Boulevard Smokestack Series - Imperial Stout

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Kansas City, Missouri USA

Serve in Snifter

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2008 bottling (Batch 1): Midnight black. Mountainous khaki head slowly morphs into a dense and retentive creaminess. Vinous, phenolic, leathery nose with dabs of molasses, blackcurrants, burnt fruitcake and distant roast and vanilla. Fluffy, weightless carbonation expands as it hits the palate. First sip yields an assortment of airy phenols and bittersweet chocolate which collide with a bright and chewy leathery twang. Harmonious interaction of vibrant espresso-laden malt, which gradually takes on a beefy molasses-drenched smokiness as it progresses, and muted yet snug charred oakiness. Malt character is profoundly rich and clean with resounding depth. Viscous chocolate syrup is buried deeply within. Notes of sweet cookie malt forms an agreeable alliance with the delicate vanillin oak grip while the roast lends a burnt cookie effect as it trails the crisp snap of char. Considerably dry despite the malty enormity, and notably phenolic for added vivaciousness and balance. Ample vinous acidity echoes the semi-acidic char which generates a mild tingle as it dovetails with the warming but alcohol. Spicy flash of star anise emerges in the wake of the alcohol which gracefully lifts the sweetness from the tongue. Finishes semidry with cocoa and a metallic malt edge, though heftily malty and multilayered with charred wood, snug tannins, and a juicy espresso and molasses-soaked plum tandem. It’s difficult to brew an Imperial Stout that juggles this kind of complexity and nuance. Utterly superb.

Black in color with just a small brown head. Intense roasted malt aroma along with some rich dark fruits. A mild oak and vanilla note in the background with some nice dark chocolate. The flavor is heavy on the roasted malt and dark chocolate with some more mild/subtle coffee and licorice notes. Mild to moderate oak and vanilla with a nice touch of dark fruit, such as black cherry.

750 ml bottle
Aroma: black cherries, whiskey, wood, chocolate, fruity alcohol, fruity
Appearance: dark black with a vanishing head
Taste: very similar to the aroma, I feel that there is a slight infection in this beer, there are cherry notes and an off sourness
Palate: starts off thick, has an oily character, and finishes sweet
Overall: not bad even with an infection, I did hope for more, I will have to try other bottles

2011 batch 1 bottle. It pours very dark brown with a brown head. The aroma jumps out as rich chocolate sauce with very nice mild notes of whiskey. Some nuttiness and light wood adds some complexity. The flavor is similar to the aroma. Incredibly thick rich body with noticeable whisky that makes it a bit slick on the palate. I can also pick up the oats in the creaminess of this brew. Big chocolate and tar with a little raisin and very present alcohol. Overall, I enjoyed this one. I thought the whiskey influence was spot on.

Bottle split into 3 and poured into an american pint glass. Batch 2011-2, Best by 1-2013. Aroma: coffee and earthy. lots of alcohol and a bit of sour Appearance: very black and no light able to make it through. very minimal head Taste: a bit of bitter and a decent amount of sour. slightly sweet Palate: average carbonation and medium body. creamy texture and slightly bitter finish. Overall: this was the batch that was infected with Brett. Can definitely taste the sour but haven’t tried a non-infected bottle. Better than their dark truth stout but I’ve had better. The alcohol was definitely very present and not hidden extremely well.

Pours a deep, oily black with little to no head to speak of. Quite a bit of alcohol in the aroma, along with some chocolate and anise/licorice. Licorice is really in the forefront of the flavor. There is some chocolate and some coffee, maybe some dark fruit, like plum or raisin. There’s also more than a touch of booze/alcohol to the flavor. This is a good imperial stout.

I found this brew to be absolutely devine! Rich, a little chocolatey, big vanilla and burnt sugar. Roasted coffee and leather help bring up the back end. Very complex, may not be for everyone. A little on the dessert side.

Deep black body with a creamy brown head. Malts dominated aroma with notes of grapes, wine: very interesting. Excellently balanced and very complex flavour.

Hefig-malziger Beginn mit im Mittelteil aufkommenden Schokoladennoten. Dann deutlich bitterer, weiche Getreidigkeit, vollmundig, dann noch schokoladiger, voll, kurz brennend. Süffig. 12/13/13/14/12/13

Black with a small tan head. Toasty malts and a little oak on the nose. Thick black coffee malts, cocoa, and a hint of vanilla. I was told this was a defected bottle I was drinking, but it was so good.

Bottle 14512, Batch 2
Almost black beer, slight tan head. Aroma of malts, bourbon, vanilla, roasted malts, American oak, slight red wine notes. Rather sweet malty, wood, vanilla, candied dark fruits. The slight sourness in the background balances it well. Full body, quite thick. Wood and burned malts in the finish. Very, very nice.
(From 75cL bottle @ RBBWG 2012, Antwerpen. Thanx for sharing, tderoeck!)