Boulevard Saison

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

Date: 05/10/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: cloudy dark yellow, wispy white head rouses easily to leave sudsy lace,
Aroma: light sweet malt aroma with a nice spicyness,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: lots of spicy malt flavor, light bitterness comes out of the spicyness to add balance for the sweet malt, lasting bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Found this in a bottle shop in Minneapolis. I wasn’t really expecting too much from this bottle when I found out that this was made in Kansas City. However, I was presently surprised at how well done this example of saison really was. Pours a pale hazy yellow with a huge thick white head that lasts for the whole duration of drinking. Very flowery nose, sweet hay, a bit of musty and horse-like smell, followed by a spicy sweetness of coriander, apricots, and lemons. Taste is very much the same with the sweet hay and coriander coming out strongly. Citrus notes take over where the coriander leaves off, a doughy flavor of malts shines through afterward. The finish is very dry and slightly tart. Almost perfect. This is one heck of a refreshing brew, be careful because you will consume this faster than normal. Great beer! What a surprise!

Caged corked 750 ml. bottle, a short blurb and batch number (S8053), along with glass and storage information, on the back label, sampled in a tulip glass. Sediment is visible in the bottle. L: Hazy pale straw golden in color with a quick rising, tight white head that ever so slowly sank into a thin bubbly, sudsy skim. A light amount of splotchy lace dots ring the glass. Not a bad start for this saison, traditional looking. S: Traces of a earthy mustiness at first, then lemon peel and pineapple juice gives this a sweet fruity citrus aroma. Further whiffs even bring out a little floral orange blossom. Framing the edges is a mild grainy wheat. The spices are pretty light, the softest touches of pepper and lemongrass. I don’t mind the sweet citrus fruit aroma, I just wish it was more tart. F&T: Airy light body and a good creamy crisp feel in the mouth, the right amount of carbonation and dryness, this is quite pleasant to consume. Thankfully in the taste, there is a good sweetly tart citric fruitiness, lemons, tangerines and a splash of pineapple juice. The earthy yeast really helps to dry things out. Tiny pinches of pepper and clove too. Doughy, floury wheat malts stay in the background, mainly just an underlining presence to the other flavors. Finishes on the dry, tart citric hop side, the Amarillo hops shine thru in the finish, making me raise the score a bit because I like Amarillo hops. The citric spiciness and the yeast gives this saison an approvingly dry, crisply clean finish. This is an interesting variation on the saison style, enough traditional ingredients to mix with the distinctively American twists. If you can find it, well worth trying.

Bottle. Body-hazy yellow with a half inch foamy head. Nose-very floral with low perfume, coriander, light lavender and heather. Taste-high floral hops (aroma), low spice, grapefruit, hops are all over this through and through. Very clean finish, very quick and clean. An outstanding saison, albeit a little hoppy-should that cost it points? I liked this very much.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, pale yellow body with a small, white head. Smell: Aroma of pale malts and wheat charged with notes of dull citrus, a slice of multi-grain bread, dried flowers, rustic spices, and grass. Taste: Pale malts and wheat malt with a touch of sweetness. Some spices, some dustiness. Faint hint of banana. Floral, grassy taste. Mild bitterness. Citrusy, semi-dry finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Fairly refreshing and easy to drink. Not a bad lil’ saison.

Good stuff! Floral aroma. Lots of hops. Flavor is the same. Very dry mouthfeel and a bitter pungent finish. Notes of citrus, and a full body. Lively carbonation, and a small tightly beaded head that lingers. A great saison.

Bottle at Paul’s Hoboken Gathering: Cloudy yellow with a frothy white head. Fresh nose with some mild hoppiness, lemon peel and fresh grass. Frothy body, with a balanced flavor of white pepper, lemon peel and a refreshing hint of coriander. A nice Saison.

Bottle. Pours hazy yellow with 2 finger white head. Aroma/taste is floral, lemon zest, honey, belgian yeast, and spices.