With those beautiful colors and wide ranging styles, tastes, and smells, it SHOULD be what's for breakfast. Here we look to provide our humble opinions and information on "the Lord's brew", and take you along with us on our sober journey through the wonderful world of hops and barley.
A hot Sunday in June and some hard work under the sun screams for a fresh beer on the porch. Yoga, 6 mile run, mow the lawn, rip out two trees, repair the gutters. Honey-do list = complete. After a hard Sunday of sweat and grime, I believe I've earned myself an Upright Five from my personal stash of brews in the cellar that are only accessed under special circumstances or after amazing personal feats. A fresh and spicy saison, perfect to beat the heat and enter relaxation mode. I only wish I brought more back from my last trip to Portland.
We can't get upright here, as the brewery is very young and extremely small. I've been able to secure a few bottles through various northwest ventures and have been floored each time. Upright is quickly becoming one of my top 5 breweries. If you are ever in Portland it's a must visit brewery. I'll be back in December to bring home some more...taking limited orders now.
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle Glassware: Tulip Appearance: Translucent copper with huge and foamy white head Aroma: Hops, fresh cut grass, herbs, pepper and a touch of wood Taste: Robust bitter herb notes up front, a hint of sweetness in the middle (melon?), with a good hop bite at the end. Grade: 95/100 (A) Surroundings: Relaxing on Sunday evening with Chipotle and a great beer Musical Pairing:The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart in your Heartbreak
Last weekend, I threw up a post about having the strange luck of showing up in Portland the night Deschutes and Boulevard roll out their collaboration to the public. The blind squirrel finds a nut, eh? They weren't serving the final product, but one of three "test" batches. I decided to capitalize on my good fortune and shoot over to Green Dragon to try the brew. It poured a nice hazy orange, looks very unfiltered, with a light and thin head. Smells of sage and maybe a hint of lemon grass. The taste was very sage, almost a bit much, with hints of fresh cut grass, a saison/wheat flavor backbone, with a teeny bit of hop flavor. I question the "IPA" in the name a bit, but maybe the hops were hidden well by the sage and other spices.
Overall, the brew didn't knock me off my chair or anything, but I was pretty happy and was left very refreshed. To be honest, I can't recall tasting anything quite like it, so I'm not really sure what to compare it to...and being unique is a great thing in a industry with 1700 breweries. Again, this was only a test brew, so I expect the final product to be a little different, maybe a bit more refined. I definitely like where this beer is headed and can't wait for it's release later in the year. I'm drooling already...
Boulevard brew master, Steven Pauwels, found himself amongst welcoming Portlanders at Deschutes Portland Brew Pub and Green Dragon Bistro and Pub on Thursday. The crowd was able to enjoy the latest collaboration b/w Deschutes and Boulevard breweries. Unfortunately, most (all) of Kansas City missed the event...yet, by some twist of fate, I happened to fly into Portland Thursday night to visit family (and drink some amazing Northwest brews with JK). I was not able to attend the meet the brewer event either, but will be able to grab the "test" collaboration at Deschutes and/or Green Dragon tonight, barring they don't run out b/w now and then. If, nay, when I get my hands on some of this amazing collaborative brew, I'll report back to the KC crowd asap. (teasing) I guess it pays to have family in Portland, eh?
The Chocolate Ale Blitzkrieg was practically over in all of 3 days. It was here and it was gone before we knew what had happened. So, I'm showing up late to a party that's already over...but is it? I felt a little down that Boulevard's latest release had gone by the wayside in a matter of days, maybe a week, then I remembered the W.C. Fields quote: "Everybody should believe in something...I believe I'll have another beer." Why the heck did that pop in to my head, you ask? Well, it reminded me that we aren't interested in having just one taste or one beer. The true beer lover would have a few (if not many) tastes and enjoy every moment. The Boulevard connoisseur would not have purchased only one bottle to try; they would have given themselves the opportunity to try and try again. So I hypothesize there are many a brew lover out there (or at least in Kansas City) that have nestled away a tiny stash of Chocolate Ale to bring out to play another day. I didn't really miss the party at all, I just showed up at intermission...any of my friends will tell you, I'm late to everything.
I decided to wait to try the Chocolate Ale with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law while on a quick jaunt to Portland for some beer and Cake (band) over Valentines weekend. I know what you're thinking, 'Imbibilicious, what about your wife?!' Well, I did what any loving husband would do...I left her in KC. Don't worry, she was OK with me spending my V-day weekend with my other love, the sweet nectar known as beer.
The Boulevard/Christopher Elbow collaboration survived the trip from KC to PDX just fine. I was quite worried Portland security was going to confiscate the brew in baggage claim - not because it was a security risk, but because the people of Portland have a love for ale that's on another level. No offense to my fellow Kansas Citians, but we could all learn a lesson or two. Anyway, I digress. On to the tasting!!
We popped the cork and poured three generous servings into tasting snifters. I have to be honest, I was not expecting such a light ale color. I knew to expect something different, but I was stilled amazed...especially when the chocolate aroma hit my nose from three feet away. "Incredible!" I whisper to myself with eyes wide. On first sip, the chocolate was light and the ale was crisp and clean, but as the brew warmed in my hand, the chocolate seemed to creep out more deeply. In a way, it tasted as if someone at the brewery accidentally spilled Carnation Instant Breakfast in my beer before bottling. The flavor was unexpected, but very intriguing, and very believable. Much like adding the likes of Jack Black to Yo Gabba Gabba* made the show all the more appealing. I wanted more, but with three adults, the bottle was emptied too quickly. Luckily, I was able to nab a few for the cellar. You won't have to twist my arm to pop one open again soon.
*Yes, you read that right. I made a Yo Gabba Gabba reference in a beer blog. But it all the more explains the intriguing flavor I was getting from the Ale. Open YouTube. Look it up. Yo Gabba Gabba is a show for the 2 to 6 year old crowd, where current entertainment icons frequently make guest appearances, wear hilarious costumes, and sing some pretty fun songs...for younger folks. You should check it out some time (with your kid, niece or nephew, or a Boulevard Chocolate Ale, but never alone of course).
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle
Glassware: Tasting Snifter
Color (hue and head): Hazy, transparent, traffic light yellow (almost orange). Light and lacey head.
Aroma: Cacoa powder, soft, nutty.
Taste: Carnation, hint of fruit, nuts. Very light hop backbone. Inviting.
