#290: Boulevard Brewing Company » Rye-On-Rye (Barrel Aged Rye)

Boulevard Brewing Company » Rye-On-Rye (Barrel Aged Rye) | ABV: 12% | IBUs: 47
I picked up this Boulevard while out in California back in October. My partner & I both love rye and barrel-aged brews, so I figured this this well-rated, limited release would be a bit of bliss in a bottle.

Rye-On-Rye is a blended beer, 67% of the ale aged in scorched Templeton Rye barrels.

Strong aromas of pepper, rye, and butterscotch start this one off. It's a hazy, deep amber with a plentiful, off-white head that has just a tinge of straw to it.

Big, bold flavors burst onto the scene, kept in control by a deftly smooth body. Firm notes of grape musk, smooth rye whiskey, vanilla bean, and natural cola, bringing to mind an old ale with herbal & rooty characteristics. The lively carbonation keeps it light on it's feet for such a big beer, making Rye-On-Rye a smooth, easy sipper and a damn good beer.

#289: Boulevard Brewing Company » Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company » Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale | ABV: 8.5% | IBUs: 38
My last two out of state trips have yielded good selections of Boulevard brews I'll have a post coming soon reviewing their Rye-On-Rye and Bourbon Barrel Quad, but first this 12 oz. single of Tank 7, a farmhouse and a year-round ale in their Smokestack series.

My partner & I each picked up mixed sixers of brews we can't get in NYS to hang with back at our hotel in Philly. I'd grabbed mostly session beers, expecting good brews, but was not expecting to get bowled over as I did by this bottle.

Tank 7 pours out a rustic, hazy pale straw with foamy white head, emitting a funky, farmhouse nose with faint tropical fruit notes. It's crisp, with a medium bodied mouthfeel. Wonderfully balanced notes of hay, soft pepper spice, and lemon are supported by lively carbonation which expertly masks the 8.5% ABV.

Boulevard nailed the farmhouse style on the head with this one. Delightfully complex if you want to get heady with it, but subtly drinkable enough to throw down in succession. If / when Boulevard arrives in Upstate NY, this may end up being my go-to brew.

Coming soon...

Took a few trips in November... time to share the spoils with you all!

Wishlist!: Sierra Nevada & Boulevard Brewing - Terra Incognito (Sour/Wild Ale)

Heavily hopped brown ale with 45% aged in old wine foudres and 30% in whiskey barrels. If that weren't enough, the real kicker is after blending, it's bottled with Brettanomyces. YUM.

The 2013 batch (coming soon) will be distributed by Boulevard Brewing, so unfortunately, I may have to wait until 2014 when that version goes out through Sierra Nevada's distro. If any one within Boulevard's distro region wants to trade... let's chat.

Thanks to the wonderful Beer Street Journal for putting this beauty on my radar.