Boulevard Nutcracker Ale

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Kansas City, Missouri USA

A rich mahagony brown body is topped by a fleeting, big-bubbled head. The aroma is very malty, heavy on the nuts, with backup notes of caramel and toast. There’s also a bit of baking spices, maybe cinnamon and nutmeg, but they’re not overpowering. The flavor is richly malty and slightly fruity. Pretty tasty.

2004. Poured from a 12oz bottle. Reddish color, tan head. Hoppy, fruity aroma. Good carbonation. Hoopy, fruity, bitter. Nice hops flavor. Some spiciness. 6/3/7/3/14 3.3 2004 bottle. re-rate 2 years later. These aggressive chinook hops are still showing their teeth but against a maltier beer than they are used to, creating a beer that reminds one of a poor mans Thomas Hardy Ale, many of the same flavors, but scaled way down. I think I have come to appreciate this beer a little more and they time certainly hasn’t hurt this beer.

So when exactly does this crack my nuts? Seriously. In my mind, anything labeled as a winter warmer should have the warming ABV to back that up. That aside, this is hardly a bad looking beer with a hazily glowing orange amber color and a wispy white head. Upon opening, a waft of spice hits the nose and once in the glass it takes on a mild mulled cider character. Medium bodied with carbonation that’s just a touch overzealous. Finishes with a touch of spiced astringency and a small, earthy blast of bitterness to round things out. Towards the end of this glass, I’m noticing just a hint of a buzz. Maybe that ABV is inflated.

Pours a murky red/brown, small white head. Aroma is malty, with a kick or hops. Flavor is spicy, malt, brown sugar, astringent palate. A nice brew. Thanks to Heemer.

12 oz bottle, 2004 edition...BBD 02/01/05 Amber hue, not much head...nose is hops, pine, toasted malt...Malty taste, spiced and hoppy...finished dry and bitter...not overpowering, not roasty...an odd sort of twang in the finish...as it warms, it takes on a rank alcohol drenched aroma with that "twangy" quality in the nose too...kind of gross and certainly disapointing, and the alcohol is apparent. I got some of this in the last Bob’s I had as well. The nose really starts to set it off...almonds, cabbage and coconut??? it seems almost vegetable to me, likely from the hops and yeast I guess, is this thing Spiced?? I just can’t take it.

Rusty orange with thin head. Nice hoppy aroma. The beer is pretty nicely hopped with a good citric base, then topped with a nice tree-sappy spiciness on top. Very nice.

Very creamy, lightly sour, hops besting the light carmel malts, resinous especially on the surface, light brown color, nut, spice (nutmeg?) and nuts. fadé?

In the bottle at the 2004 Crescent Moon Vintage Beer Tasting. This bottle was from 1996. Spices are mellow at this point. Medium body. Has possibly lost a little carbonation. This winter, I should give a fresh bottle a chance. UPDATE 11/2006: Orange with a yellow colored head. Slightly orange in aroma. A good hoppy citrus flavor. Quite good on tap at the Crescent Moon.