Boulevard Seeyoulator Doppelbock- Beer Review

Yeah yeah I know. It has been awhile since I reviewed a beer. Starting up a new business has been sucking up all my free time. The good news is that I have not stopped shopping for beer. This time the victim will be Boulevard Seeyoulater Dopplebock, which is from their smokestack series.

Boulevard Seeyoulater Doppelbock -
Boulevard Brewing Co - Kansas City, MO

Description: A Doppelbock aged on cedar, it will be released along with Bob’s ‘47 Oktoberfest near the end of August. Medium amber in color, Seeyoulator offers a heady, estery banana aroma. A luscious maltiness predominates, with balancing notes from Hallertau hops. Cedar aging lends just a hint of spice to the finish. ABV- 8.5%

Smitty's Review: Sampled at 45 degrees in my new (and favorite) Samuel Adams beer glass. The pour is a nice copper amber with a dissipating beige head and spotty lacing. The nose is very inviting, with notes of berries, vanilla, and caramel malts. Medium bodied with a smooth mouth feel. Flavor of caramel and Munich malts that are quickly overpowered by the cedar characteristics of sawdust, pepper, herbs, and tobacco. The malts and cedar also give this beer some bourbon nuances, especially with the amount of residual sweetness. The finish is semi-dry and spicy, with more cedar that lingers on the palate. I think this is the first wood-aged Doppelbock that I have tried. This was enjoyable, but I doubt that I would make a repeat purchase at this price point. Ayinger Celebrator is still my Dopplebock of choice in Nashville.

Rating*: 8.0 out of 10

Recommended Food Pairing: White cheeses (Gouda, Havarti, Guyere), Venison, German Cuisine, grilled pork. The cedar aging would also pair well with some mild to medium cigars.

Value: A tad on the pricey side ($11.99 per 750ml)

Beer Audience: Beer aficionados, fans of German-style beers

Where To Buy: Midtown Wine and Spirits, Graces Plaza Wine & Spirits, Red Dog, Cool Springs Wine and Spirits, most liquors stores with a craft beer section.

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)

Nashville Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival

I should have posted this earlier, but better late than never. I am not a fan of bourbon, but I sure love BBQ and Beer. This event on being held at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on November 7 from 12 noon to 7pm. Go to the website for more information and tickets.

Cheers

Smitty

Random Brews News- October

I am happy to report that my trip to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF)was....uh...great! Congratulations to local brewpub Blackstone Brewery for capturing a gold medal in the Brown Porter category. This honor was awarded for their St. Charles Porter. I may sound like a homer, but I think it's the best brown porter I have tried in my several years of beer traveling. Check back later for a pictures and a report on my GABF trip.

Several seasonal beers are on the shelves, including Octoberfests and Pumpkin Beers. One of my favorite pumpkin beers is Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. It is available at most liquor stores with a high gravity beer section.If you have not tried it, you won't be disappointed (unless you hate pumpkin spices)

Cool Springs Brewery is now open. I tried to stop by for a late lunch and they were about to closed for the afternoon. I am not sure why, but they were getting ready to install a new sign. Perhaps that had something to do with it. I left disappointed as I was looking forward to trying their beers and pizza. I am not sure when I will be on that side of town again, but I will report back when I do. If any of you have been there, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section.

Wine Down Main Street in Franklin is fast approaching. The tasting will be held November 6th from 7 to 10pm. Don't let the event title fool you, they are going to feature high gravity beers tasting according the release:

"In addition to hundreds of wine selections available for tasting, organizers have announced a new High Gravity Beer Section that will be located at Landmark Booksellers and Cadence Bank during the event. There will be approximately 15 to 20 High Gravity Beers to taste, including brands such as: Stone, Dogfish Head, Rogue, Ommegang, Duval and more."

My hat is off to the organizers for understanding that beer is just as sophisticated as wine. Advance tickets are available online or on the Boys & Girls Club website

Hallmark Volkswagen
620 Bakers Bridge Rd.

Character Eyes
407 Church Street, Suite 1

What's in Store
407 Main Street

The Faye Snodgrass Gallery
344 Main Street

Boys & Girls Club of Franklin / Williamson County
129 W. Fowlkes St, Suite 1000

Boycott Monster Energy Drinks

I am the type of guy that likes to keep politics to myself, and I rarely take an activist mindset. For those who have not read this story, Hansen Beverage Company is using their huge corporate coffers to bully Vermont-based Rock Art Brewery. Rock Art makes a beer called "Vermonster" and Hansen is the maker of the Monster energy drinks. Here are some excerpts from a Hansen Beverage Company letter sent to some fellow beer bloggers:

Please note that Hansen Beverage Company presently has not filed a lawsuit against Rock Art Brewery, LLC.

Hansen had sent a "cease and desist" letter to Rock Art Brewery on September 4, 2009, after learning that Rock Art had filed an application to register a federal trademark throughout the United States in connection with "Vermonster" in July 2009.

In order to protect Hansen’s valuable Monster Energy(R) trademarks,Hansen is legally obliged to, and routinely sends, cease and desist letters to any entity and person who use or attempt to register similar trademarks for products that are similar or related to Monster(R) products.

Please see the attached response from Hansen Beverage Company about the cease and desist letter sent to Vermonster.

Regards,

Consumer Relations
Hansen Beverage Company

This is nothing more than needless corporate bullying. Do they honestly think that a 10% Barley Wine is "similar or related to" a n0n- alcoholic energy drink? Did they send a cease and desist letter to Ben and Jerry's for their Vermonster ice cream sundae? How about Brooklyn Brewery for their Monster Ale? Not that I am aware of. That is probably because those companies have the funds to fight bogus trademark infringement claims.

Hansen Beverage Company chose Rock Art Brewery because they know they are too small to fight back. Please watch this video from Rock Art brewer Matt Nadeau explaining the ordeal from their end. They want him to cease and desist selling a 10th annivesary beer that he has already bottled!



It's maddening that Hansen Berverage Company would threaten the livlihood of Matt and his employees over a product that HAS NO SIMILARITY to their product. Hansen knows they can't win in court, but they also know that Rock Art does not have the funds to fight them.

I am praying that a ground swell of negative publicity will force Hansen to back off and leave Rock Art alone. Spread the word. Tell your local beer store to stop carrying Monster and to tell their reps why. If your kids drink that Monster crap, make them switch to another brand. Do whatever you can to send a message that needless corporate bullying of a small business will not be tolerated.

Cheers

Smitty