Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Wow! A pilsner with a plus 90 rating! Wait, it says Imperial in front of it. But this is a damn fine, simple pilsner from Boulevard. No bells and whistles. No extra dry hopping. Just a bigger ABV pils that is clean and lovely. Good bubbly look to this dark yellow hued beer. Some notes of vanilla sneak in but mostly grain tastes here.
And I like the Nigel Tufnel name check too.
First things first, this is the Boulevard branded version of Terra Incognita. Now onto what else I am watching/listening/reading while reviewing. Why? Because great craft beer makes me enjoy all the good things in life. Kinda new age-y but that is fine. So I am on a season 1 of Fringe kick right now. If you are a Netflix-er. Catch it there. I am also a big fan of the ESPN/Bill Simmons/McSweeney’s mash-up Grantland. Funny and spot on sports reporting/commentary as well as culture analysis of Mad Men that will leave you rolling.
On to this mash up of Chico and Kansas City…..The cork shot out of this bottle. Lots of foam initially, followed by a big blast of barrel aged notes. Whiskey. Not bourbon heavy. Still quite effervescent after settling down. Getting some acidity and hop bitterness after the oaky notes fade. Amazing that it is 8.5% when you consider how strong the aroma and taste is. But it is indeed light when you let it linger on the tongue.
The Brewery – Boulevard
The Beer – Nutcracker Winter Ale
The Details:
“Nutcracker Ale is Boulevard’s holiday gift for real beer lovers. This hearty, warming brew is a classic winter ale, deep amber in color, with hints of molasses balanced by the “spiciness” of freshly harvested Chinook hops.”
Our craft beer distribution is an imperfect but workable system. But from time to time, I wish I could lay my hands on some beers that other folks take for granted. I was reminded of this when Great Divide Brewing started bringing their beers to Los Angeles last year. I was glad to see Hibernation and Claymore in the stores but it got me to thinking about other breweries that I would like to see here in SoCal.
So here is this months list:
Boulevard Brewing – They get to Oregon! How about some Double Wide IPA love here.
Nebraska Brewing – Again, seen them in Oregon. Move a bit south.
50/50 Brewing – I wish they could hop a lift on the Firestone-Walker supply train.
I have had this lovely large corked bottle of Dark Truth in my ‘fridge for awhile and finally I decided to open it. It is part of Boulevard Brewing‘s Smokestack series, of which there is lot’s of great beers. A Belgian collaboration in particular.
Now I am up to 33! But sadly no new states are in my possession. But I do have trips to the OBF and to the Stone 14th Anniversary bash so I think I may be able to tick at least 2 states of my list, if not more.
As always, any help is appreciated. Click on the PDF to your left to see what I have done and if you can help. I will donate money to a food bank in your neck of the woods.
Nutcracker Ale is Boulevard’s holiday gift for real beer lovers. This hearty, warming brew is a classic winter ale, deep amber in color, with hints of molasses balanced by the “spiciness” of freshly harvested Chinook hops.
