Boulevard Brewing Company Dark Truth Stout
What the brewers say
Layers of complex flavors slowly emerge from the glass: espresso, roasted fig, crème brulée. Belgian yeast provides a plum-like fruitiness; noble German hops reveal spicy, herbal notes, while the rich, velvety mouthfeel mellows to a dry, smoky finish.
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Unique notes in the aroma: some roasty character, red wine with some chocolate? Sweet and acetic with a hint of umami. Slight prune. Higher alcohols throughout the aroma. Some earthy toasty characters.”
Flavor: “Sweet dark malt character. Lots of esters: plums, raisin, prunes. Chocolate character is there, and the roast sits behind the fruit sweetness. Some bitterness helps to cut the sweetness toward the finish with some warming character. Much less sour than I expected from the nose. Malty sweetness with dried fruit esters hit first, followed by caramel coffee and alcoholic warmth.”
Overall: “This is a very sweet and fruity stout with nice dark fruit character, but it lacks some body and roast character. It lacks the richness of an imperial stout and needs more roast malt. Slight bitterness lingers in the finish.”
