Yesterday I finally tried Boulevard's latest Smokestack release, the Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ for short). The BBQ was originally scheduled to be released right after the Brett-Saison in October. That released was pushed back until it finally arrived last week in liquor stores -- where it disappeared quickly.
I visited several liquor stores trying to find it, and they all said they'd received a couple of cases at most. "At first we only got the one case and the employees bought all that," grumbled the manager of a store on State Line.
Expectations are high for any new Boulevard product. The fact that the BBQ costs a premium -- anywhere from $13 to $15 dollars for 750 ml -- yet sold out its first run speaks to Boulevard's reputation in this town.
I finally managed to nab a couple of bottles, and since my doctor says it's not healthy to drink alone I invited a few people for an oldifashioned tasting.
BBQ's name derives from the fact it's aged in bourbon barrels -- in some cases for up to a year -- and boy, does this beer smell and taste like bourbon. I'm not recommending you do the following in the name of science but if you ever get the chance to make out with somebody who has drunk bourbon and beer versus somebody who has just drunk beer, you'll notice the bourbon a lot more. It's the same way with the BBQ -- those normal, reassuring beer smells, like yeast and hops, are lost amid the bourbon.
I wasn't surprised to smell the bourbon, but I was surprised that the cherry flavor was almost as strong. Boulevard added tart Oregon cherries to give the BBQ a little acidity and some fruit flavors, but cherry was only supposed to be one of many flavors. Per the BBQ press release: "The effect of barrel aging on this warming, full-bodied brew is quite remarkable: the cherry characteristics have all but disappeared, while toffee and vanilla notes have come to the fore."
In the two bottles tasted by our panel, the cherries had definitely not disappeared. The cherries give the BBQ a sweet taste and the fermentation process means this beer is creamy. We're talking cream soda creamy.
Actually, this beer feels less like a beer and more like an aperitifs or after-dinner drink. The panel agreed that the BBQ is best enjoyed by itself, since there are really no foods that would go with it. Despite the nickname, no one said they'd eat barbecue with the BBQ.
The panel was divided on the bourbon and the cherry taste. But I love to see Boulevard experimenting with different beers, and this will become a favorite for a lot of people who like the flavors it's bringing.
It has a taste unlike any other beer the panel had tried, and it's worth buying a bottle just for that.
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My first try of this, I was overwhelmed by the cherries. The second try, I didn't notice them as much, but then again, I was expecting them that time. :) I really like it!
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