Boulevard Brewing Co.
Dark Truth Stout (Smokestack Series)
American Double/Imperial Stout
Missouri
9.7%
12oz, 4-Pack
$11.49
Pours a nice two finger head of dense, dark brown microfoam, even surface with minimal dimpling, retention is above average, leaves quite thick streaks of lacing behind as well. Obligatory pitch black liquid, opaque yet near the surface you can just make out a strong presence of bubble beads, little to no hue change to orange or yellow. Powerful nose of bitter dark chocolate, roasted coffee, caramel, flowers, licorice and plum to cherry fruit, there’s cereal grains and oats in there plus some pine sap and more leafy herbaceousness, has a good deal of discernible hops for the category and in no way overly sweet. Full-bodied, while generally creamy in texture it is on the dry side and can stiffen up on you. Again lots of chocolate, here the licorice to anise almost outmatches the coffee, molasses, caramel, certainly plays into enlivening the flowers and white citrus. Fewer grains but more pine and garden herb notes. At times smoky, does a great job of shifting on you so you can’t really peg it down. Takes awhile for you to more consistently register the plum, date, golden raisin, cherry fruit. Long lasting without being pushy, you taste it some time after you have swallowed. An achievement of complexity without excessive makeup.
5 out of 5