Boulevard Chocolate Ale: The White Whale

[bobbyhawks]

I just realized, I still have one in the back of the fridge from last year.

[mean]

That's not really the kind of beer I would generally consider aging...

[kcjak]

Thought I'd stop by and pick up a couple bottles to try...went to 2 Berbiglias, an independent liquor store, Sun Fresh/Midtown and World Market: all were sold out by the time I got there around 10:30. Maybe next year

[smh]

They made 250% more of it this year. More than they've ever made of any limited release or seasonal Smokestack. The hype is crazy. Again.

[mean]

Good for them, but it's not that great imo.

[KCMax]

Julia(n) has it on tap today.

[kcjak]

Good for them, but it's not that great imo.

Yeah, I'm happy for Boulevard, but I want to taste for myself to see what the fuss is about. Plus this year they were to have added more choco flavor. It didn't help that several local news stations did pieces on this over the past few weeks.

[bobbyhawks]

That's not really the kind of beer I would generally consider aging...

I generally don't consider aging any beer on purpose, so it was a surpise for me to find it in the back of my fridge.

[PumpkinStalker]

I just realized, I still have one in the back of the fridge from last year.

Talked to Ryan at Rieger yesterday after work and he said he forgot he had one under the bar in a cabinet. He tried it almost a year later and it was horrible. Definitely not a beer you want to age.

Berbiglia at Martini Corner had it at 11:45 when I went through the line. Limit one.

Grand Slam had plenty because they were holding them up like they were golden goose eggs as you walked in the door, shouting "$20! $20! $20!" I walked out. I love the beer, but no way in hell am I getting ass raped on the price. I paid $10.99 at Berbiglia, should only be a $8.99 bottle, but I was willing for the $2 upcharge because I'd pay that anyway if it was that price. I wouldn't pay $20.

[KCPowercat]

I feel like its tooooo hyped which is making me not want it as much. If a see it on tap ill definately order one though.

[KCMax]

http://the816.com/fun/where-to-find-bou ... olate-ale/

[phuqueue]

The Chocolate Ale is impressive (or last year's batch was, at least) insofar as so many beers are supposed to taste like something and this one really does actually taste like chocolate, and does it without being disgusting. But I don't actually love chocolate that much, so it was worth having one and then I didn't really need to try it again. If I were in MO I'd probably have one again, but I don't need more than that per year. It was really easy to find in St. Louis last year, Pi (on Delmar at least, not sure about other locations) and iTap in Soulard both had it on tap for a long time and I'm sure other places did too. Probably wouldn't have gone super out of my way to acquire a bottle or anything. I'd get a glass of it at the Rieger though.

That's not really the kind of beer I would generally consider aging...

I generally don't consider aging any beer on purpose, so it was a surpise for me to find it in the back of my fridge.

There are definitely some beers you should age, but I wouldn't expect Chocolate Ale to be one of them (and it sounds as though that has been confirmed).

[brewcrew1000]

If someone asks for Chocolate Ale at some dive bar that doesn't know about the beer wonder if they give them Natural Ice with a splash of Hersey Syrup

[cknab1]

My wife got 4 bottles at the westport Sunfresh this morning about 10. They had a limit of 4.

[smh]

I got a bottle at Cosentino's downtown. Limit 1.

[shaffe]

I stopped by Hy-Vee on NW 64th street today at 11:45 and they already had a sign on the door saying they were sold out.

I wonder if Boulevard plans on distributing any more? They made 2.5 times more so surely there's more product out there, maybe another couple of shipments is planned. Or maybe I'm just SOL unless I hunt across the city (which I don't really plan on doing).

[smh]

I wonder how much more of the extra production went into bottles vs. kegs?

[PumpkinStalker]

I wonder how much more of the extra production went into bottles vs. kegs?

Wondered the same thing. It's definitely pretty easy to find on tap. Anybody who really wants to try it should not have any problem finding a bar that has it if they go this week.

[pash]

.

[midtown]

It seems to be relatively plentiful at the craft beer type stores in the twin cities. Of course, there are seemingly very few boulevard fanatics here. It works out nicely for me because they seem to distribute nearly everything (even the limited smoke stacks) here...