Collaboration No. 3 - Stingo - Boulevard Brewing Co.

tigerbeer90

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought this at the release party at pretty things beer and ale project july/august. 750 ml bottle poured into a glass. I would like to go on record in saying I have never had a stingo before. I kept this bottle b/c I hated to open it knowing I can't get boulevard in south carolina

A: pours a brown fairly clear with some deep red undertones
S: getting an earthy and tart cherry nose. perhaps a little coffee
M: a little thick but well carbonated
T: a bit bitter, although I think with this style there is supposed to be more. still get the tart cherry with a lot of woody tones
O: I've never had this style before, but I would be willing to try this again, perhaps the sam smith yorkshire stingo. Sadly, this is my last boulevard bottle of boulevard beer the smokestack series is great.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:21:46 | More by tigerbeer90

mdfb79

New York

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 08/17/12 notes. Had on tap at Stoddard's in Boston, MA. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a very dark brown color with one inch of light tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of roasted malts, toasted malts, caramel malts, bananas, and burnt malts, and some like brett. Pretty nice malty nose.

t - Tastes or burnt malts, toasted malts, roasted malts, nuts, light fruits, caramel malts, toffee, light funk/brett.

m - Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. A little bit overcarbonated but nice.

o - Overall a pretty good beer. Tons of dark malts and some light brett, another nice beer from Boulevard I'd have again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2012 20:37:00 | More by mdfb79

GbVDave

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into three pint glasses. Thanks to HeatherAnn and pops for the assist!

Batch Number/ 2012 - 3
Best By Date: 03 - 2013

A: Pours a deep, muddy brown with 1/4 finger of tan head on top. Retention was non-existant and no lace was left behind. A bit fugly, but we liked it anyways.

S: Deep woody/earthy notes with bits of tart cherry, chocolate, caramel, and toffee. Quite interesting in a kitchen sink sort of way.

T: Same as above. We really liked the tart flavors going on in this beer.

M: Started off fine. Full and relatively thick. But, as it came up to temp it took on a definite boozy edge that got a little tiring as the glasses wore on.

O: We liked this and always welcome the Paquette's sense of adventure when it comes to revisiting old styles/recipes.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 23:55:16 | More by GbVDave

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into my Boulevard Smokestack Chalice.

Pours a dark ruby colour. Some blood red, lighter colours shine through around the edges and bottom. A dark cream coloured head adorns, laces nicely.

There is an aroma of chocolate, dark fruits, plums.

Hints of chocolate in the taste, slight sweet dark fruits, and notes of tart fruits.

Nice creamy, near full body. Tinges of carbonation breaks of the slickness.

Not familiar too much with this type of English ale, but it's well made and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 18:58:10 | More by EgadBananas

dbossman

Nebraska

3.89/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown with a huge frothy tan head; lacing is okay

S: Grainy and nutty; sweet malts, brown sugar and toffee; this is sweet and malty and grainy with some booziness but is a bit subdued in the finish

T: Much more going on in the flavors--robust malts, nutty with some booziness in the finish with some vanilla and whiskey in the finish

F: Medium body with a creamy finish

O: This is a malty, slightly boozy beer; not my favorite sting that I've had but it's solid

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 02:25:16 | More by dbossman

FosterJM

California

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1503rd Review on BA
Bottle to Smokestack Chalice
750 ml C/C

Batch 1-2012-1

Thanks to my mom for bringing this to CA for me.

App- When you pop the cork and pour this out, you are greeted with a mahogany/amber looking brew. A bit of a shimmering beer with deep highlights and good density in the glass. The head was quite a bit large on each pour. A good 2-1/2-3 fingers worth. My glass was solid with cling and lace. Quite a good looking beer.

Smell- This was a bit of a mish mash of aromatics in the glass. It was similar to a quad for me with a lot of dark rich fruits. Plums, dark cherries and figs. A bit earthy and full of malts as well. Balanced out by a sort of tart, grassy, earthy aroma with a tinge of bitter hops.

Taste- The nose was correct on this one. The quad flavors carry over on the 1st couple sips and as the beer integrates in the glass you are moved to a hoppy, bitter and tart flavor. The middle has a very English Mild ale flavor with a bready, malty flavor and the finish has a little bit of chocolate to it.

Mouth- A very nice feel to this one. It was a bit bubbly on the pour and I was skeptical at 1st. The body on this one was a lighter medium with a bit of a chewy caramel malt flavor remaining. The carbonation was a bit prickly and pushed the higher carbonation threshold.

Drink- For some reason, I have become a big Boulevard homer ever since my parents moved to KS. Great beers that dont break the bank. This was an another example. Good flavors intermixed with some flaws, wasnt expecting perfection. Just a good collaboration beer and got that.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 14:52:43 | More by FosterJM

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: one inch head, cloudy, dark caramel brown in color, high carbonation

Smell: toffee and dark chocolate

Taste: toffee, dark chocolate, hazelnut, coffee, and tobacco

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, medium carbonation, sweet

Overall: A very English style tasting beer. Complex. This almost tastes like a winter warmer out of season. Tobacco and toffee play very strong here. Interesting, not sure if I would get it again, but worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 13:24:42 | More by tigg924

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.84/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 750ml brown bottle, corked and caged, with simple, classy label. Brewed as a collaboration with Pretty Things, this is brewed with Maris Otter, Halcyon, Pearl, Amber, Crystal, and Black malts, and East Kent Goldings and Fuggles hops. This is batch 2-2012, best by 3-2013. Found this at an out-of-the-way local, in the cooler, long after it was gone off the shelves everywhere else. I wasn't too impressed by this fresh, but recently had a bottle that had been cellared since its release and it was excellent. I bought the store's last two bottles, one to sip tonight, and one to cellar, likely beyond the 'best-by' date. Poured in small increments into my Black Sheep half-pint goblet to celebrate my 30th birthday. Cheers!

Appearance: Rich nut-brown hue with good clarity and creamy dark ivory cap that shows good retention and a bit of lacing. Attractive beer.

Smell: Slightly subdued, but pleasant. Some slightly vinous, wine-like fruit, a bit of toasty caramel, and light notes of estery alcohol. Nice aromas, but I'd like just a touch more intensity.

Taste: Rich English pale malt background, with a bit of browned toast and just the slightest hint of roast. Mild to moderate lactic tang, with light oaky notes and perhaps a hint of tannin. Fruity flavors range from green apple skin to dark fruit. Light funky tang that's almost reminiscent (in a much less intense way) of Stilton. Clean, crisp medium bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium-bodied with a bit of zing from the carbonation. Much lighter feeling than the 8.5% would suggest, but it makes this quite drinkable.

Overall: An interesting, unique take on the 'historical' English old/strong ale. Some interesting wild notes overlay a very 'English' malt/hop backbone. At $7.99 a bomber, I'd definitely buy this now and again if it was available. FWIW, this pairs very nicely with a rich, traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding, where the bit of lactic character cuts through the buttery sweetness perfectly.

88-89 B+

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 04:37:40 | More by BedetheVenerable

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottles served in a wine glass. Pours a beautiful, deep, plum-colored hue with a half inch, dense, cream-colored head embedded with pinpricks and ringlets. Nose is somewhat subdued expressing only some faint, fruity esters. Taste is reminiscent of a Quad, although not as full-bodied, with the addition of some smokey and slightly metallic notes. Mouthfeel is medium-light with an even carbonation. Overall, I can't say that I'm overly familiar with the style, having only had Sam Smith's Stingo to compare this one to. As such, in rating this to my personal preferences, I thought that it was a decent beer, but not something I need to try again, and a far cry from the better beers produced by these two breweries.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 21:28:09 | More by Jwale73

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance - Murky reddish brown. Not much of a head. Some wisps remain. Some clinging to the glass occurs.

Smell - Big fruity nose. Dark fruits, plums and such. Caramel. A little bit yeasty, maybe? Some esters coming off.

Taste - Similar to the nose initially. Lots of plums and cherry. Some faint acidity. Caramel in the middle, but gives way to a bunch of oak in the back. Some darker malts prevail as well, lending a bit of chocolate.

Mouthfeel - Low carbonation. Dry oaky finish. Medium body, maybe pushing medium heavy.

Overall - I was expecting a bit more of the oak tang, but the flavors are nice. I'm enjoying it.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 03:07:30 | More by Alieniloquium

Dope

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch 2012-1. Best by 03/2013. Just released a week or two ago.

A: Pours a dark brown with a big fluffy tan head. Fades reasonaly slowly, leaving pretty decent lacework behind.

S: A bit of toasted bread with a hint of nuts. Kind of tart smelling, bringing a bit of dark fruit with it.

T: Lots of toasted dark bread. A little bit of a tart element in the middle with some lactic quality. Ends nutty with a bit of toffee. Cocoa and nuts linger in the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied, a little drying.

O: Very unusual brew. Never had a Stingo before. It's a malty english-style ale very near a brown ale but not quite enough toasted malt and nuttiness; there is that odd lactic sourness in the middle too. The overall aroma and flavor is actually quite subdued for 8.5%. It tastes and smells like a 5% mildly sour brown ale is the best way I can describe it.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 02:23:34 | More by Dope

GregSVT

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a hazy brown with a big tan head that fades to a ring and leaves some lacing on the glass.

S: The nose is pretty fragrant with nice notes of chocolate malt, dark ripe grapes, figs, and a hint of vanilla.

T: The taste follows the nose pretty closely. There are flavors of tart cherries, dark fruits, cocoa, and chocolate milk.

M: The feel is creamy but the carbonation is a bit too bubbly for my tastes. It almost seems overcarbed a bit...may be better with some age.

O: This was an interesting beer but not something I would drink all the time. I would like to try this again in a few years.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 01:57:56 | More by GregSVT

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is the second beer that I've had that claims to be in the stingo style, ironically the other one made by Samuel Smith is rumored to be a recipe designed by Dann Paquette. Pours a dark brown with ruby highlights and a huge beige head that sticks around forever as it laces the sides of the glass. I got lots of chocolate and a bit of banana right after popping the cork on this brew, but those seem to have subsided. Lots of caramel and dark sugars with some dark and tart fruits along with a hint of spice. this reminds me a lot of a Belgian Strong Dark. The flavor is really complex and varied. I get a rush of caramel, chocolate, and dark dried fruit maltiness right up front. Tart fruit and a hint of ethanol break through that and never really let go of you. There's and earthy almost salty flavor that cuts in somewhere towards the end. Medium to thick body with a moderate to ample level of carbonation and a sweet salty tart mouthfeel going on. I thought I had reviewed the Yorkshire one, I guess I didn't, I would have really liked to compare the two. This is an interesting beer, it's wildly complex and varied, but maybe to its detriment, as the flavors seem a bit less than harmonious. If I come across another bottle I may pick it up just to see what a little age does to this.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 21:40:25 | More by johnnnniee

rlee1390

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Deep brown, two finger fluffy white head

S-Lots of malt, caramel, roasted, dark fruits, yeast as well.

T-An odd unbalanced mix of funky yeast with dark fruits and caramel. Not bitterness.

M-Light to medium bodied, little to no carbonation, tad watery.

O-The balance was off, the funk didn't work with the malt. I see what they were trying for but it didn't come together well enough.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 20:16:58 | More by rlee1390

emerge077

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark murky russet brown, a sizable head on the first pour, second not so much. Retention is pretty good as it takes awhile for the foam to break. Not much lace.

Brown sugar, rum raisin, almond, shortcake aromas, lightly sweet but not cloyingly so.

Dried fruit and caramel, slight nutty almond. Lightly bitter with a slight tanginess, clean dry finish with some residual toasty, nutty malt derived flavors. Alcohol is ever so slightly perceptible as it warms up. Creamy and fairly smooth, punctuated by that light tangy tart plum note in the back (intentional as described on the label). Overall pleasant to drink, seems suited for cool Fall weather. May pick up another to cellar until late winter.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 00:14:15 | More by emerge077

cofeeguru

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Over at Pracna's in Minneapolis.

I really like British style ales, and the husband is late picking me up, so I felt I deserved a glass. It pours deep and bourbon-colored, like dried figs. Low on the head, with light lacing on the glass. The smell is high on the alcohol, but that maltiness is behind it. The tast follows the smell, with an acidity not unlike a mild sour. I think aging would bring this to another level. Overall, a good beer, but I think I'll coke back to it after it has some miles on it to see how it compares.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 23:17:28 | More by cofeeguru

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Two great breweries, collabing together to make something interesting, I hope it's good.

Pours a 1.5 finger fluffy head that fades semi slowly with nice lines of lacing, super dark molasses brown colored beer with hints of ruby light.

Nose starts with lots of dark malts, biscuit malts, brown slight toasty, caramel, toffee, molasses, little syrupy sweet candy, and a bit nutty. Then Some herbal hops, earthy and little grassy, typical of English bitter and very typical of Pretty Things. As it warms a hint of mocha comes through, and just a touch of booze.

Taste comes through smoothly, more porter like than expected, with rich brown and dark malts, a little biscuit and toasty brown malts, lots of fluffy caramel and toffee, fairly nutty, and plenty of molasses candy. There is a light candi sugar like sweetness as well with a decent booze kick, light esters and even a slight fusel alcohol. The hops come again with the earthy herbal UK style Pretty Things like hops, with a decent bitterness and herbal grassy flavor. There is also a light fruity taste, part from esters, and parts from the other additions, with hints of fig and raisin, and some tart like flavors. Finish is a bit drier but still fairly sweet, some warming almost fusel booze, lots of candy and syrupy flavors with molasses, caramel, toffee, nutty flavors lingering.

mouth is med to a bit fuller richer bodied, lighter but decent carb, plenty of warming booze.

Overall OK but not great, nice malts very rich and tasty, but the typical UK style hops I don't really like, and quite boozy tasting. The fruits and tartness were another interesting additions.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 02:52:37 | More by jlindros

Arbitrator

California

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Chilled bottle into a glass. Thanks to JeepCop for this one!

A: Pours a clear, mahogany body that darkens to opaque in larger quantities. The head is a creamy, substantial affair that rises to 1.5 fingers and maintains a thick collar throughout the drink.

S: Earthy and malty; this Stingo has a breakfast coffee aroma with grain, plums, ripe apples, and caramel.

T: This reminds me a little of holiday bread. Grain, caramel, plums, apples. The finish has a little mineral quality to it, along with a burst of astringency near the close. Hops contribute an underlying earthiness.

M: Velvety carbonation. The beer finishes dry; this is probably in line with the style, but I'd like something a little richer for a strong ale.

O: I've only had one other Stingo, so I'm not sure how to judge this one. I found it fairly tasty, but it's not particularly my style. The dryness and mineral finish were off-putting for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 02:41:06 | More by Arbitrator

vandemonian

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Boulevard Stingo is an English strong ale that is a bit overcooked. Too much autolosis for my palate.

A: Dark red-brown colour and a good 5 mm head that lasts very well. 4.5

S: Malty with the dark aroma of pumpernickel (i.e. dark fruits and some autolysed yeast). 4

T: Malty with a dry, dark fruit flavour. Strong autolysed yeast flavour (i.e. vegemite). The finish is a little smoky. 3.5

M: Foamy. 4.

O: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 04:03:10 | More by vandemonian

DavidST

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tulip glass, batch 2-2012, best before 3-2012. This pours a dark mahogany color wtih a massive tan head, tight bubbles, long retention, which leaves alchohol legs and a lacing. The smells are nice lots of toffee and caramel, a little nutty smells. The feel is medium to barely thick, more high carbonation. The taste is pretty good, a nice little bit of hop bit, the toffee, and caramel and nuts, there is a noticeable alcohol burn and taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:12:40 | More by DavidST

YouSkeete

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark brown/burgundy, almost black. Frothy and bubbly khaki colored head. Pale malts, roasted nuts, molasses, dried yeast, espresso beans and smoke. First sip is oddly sour with big flavors of charred malt and roasted nuts. Coffee bean bite and a dash of spicy hops with sweeter tones of brown sugar. Smooth, rich body with a solid backbone. Nutty, relatively dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 00:23:01 | More by YouSkeete

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass from a 750ml bottle.

Pours a very nice dark mahogany with some caramel and amber edges. There is a nice light tan head that forms and is about 1.5 inches tall. Quite small bubbles are present but the head is light and fluffy. Retention is pretty nice with some slight lacing.

Aromas of some figs and some nice sweet yet mild caramel. A bit of barrel in there? Nice rich malt nose is present. The sweetness in the nose is pretty nice with some good rich caramel notes and some darker fruits. There are some yeasty esters to it almost like it could be a wild ale. Very nice nose.

Flavor starts off with some interesting rich and slightly roasty notes. Then there is some sweetness that pops up. Malty grain notes with some underlying caramel. There is some bready notes mixed in with the sweetness and some slight tart notes that pop up here an there. There is some yeasty chalky flavors to the brew as well. Mouthfeel is a bit lighter than expected.

Not my favorite from the series but still an interesting brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 22:49:12 | More by JoEBoBpr

RickS95

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a rich, dark brown. Almost thick looking. There's some lighter red notes to keep it from getting too dark, but no light is making its way through. The head is relatively thin and lacks much retention.

The bottle talks about complexity and it starts with the smell. It's got the malty backbone that allows brewers to do a lot with it, and they've done plenty with this. In addition to some darker, malty scents, there's the fruity esters of dark, ripe fruits. From time to time, it seemed I could pick up a faint smokiness. On top of all that, there's the alcohol. It's not overpowering, just enough to let you know it's there.

While there was little in the way of a head, there's plenty of carbonation, so much so that it masks some of the flavors. The alcohol is a bit stronger than the smell. The fruitiness is present. Pretty malty with a cola-like caramel taste.

Like I said earlier, there is an abundance of carbonation. Combined with alcohol and some acid and it really keeps your tongue guessing. Slight tartness. Initially a heavy feel, but the carbonation balances it well. Dry finish.

It's a good beer and a collaboration that neither side should be ashamed of. That said, it's not world class. Maybe a little more aging would give all facets of the beer additional time to meld, but right now, there's a sharpness to it. If the edges could be dulled a bit, it would be even better.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:30:18 | More by RickS95

billab914

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle poured into my Bruery snifter. Dark brown in color with a frothy, dense head to it. Pretty decent head retention to it.

The aroma has a rich maltiness to it with caramel, toffee and a little dark fruit. It's got a bit of a toasty, roasted malt quality to it with a some coffee and dark chocolate to it. I'm getting some sweeter, banana like flavors coming out as it warmed.

The taste shows a little more of the darker, roasted malts to it with some stronger notes of coffee and dark chocolate. The finish is where I get a little more of the sweeter caramel and dark fruits. It's got some tartness lingering into the finish as well.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side of the style with carbonation being moderate. Overall, it was a good beer. It had some bold flavors to it, and they come together well. Pretty enjoyable beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 21:05:39 | More by billab914

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy ice tea color with a rocky head that leaves a few shards behind

Smell: Rather fruity, with a range of overripe stone fruit buttressed by caramel and a hint of figs

Taste: Overripe, and almost rotting stone fruit, up front, with an earthy hop character developing by mid-palate; somewhat harsh and metallic, after the swallow, though the fruit flavors linger in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: I like many of the beers from both of these breweries but I wasn't crazy about the metallic and rotting fruit flavors in this beer; then again, I am not the biggest fan of Yorkshire Stingo, either

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 02:34:39 | More by brentk56