing may just be a marketing gimmick; I don't doubt that they put it in the barrels, but how much character does "nearly three months" of barrel aging really impart? Maybe a bit of oak, but no vanilla or spice or anything identifiably whiskey-esque. It's a balanced but overly timid build. Not complex or subtle; I've had much more complex beers in the style that weren't barrel aged. Pleasant and enjoyable, but it leaves something to be desired. Light syrupy flavours emerge as it warms. It starts to come off a bit too sugary and sweet as well.

Mf: Largely smooth and wet. Unrefreshing merely given the flavour profile - which mixes an emphasis on biscuity and rye malt with a timid lacto sour character. Definitely - absolutely no question about it - overcarbonated. Good body. Suits the flavour profile okay.

Dr: Not Boulevard or Sierra Nevada's best, but also not their worst. You could do far worse for a sour, and I do like this for what it is. It just could have - and should have - been so much more. I blame Sierra Nevada; this is just conjecture but Sierra Nevada seems like the kind of brewery that would recommend short-term whiskey barrel aging whilst Boulevard seems like the kind of brewery that would try to execute subtle brett and lacto sourness. Way overpriced; I certainly wouldn't get it again. It's worth noting that it does get better as it warms; the timid sourness emerges just a bit more. Might be an interesting beer to cellar, but I could never see it becoming great. I'd be curious to find out, though. It's quite drinkable and hides its ABV well. Interesting, but not worth it.

B-

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 00:44:00 | More by kojevergas

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear dark amber in color with hints of garnet red when held up to the light. The beer has a quarter finger tall creamy off-white head that reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Moderate amounts of sourness.

T: Fairly malty with moderate amounts of sourness.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Alcohol is well hidden in this beer and there is a very nice balance between the malts and the sourness. Enjoyable but definitely a sipping beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 18:15:59 | More by dbrauneis

Pencible

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a hazy dark mahogany with moderate tan head.
S: It smelled like funky oak and sour red grapes, with some sweet fig and brown sugar and metallic copper hops.
T: It tasted like tart red grapes and funky oak and sour Belgian yeast, with some sweet dark fruits and brown sugar and a little copper. It had a clean and sweet and sour aftertaste.
M: It was thick and velvety with some smooth natural carbonation. Very full and slick body.
D: Overall this was a very nice Flanders Bruin style brew. The scent and taste were solid, and the body was excellent. The alcohol was well hidden and the finish was really mellow, so it was easy to drink. Would likely improve with some age, but quite enjoyable now.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:08:49 | More by Pencible

scottfrie

California

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle shared at a tasting. Thanks Marc.

Pours dark brown with a great light tan head that faded into a lasting film. Mellow nose overall with notes of brett and maybe some citrus hops. Pretty light overall. Flavor is full of dark fruits, more brett, red fruits, and mild citrus in the finish. Lightly sour but mellow overall. Carbonation is fluffy, body is medium, and the mouthfeel is fairly smooth. Overall I enjoyed this but it wasn’t that memorable.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:31:20 | More by scottfrie

jsanford

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark mahogany with a big, foamy ivory head. Nice aromas of funky, earthy Brettanomyces, dark dried fruits, and some citrusy hops. Taste is similarly earthy, with more dry Brettanomyces, citrus peel hops, and sweet dark malt. Mouthfeel is smooth and dry, with a medium body and good carbonation. Really nice Wild Ale, glad I got to taste it!

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 01:25:21 | More by jsanford

vfgccp

New York

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Big khaki head with a relative loose bubble. Awesome lace and retention. Beautiful, deep cranberry red body.

S - Addictive nose with a soft sourness that ramps up throughout the inhale. Cranberry, lemon, oak, bay leaf, and a soft copper note.

T - Nice profile, but it falls a little flat. Floral dandelion, light biscuity malt, sour apple cider, dry sawdust finish.

M - Medium-light body. Nice carbonation.

O - Great nose, but the taste just comes up short.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 17:48:13 | More by vfgccp

russwbeck

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Semi-viscous brown pour with about a finger of light brown head. Slow bubbles raise up on this one.

S: Very malty aroma, earthy almost. A slight amount of booze is noted, but it isn't too much. The Brett isn't crazy strong, and the major theme I'm getting is malt.

T: The Brett is a little more of the focus on the taste, as are the hops (which I didn't smell at all). Malty and earthy again, the beer has much more complexity here. Dry aftertaste. I can't say it really blows me away, especially for an American Wild Ale. I quite enjoy what they did, I just don't think it came off all that well.

MF: Medium to heavy body with an average to lower than average carbonation. The drinkability is only alright, and the earthiness on the aftertaste I thought wasn't all that enjoyable overall.

O: This was a really nice beer and I'm glad I got the chance to try it, but it didn't impress me. Really nice, if you have the opportunity to try it, I wouldn't let it age because you'll lose the hops, which are a major part of the story. I certainly wouldn't tell anyone to steer clear, but I also wouldn't sell the house to try it again!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 00:43:02 | More by russwbeck

bum732

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

S: Some brett-like esters, grassy, some wood bark, faint fennel

L: Very dark brown, big, bubbly light tan head with good retention and lacing.

T: Herbal like malt with hints of black tea and fennel. Tea-like medium bitterness leading to some sharp fruitiness. Some young oak in the finish as well, cherrywood in addition. Very slight and ashy. Opens up a lot, more brett as it warms.

M: Medium high carbonation, medium bodied

Interesting, never had a beer quite like this. Like a dark saison with Brett.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 02:45:03 | More by bum732

Reaper16

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle served into a pinot noir glass

Pours a nutty brown color. It looks pretty dark, but there's some lighter tones at the edges of the body. The sand-colored head is pretty active (this IS a Brett beer, after all).

The primary aroma at this stage in the bottle's lifespan is earthiness. This beer smells like silt and loam and dirt and other synonyms for the damn ground. There's some black fungus mushroom character here, and some oolong tea as well.

The taste follows the nose. This is an amber-like toasty malt body accentuated by all sorts of earthy flavors. It's important to note that this strain of Brettanomyces isn't giving off funky, barnyard notes. It's the cleaner kind of Brett flavor that you get from an Orval. Flavors of soil and mushroom and grass and wood. I dig earthiness, so I dig this.

The mouthfeel is active and sharp, which really helps keep this beer drinkable. Overall, I really enjoyed this experiment. You have to be into earthiness to like this beer, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 19:52:57 | More by Reaper16

tewaris

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Rather pretentious name and presentation for an ordinary beer but that's the nature of the beast. Weird color, odd looks. Soapy saison aroma, some fruit and some spice. Not bad, but nothing to die for either. Just average.

Roast at the back with high carb with some spice laden here and there; this beer succeeds in confusing but fails at delighting. Take my word for whatever it's worth and don't try to drink an entire bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 10:49:21 | More by tewaris

Brob245

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle.

Appearance - deep hazy, almost dirty burgundy color, with a light carmel frothy head.

Smell - not overly aromatic but does have a slight malt overtone.

Taste - hints of dark fruits including plum and fig. Finishes with a earthy/slightly dirty characteristic. Complexity of the beer is apparent as it warms with a subtle tartness at the finish that's very pleasing.

Mouthfeel - light feel and taste that reminds me of a Rochefort 8.

Overall - an enjoyable beer that reveals its complexity as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 03:04:43 | More by Brob245