Boulevard Imperial Stout
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and a hint of dried dark fruit — figs or raisins — with a faint boozy warmth underneath. On the palate, flavors of bittersweet cocoa, espresso, and molasses layer over a full, chewy body with minimal carbonation. The bitterness is firm but not harsh, balancing the sweetness without tipping into cloying territory. The finish lingers long with roast char and a gentle heat from the elevated alcohol.
About the Brewery
Boulevard Brewing is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and has been one of the Midwest's flagship craft breweries since its founding in 1989. They're best known for their Smokestack Series of specialty and high-gravity beers, which is where this imperial stout lives. Boulevard was acquired by Duvel Moortgat in 2013 but has maintained its Kansas City identity and continues to produce a wide range of styles from approachable wheat beers to complex barrel-aged offerings.
Food Pairings
A thick cut of braised short rib works well because the beer's roast bitterness cuts through the fat and complements the caramelized meat. Dark chocolate desserts — a flourless torte or chocolate mousse — mirror the cocoa notes without fighting them. Sharp aged cheddar provides a salty, crystalline contrast to the beer's sweetness. Oysters on the half shell are a classic stout pairing, their brininess offsetting the roast. Smoked brisket also holds up well, with the beer's char echoing the smoke from the pit.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial Stout is an intensified take on the standard stout, pushing roast malt character, body, and alcohol to an extreme — typically landing between 8% and 13% ABV. The style draws from English Imperial Stout traditions originally brewed for export to the Russian imperial court, but American craft brewers amplified the hops, dialed up the roast, and frequently use adjuncts like chocolate or vanilla. It differs from a standard stout primarily in sheer intensity and alcohol presence, and from a porter in the depth and aggression of its roasted grain character.