The bottle is more of a European long neck, like you find on an Aschel, Wesmalle, or Rochefort and has a raised "Boulevard Brewing Co." embossed around the neck. The label declares it the "Boulevard Smokestack series" with "Dark Truth Stout" in the background of a tulip glass with the beer in question. It also states that it is 12 fluid Oz. and 9.7% ABV. The reverse gives a summary of the statement given on the carrier " Roasted English malts provide a deep, rich texture, Belgian yeast bestows plum-like fruitiness, and German hops add spicy aromas as Dark Truth Stout mellows to a smooth, dry, smoky finish". I did not bring a glass with me, so I will be using the plastic cups provided by the hotel.
This is what I've been reduced to
Nose from the bottle is wheat sour with dark malt and molasses. Pouring it into our classy plastic cup the beer forms a thick beige head and has deep opaque black coloring. holding the beer up to the light I can see a great deal of bubbles crawling up the side of the glass towards the head (excuse me, sanitary disposable plastic cup). It certainly maintains it's head, most beers I review show the top of the liquid by now, but this one is going strong. Nose from the SDPC is the same as from the bottle. While the wheat sour is the dominant characteristic in the nose, the dark malt takes charge of the flavor, leaving only traces of the wheat sour. The aftertaste has a fruity quality to it, but that is to be expected from Belgian yeast. This is a decidedly full bodied beer with a slightly acidic mouthfeel, it's smooth in a somewhat syrupy kind of way. Sipping on it, the other flavors start to come out, such as dark chocolate and coffee (and toffee for that mater, which is to say the molasses flavor has evolved to a smoother state). I suppose it does have a spiciness to it, as the brewer would suggest, but I did not notice it on my own so it is as good as non existent as far as this review is concerned. The coffee flavor really overtakes the fore and after taste after a while, the fruitiness taking charge of the middle. I wouldn't really call the finish particularly dry or smokey. I suppose you could say that it has those characteristics, and obviously the brewer would to add more to the description, but I wouldn't.
I've been listening to Marlon Williams lately, in fact I'm listening to him right now. I only recently found out about this musician from the Conan O'Brien show, but I saw him play with his backup group the yarra benders and I immediately went and bought the LP. He has a very 1950's-1960's country western, folk, bluegrass, blues (A.K.A Americana) sound and does covers of classic songs as well. It is so refreshing to hear some (more or less) new good country after being saddled with that pop crap for so long. I'm telling you, the eastern Pacific is giving "The Man" in Nashville a run for his money.
Final thoughts. At the end I discovered this beer even had clumps of yeast, hidden in the black murk of their flavorful abode. Boulevard Brewing has given their account and has been found justified. This is a complex and delicious beer if you are willing to sit and sip it. If I purchased it again I would age it a little, certainly not the seven years it takes barlywines to reach their apex as the Mountain Ale and Lager Tasters discovered, but maybe two. I give this beer my blurry seal of approval.