Boulevard Maibock

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
Kansas City, Missouri USA

Had on tap at an Old Chicago. A light version for the style, but not bad. Highly drinkable, just lacking complexity.

Pours a reddish gold color with thin white head. Aroma is grassy, with hints of sweet malts. Flavor is similar with notes of clover honey. Mouthfeel is watery. To me, it almost tasted like a kolsch with a bit more sweetness. It just didn’t work for me. Just kind of bland and watery.

On tap at The Flying Saucer KC. Pours a dark gold with a creamy white head. The nose is of big, doughy malt; simple but pleasant. Medium-bodied and lightly grainy with a clean finish. The flavor follows the nose, predominantly clean, doughy and yeasty with a kiss of grassy hops at the finish. Overall, it’s a decent enough example of the style, and it’s a style that I enjoy. Frankly, however, I think it falls short of the Maibocks brewed at just about every brewpub in the area.

Shaker pint on tap at the Coyote Grill in Leawood, Kansas. Pour is clear golden, with no head to speak of - what’s there is white. A bunch of fine carbonation bubbles to the top. Aroma of grassy slightly sweet grainy toasted maltiness. Clean, but faint - this was server very cold, so it took awhile for it too warm up and actually display any aroma. Taste of sweet, floral maltiness. Grainy, full flavored, really nice spice clove mild honey notes. Behind the malt and sweetness is a touch of hop bitterness in the finish. Palate is medium, coats a bit then frees up to a drier finish (with hops present). Really flavorful and easy drinking. I wasn’t expecting too much from this, but was really impressed. Though, looking at the ratings I seem to be in the minority.

Tap at a Buffalo Wild Wings. Medium gold colred body with a bright white head. Grassy and malted smells up front with some light orange peels. The taste is malty grass and light orange peels. There is a lingering bitter finish. Drinkable with a light body, but it is nearly like a low quality pils. Man, this is way below par for a Boulevard effort.

On tap at the Flying Saucer in KC. Pours a crystal clear, pale golden body with an inch thick, foamy, bright white head that dissipates slowly and leaves a lot of soapy lacing. The aroma is big on the honey. Lots of pale malts and buttery toffee as well as noticeable corn. Some light melon fruits and German, grassy-grainy hops. Similar flavor. Lots of honey and grainy malts. Some light grassy hops giving it a melony-citrus taste. Dry in the finish with a medium, malty body. Overall, a solid maibock with enough clean, crisp flavors to satisfy me. Nothing too exciting, but balanced and refreshing.

On tap at the Agave Bar and Grill in Coralville. Nothing really too special in the aroma. I get a decent amount cereal grains, and lighter straw grass and mild citrus hops. Poured from the tap with a small fluffy white head though the beer was poured a little too close to the top. Not alot of retention or lacing, lightly cloudy in the body, and burnt amber in color. Again, with the taste some cereal and bready grains, straw grass bitterness, light drowned out citrus, a hint of sugary milder fruits, and light slightly off-bitter rusty quality. Not watery but lighter in body with a fair amount of carbonation. A pretty mediocre beer.

One of boulevards few lagers. Not as good as some of their ales but good nonetheless. Very smooth and easy to drink. A nice sweet taste to it. Wish they bottled it.