Grainstorm Black Rye IPA - Boulevard Brewing Co.

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.49/5  rDev -39%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured dark brown with a nice tan cap, some moderate lacing present as was a nice tan collar after a few moments of settling and sipping

S: Very faint and unimpressive for this style. Muted citrus and roast.

T: This beer just seemed off from the first sip. Muted flavors of roast, coffee and chocolate with citrus and pine and thats a stretch. There is something unpleasant lurking in the background, like a gassy, bubbly like taste/feel, a young beer perhaps not fermented completely

M: Medium bodied and uncomfortable, off, gassy, had me belching, it tasted and felt young. flavors were mute, carbonation was a miss

O: My first quality issue I have experienced with a Smokestack series beer. I did not finish, just passed it around the bar and let the uneducated palates delight in their ignorant bliss.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 17:13:07 | More by barleywinefiend

chugalug06

Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Very nice tan, foamy, lasting head. Weak lacing.. Brew is deep black.

Has a funky weird roasted hop nose... Could use improvement.

Thin, smooth, roasty, bready, chalky, foamy, slightly bitter but not overly, high carbonation, no heat, not sweet... Rye is a bit overwhelming.

An easy drinker, yet I've had better Black IPAs, but this is a nice transitional BIPA for a new comer to IPAs... Recommended for an easy price of ~$10/750ml

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:56:47 | More by chugalug06

tigg924

Massachusetts

2.96/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: dark brown in color, clear, 1 inch head, high carbonation

Smell: roasted malt and citrus hops

Taste: coffee grounds, char, citrus and earthly hops, light rye bread

Mouthfeel: medium-high body, medium-high carbonation, sweet start that becomes bitter and dry

Overall: I love Boulevard and the style, but this one just did not do it for me. The char is heavy on this one and sometimes the rye added a slightly medicinal quality to it. Not a horrible beer by any stretch but there are several others in the style I would go to first. This one was a miss for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 15:58:03 | More by tigg924

Goosehunter75

Missouri

3.21/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A- Pours a very dark chocolate with a monstrous fluffy khaki colored head that hangs and hangs and hangs around. Wonderful looking beer.

S - Not as much aroma has I had anticated from the looks of the beer. Even so, there were stll plenty of smells to the beer. I caught pine right off the bat. There is definately an eathy overtone to the beer as well.

T - Much different than anything I am used to. I am not sure it agrees with my palate. I defiantely tasted pine and maybe some light roasted malts. It has a very astringant taste to me. Maybe from the rye.

M - Medium to heavy body beer.It has a very dry, astringant feel in the mouth

O - I dont want to give anyone a bad impression of this beer. It may just not be my style. The beer was quite complex in taste although the smells were a tad bit faint. I'll need to buy a couple more black rye IPAs to compare this one to and maybe review again.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:48:15 | More by Goosehunter75

maximum12

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Yes, I did indeed buy this bottle because somewhere on the label were the letters r y e. In a row. That's enough reason for me. 750 ML bottle split with my wife, best by date of 08/2013.

The pour is true to the copy, dense black. Carbonation spills out like a mushroom cloud, to the tune of a roughly 50/50 split of head & beer in the pint glass...settle down there, bucky. Nose is confused: roast, grain, earthy pine hops. Though not much of any of those. Very much like damp forest in the wilderness. I like that smell when I'm in a tent, not sure about having it in a glass.

Grainstorm, I find you difficult to describe; no ingredient or taste really stands out above the others. There's a fair amount of nice roast, backing strip of nice bittering hops with a bit of pine to them, spare earthiness that might be the rye, field grains, touch of spice. As noted, the carbonation is on the edge of too much, but the strength here is the ease which is slips from glass to tongue to stomach. To toilet. Eventually.

This beer has the privilege of being so well balanced that it almost turns invisible. It's like bland without being bland. Pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:14:53 | More by maximum12

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.51/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at Firkin.

Something tells me a grainstorm would be terrible to try to live through... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear brown-garnet topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises dark greens, light roasted malts, light toasted rye bread, and mild grass. The taste brings in more of the same, with the greens coming in all salad strong and whatnot. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a good black rye IPA, one that certainly is a black rye IPA, but nothing exciting.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2013 22:37:44 | More by TMoney2591

champ103

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark brown, nearly black color with some ruby highlights. A dense, rocky beige head forms that rises to the brim of the glass immediately. It would have kept on rising had this been a bigger snifter. Lace coats the glass all the way down.
S: Very piny and resiny. Tons of hops in the nose. Then a faint toasted, bready aroma linger just a touch. Though the piny, tree sap like hops are the show.
T: Again huge pine flavors. Sticky, resiny, oily tree sap as well. Just as the bitterness shows up, the malts and rye kick in at the same time. Bread/biscuit, kind of a burnt toast, and a lingering spicy fruitiness.
M/D: A full body and moderate carbonation. Viscous, oily, and slick. Not a huge alcohol presents, and I am not having a problem sipping on this. Though not the most enjoyable beer to work through for me. To resiny and oily for me.

I am not a fan of the "Black IPA" style. If any brewery and beer series could change my mind it would be Boulevard Smokestack. While not bad by any means. I have just never been a fan of how the hops and malts intermingle. This one is particularly resinous and oily for my tastes with a bready, burnt toast flavor that does not mesh for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 22:44:46 | More by champ103

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.61/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2012-3
08-2013

A= Pours a nice black color with a huge beige colored head that holds great retention and lacing. A rediculous head actually. I should have poured it a littl more carefully but it was a hard read.

S= Huge hop aroma with a nice roast character. Mostly just a big sexy hop smell though.

T= The taste is a little muddled. There is of course the big hop flavor but the black roasty flavor plays a bit in the bitterness as well. These Black IPAs are a little confusing for me tongue. The rye component is nicely represented with a spicyness that works well with the hops.

M= The mouth is a nice creamy feel.

O= This is a solid Black ale. I personally find the style to be a little goofy. There is just so much flavor packed into a beer that it all just sort of falls together. I don't know if it's just me but they seem a little muddled. They still taste good but they all sort of taste the same to me. It's taken a few to understand it but I think for me most part it's hard to make a Black Ale that is different.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 00:42:40 | More by jjanega08

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.64/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle from Sherlock's (Marietta, GA). 8.98. Best by 08/13. Served in a Boulevard tulip snifter.

Pours dark brown with russet edges and an explosive three and a half fingers of deep cream head that stubbornly sticks around impeding my way to the brew. That dense head leaves plenty of lacing.

Aromas of piney and floral hops with a spicey bread base backing it up.

Taste of bitter piney hops dominate up front followed by flower pedals, citrus rind, white peppercorn, spicy rye, bark, wet grass, mild roast malts and an almost chalky/ powdery aspect. Very little booze presence.

Medium body with a heaping helping of carbonation. Dry, bitter finish.

The spicy rye character adds an interesting twist to the American black ale. A nice hop profile with spicy rye taking the place of the expected roasty malts. A oleasant experience overall but a little more roast and dialing back the carbonation by 30-40% would really help this stand out in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 07:32:34 | More by ThickNStout

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

3.66/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle dated with a Aug 2013 best by date. Poured from a bomber into a large wine glass.

A - Poured black and clear. One-finger light brown head. Lasted throughout the entire glass. Excellent lacing.

A - A little floral, not much else. Even let it warm up and still nothing additional.

T - Hops throughour with a nice bitter in the finish. Hints of pepper and slightly sweet.

MF - Dry. Fizzy at the start with some creaminess in the finish.

O - I had high expectations for this beer based on other Boulevard beers. I was disappointed. I would not turn down a glass but it would not be my first choice when looking for a black rye IPA. Wookey Jack has spoiled me.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 21:26:27 | More by Sludgeman

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I’d have never thought that I would ever be on a Black IPA kick, but here I am. These beers just keep jumping off the shelves at me.

Batch 3 of 2012, brewed late, I’m guessing – the best-by date is 08-2013, well over four months after the date of this tasting.

A: All head, even from a gentle pour: a thick, foamy, brown monstrosity stretches four fingers above the small amount of brick-red body. The chunky lacing and retention looks excellent, but minutes pass before I can actually sip the beer under all that foam – a tough trade-off.

S: Chalky mineral aromas rise tall out of the glass, followed by a Fruity Pebbles wheat-and-hop scent of lemon, grape, cherry, and grain husk – an odd mix of tones, indeed, and one that makes the aromas seem slightly artificial. Milk chocolate with hints of vanilla and spicy cinnamon draw some attention underneath, to the malt base, but the crux of this nose is its surprising fruitiness.

T: A blend of zesty hops and sweet, earthy malt. The front end is loaded with a catty, lemon rind bitterness, hops that give more Noble flavor than expected for this style – that said, their refreshing bitterness is not unwelcome, as are the white grape and pepper notes that accompany them. The bitterness doesn’t linger long before malt flavor envelopes them, surging with indistinguishable sugar tones. It’s tough to put a finger on which malts are doing the talking, because it really just fills the beer out with a sustained sweetness; marshmallow, chocolate, and toast (though mild) are the most evident tastes, but it’s tough to pick out anything more substantial than that. Toward the end, the palate dries up to a lingering taste of pine – standard fare for an IPA.

M: Just like the ridiculous amount of head showed, this beer is as light and frothy as foamed milk. Only slightly astringent due to the lack of acidic tastes in the hops, but dry enough to keep this in IPA territory (though just enough).

O: This is a pretty good Boulevard beer – Boulevard, though, has the proven capability to put out some of the best beers on the planet. I think the malts went a little far in this beer, really; complexity is alright, but it’s even better to accentuate the best from a certain style of grain or two. I feel like the brewers tried to include EVERYTHING a grain bill could offer, which ends up being too complicated to truly enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:26:50 | More by BarryMFBurton

drabmuh

Maryland

3.81/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Boulevard smokestack series glass, cause I can. Beer is dark brown to black with a nice big head of small bubbles, lots of lacing, nice retention, moderate carbonation, looks good.

Aroma is hoppy, sweet, smells like cascade hops if you ask me.

Beer is medium to light in body, hoppy, mildly to moderately bitter on the finish, I dn't get a lot of rye in there but it is a nice beer overall. Probably not a repeat but there's nothing wrong with it, it is a fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:10:41 | More by drabmuh

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml served in a Sam Adams perfect pint

A - Pours a very dark brown body with thick 2 finger head that has very nice staying power. Average lacing.

S - Roasted malts, pine, sweet toasted bread, rye and alcohol vapors. The aroma is faint.

T - Pine and roasted black malts, spicy rye shows up well, dry and bitter with a sharp spiciness. The spicy bitterness continues into the long dry finish.

M - Moderate foamy carbonation, medium body, dry finish.

Very focused flavors here. It's not overly roasted and the rye seems to be well incorporated. The aroma was a little weak but all in all a solid Black.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:58:34 | More by StaveHooks

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A deep brown almost black pour with tons o fluffy white head which dissipated slowly. Great amount of lacing left behind. The smell is sweet yet grassy, caramel, slightly oxidized. The flavor is a beast, lots of sweet floral hippy flavors yet a toasty bitterness from the grain bill. Caramel, bready, but not sweet. Medium body with moderate carbonation.

This is one of the better black iPa's I've had, on par with wookie jack.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 23:25:35 | More by facundoCNB

emerge077

Illinois

3.86/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown pour, black in the glass. Copious foam, billowing head that quickly threaten to spill over. Healthy lasting skim, and good head retention on display.

Aroma is fairly subdued, swirling releases some volatiles that is momentarily unpleasant. Fusel, green grass, and odd bread dough yeast notes. Later its more typical mellow roast malt and dried fruit hop notes.

Dry roasted malt backbone, hops are subdued but lend some dry bitterness in the aftertaste and some vague dried citrus peel in the middle. Slightly watery feel. Not one of the more successful beers in the smokestack series, but not bad overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 02:41:52 | More by emerge077

cvm4

Mississippi

3.86/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours black as rootbeer with a light khaki head.

S - Seems rather muted here. Light earth & pine hops with a good roasted malt bill.

T - That rye spice is kicking through with a good amount of roasted malts. Light pine hop once the first flavors subside.

M - Medium bodied, really meaty, and medium to high carbonation.

O - One of the better black IPA's I've had. Just needs a bit more nose to add to the character of the beer. To me, it's like a porter knocked up a by an ipa, good combo.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:08:34 | More by cvm4

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.89/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mostly black pour, some brown edges on the bottom. Light brown head. Epic retention. Spicy, floral hop notes in the aroma, some pine too, with subtle notes of roast and chocolate. Big spicy rye zest up front in the taste, some pine resins, backing roasted notes with an astute bitterness. Lighter, but creamy body, carbonation is good.

Super solid ABA.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 00:16:13 | More by EgadBananas

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

For me, the dividing lines between Black IPA's, Cascadian Ales and Rye Ales are pretty blurry. None of these are my favorite styles, and Honestly it's a little tough to figure where to place this one, but seeing as it's Boulevard Smokestack Series, I knew my risk of exploration was low.

A: Looks great, pours a very very deep dark brown. Not cloudy but only the slightest bit of ruby light gets in around the edges. Lovely big thick explosive light cocoa / khaki head that clings to the edge of the glass like thick sticky frosting.

N: I really didn't get as much out of the nose as I was expecting. Relatively thin and hop forward, with very little roastiness or rye notes. Grapefruit and some piney hoppiness were the main elements.

T: Relatively similar to the nose. Citrus, Evergreen and pine hops make up the bulk of the flavors, with a bit of rye spice and roasted malts, but only in the finish. Blindfolded, I could imagine myself calling this out as an American Pale Ale or IPA.

MF: Quite nice, with a creamy feel, coating the mouth and tongue well. Very well carbonated, keeping refreshment high.

O: A nice beer, definitely enjoyable, not quite to the same level as what I've come to expect from Boulevard. I would buy it again, but only if I was jonesing for a Black IPA for some reason.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 15:57:01 | More by JeffreyJDavis

zhanson88

Montana

3.91/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours out a dark brown color with a couple inches of light tan head. I can tell there is a good amount carbonation. Really attractive looking beer.

Smell: Smells of light roast/chocolate malts with some rye breadiness thrown in there as well. A good amount of citrus as well as some pine hops come through as well. Nice. Nothing really sticks out above anything else. Pretty balanced.

Taste: Pretty light roast notes up front with a bit of bready dryness, with citrus and pine on the back end and finish. Again, very well balanced. The hops compliment the malt character nicely.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Mouthfeel is perfect. Light-medium bodied and drinks extremely smoothly. It probably drinks like it is less than 7% ABV. Overall, a nice black IPA. This is a pretty hit and miss style for me, but I enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:29:32 | More by zhanson88

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.91/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Americo’s bottle. Brown with a big head, lacy, and a hoppy aroma. meets the style with emphasis on hops rather than roastiness. Tasty and good drinkability. Satisfying. This brewery continues to bring out quality new releases. A tad above average mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 12:31:36 | More by northyorksammy

zachary80

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml Cork&Cage. Loud pop of the cork. Printing on the label leads me to think it falls into the category of an IPA that is black, rather than falling towards the other angles of

Pours a dark chocolate brown, approaching black. Huge beige head, over half the glass on an initial careful pour. As its settling down its leaving 100% lacing, only missing spots where there were bubbles.

Aroma is somewhat muted, light earthy hop/malt combination. Cascade? Could be much much stronger.

The flavor, on the other hand, is great. Different from every other Black IPA I've had, but very much a good representative of the style (ABA, CDA, BIPA- I tend to lean towards the last).

Mouthfeel would be thin for a stout or porter but fine in a single IPA, and appropriate for the style. Don't notice anything here from the rye however.

Overall this is a great Black Rye IPA. I would love to see it in four or six packs, and would be excited to try an imperial take on the same beer. Aroma is really the only thing holding it back, which is a pretty big component of my appreaciation of IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:01:09 | More by zachary80

oberon

North Carolina

3.94/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a deep roasted chesnut brown with a large blooming light beige colored head atop that takes forever to settle leaving a nice full ring behind.Resiny hops stand out most in the nose along with a shot of spicy rye,not much roast.Quite dry on the palate with a healthy dose of citric/resiny hops,there is a sharpness from the rye but it's not in your face,somewhat grainy and earthy but not a whole lot of roast.A well hopped ABA that doesn't have alot of the "black" components,still a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 20:56:18 | More by oberon

zeff80

Missouri

3.96/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet dark brown color with a two-finger, khaki colored head of foam. It left sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of pine and roasted malt.

T - Piney hop bitterness with roasted malt and dark chocolate flavors. Light citrus notes, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is yet another fine Smokestack beer from Boulevard.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 20:24:47 | More by zeff80

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 3/2013. Pours clear very dark brown color with a nice 2 finger dense light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of grapefruit, orange zest, orange rind, tangerine, floral, pine, grass, toast, spicy rye, light roasted malt, and floral earthiness. Very nice aromas with big presence of citrus hop notes with some moderate malt presence. Taste of grapefruit, orange zest, orange rind, lemon zest, tangerine, floral, pine, grass, toast, roasted malt, spicy rye, and floral earthiness. Moderate floral pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, citrus zest, pine, floral, toast, spicy rye, and floral earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of citrus hop flavors; with a moderate roast/rye malt balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a moderately creamy, crisp, and sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice black IPA. Nice balance of hop complexity and malt; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:58:54 | More by superspak

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Weird style!

Pours out a very deep, dark brown with tons of ruby highlights and a huge, khaki/tan head.

The aroma is more hop forward than I have come to expect from Black IPAs/American Black Ales. There is a decent amount of citrus, pine, grapefruit and a hint of mango. There are some very lightly toasted malt notes coming through and some rye notes too.

The taste is also very hop forward; grapefruit, orange peel, pine and some mango and apricot. This is followed by the very lightly roasted/toasted malt notes with a hint of chocolate. There is some rye spiciness in there and some bready notes.

The body is medium and the mouthfeel is creamy. The ABV is nicely hidden.

This is one of the better Black IPAs/American Black Ales I have tried. It stays hoppy without throwing in a ton of huge roasted notes and the rye gives it some nice complexity. If you're usually turned off of these beers because of the huge Stout notes, try this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 23:50:29 | More by JohnnyMc