A special thanks to Tim for bringing this to me straight from Kansas City.
There comes a time in the development of every good beer drinker, home brewer, craft brewer, chef, and foodie where they develop a mild - or major - obsession with all things Belgian... at least when it comes to edibles. Weather it be pommes frites with untold combinations of aioli or beers with untold combinations of complex flavors, the Belgians know how to create amazing flavor combinations. Sixth Glass from Boulevard Brewing, like many American craft beers, takes on the challenge of crating a beer that stands up to the centuries of beer tradition found in Belgium. They have succeeded.
Sixth Glass is a complex "Quadrupel" ale and part of Boulevard's Smokestack Series. The devil and lightning bolts on the early 20th century tonic-style label should serve as a warning to the elixir inside. Sixth Glass proves to be as alluring as the snake oil pedaled at general stores one hundred years ago. Just a sip turns into just a glass and just one more.
Sixth Glass pours the color of autumn leaves on an overcast day. The tan head sticks around just long enough to make some moderate lacing. A bit of coffee aroma immediately gives way to caramel and honey.... figs. A touch of ethanol reminiscent of rum.
For taste, alcohol right off the bat. Gives way to caramel and dried fruit candy. Sweet but somehow dry at the same time. Probably due to the spicy yeast character. Mouthfeel is vinous with alcohol warmth to match and at 10.5% ABV, it’s not far off on it’s intoxicating powers either.
Overall a quite complex beer that keeps you toasty - and tipsy - on a cold winter day. I suggest this beer for an alternative to red wine at a cheese tasting or with Spanish tapas. This is a sipper that should make an interesting pairing to many fatty foods. I wish I had some more bottles of this. It should only get better with age. The best by on this bottle was 01/17/13. Another year would have done wonders. That said, this beer was highly enjoyable.
One of the best beers out there on the market. If you can get your hands on it, they also make a double wit called Two Jokers, amazing as well.
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