All About Wheat

Where else would you go than the heart of the Midwest to learn about making beer with wheat? Even we learned a thing or two when Boulevard was featured earlier this year on a science-based video project, part of the “How Stuff Works” series on the Discovery Channel. A film crew came to the brewery to learn about the process of brewing with wheat as an ingredient, and our Unfiltered Wheat Beer played a starring role. Check out the segment by clicking here.

Boulevard in the Big Apple

It’s been far too long since we last posted an entry, so to make amends we’ll be blogging a lot over the next few days. There’s been a tremendous amount of new and exciting things happening at the brewery this summer, much of which we’ve shared on our Facebook page... but not everything. For example, check out this image of our aluminum Unfiltered Wheat bottle, captured earlier this year in — of all places — Times Square! The bottle won a prestigious metal decorating award for our manufacturing partner, Exal, and the news release was picked up by this digital billboard in NYC.

A Cut Above?

Prior to celebrating our nation’s Independence, The Pitch’s Fat City blogger Owen Morris posted this highly entertaining “mower on the street” review of our new Boulevard Pilsner. In the piece, Morris tries to get to the bottom of the great lawn mowing beer debate by interviewing two professionals from Rock Chalk Lawn Care. In the end, their refreshing take on our latest offering is clear-cut.

Big D in Bigger D

Fans of our Double-Wide I.P.A. will enjoy this recent review from the Dallas Observer’s food blog. In their posting titled “Hophead: Boulevard of Brew-Hounds’ Dreams,” author Jesse Hughey offers some tasting notes, a bit of I.P.A. history, and a pizza suggestion that may have you reaching for the phone for home delivery. In this previous posting, Hughey also tries our Saison with a slightly less conventional, if not inspired, food pairing.

New Videos

Several new videos have been posted about the brewery, including this piece by Topeka news station KTKA-49. It shows our new tasting room and bottling line, while also providing a snapshot of the brewery for those who may not know our history. And if you haven’t visited our YouTube channel in a while, you can also view our latest (and first) television commercials featuring Boulevard's Founder and President, John McDonald. The spots air during the Royals Live post game show on FOX Sports Kansas City, sponsored by yours truly.

SAVOR the Moment

This past weekend the Brewers Association’s SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience was held in our Nation’s capitol. SAVOR is the premier craft beer and food pairing event in the United States, with over 1,900 people in attendance. Boulevard was lucky enough to be one of only 68 craft breweries chosen at random to provide beer, and our very own John McDonald personally provided attendees with samples of both Unfiltered Wheat Beer and Saison-Brett. The photo to the left is Dan Bradford, publisher of All About Beer magazine, pouring Saison-Brett for people who were lined up to taste it. Several great news reports can be found online, including the BA’s own event wrap-up, but here are a few other links that you might find interesting:

• We Love DC
  
• Baltimore Sun
  
• Drinking in DC (blogger)

Seasons Greetings

If you have an employee-owned Hy-Vee store in your area, drop by and pick up the latest issue of their magazine Seasons. The free publication features an article on Boulevard beer and summer food pairings, along with handy recipes and household tips. For more information visit the magazine’s website by clicking here, or view the Boulevard article by clicking here (PDF).

Tour of Hermann

Guest blogger, Boulevard Bike Team member, and brewery tour volunteer Carlene Schipfmann presents her account of last weekend’s Tour of Hermann below. Thanks for all your wonderful support Carlene! Click here for more photos of the event.

Three words sum up the Tour of Hermann experience of KCOI/Boulevard teammates Joe Parker and Carl Schipfmann: races, rain, and rich malty beverages. OK, that’s five (six, if you count the ‘and’) but it isn't easy to find a one word synonym for beer beginning with the letter R.

The trek began with a minivan loaded down with two riders, four bikes, about 75 pounds of gear- including, but not limited to, 15 water bottles and a tool kit which was rarely on hand when needed—and a Directeur Sportif (French for “didn’t duck fast enough.”) Registration/packet pickup was at Stone Hill Winery; the smooth process of retrieving race numbers and timing chips complete, the athletes had time for wine tasting before dinner and the task of unloading and sorting all the equipment. Suffice it to say, the hotel room looked vaguely as if a small bomb had detonated in a bike shop.

 

The clear skies in evidence all week disappeared sometime overnight, and Saturday dawned to a mist which soon became showers. The time trial started about 15 minutes late, but the good people who put on the race accommodated the riders with a covered start house, chip timing, and lots of volunteers for the ten-mile TT. Joe covered the course in 26:46, good enough for 17th in 50+ and 154th overall; Carl went 24:20 for 21st in 40+ and 91st overall.

 

After a brief rest and a bike change it was on to the crit. The start/finish was lined with flags, and considering the weather there were a good number of spectators. The 1.2 mile circuit included tight turns, a blazing downhill, and a hilltop finish. As for the hill, think Cliff Drive Classic—only longer and steeper... the same hill ridden by the pros during the ’07 and ’08 Tour of Missouri. Joe finished the crit and, after lodging a protest, moved up from DNF to 19th in 50+; Carl finished 12th in 40+. 

 

After races like that, there is only one thing to do... brewery tour, of course! Tin Mill Brewing Company offered just the refreshment two tired cyclists were looking for, and afterwards it was time to drive the road race course. A look at the first hill was nearly enough to end the Omnium right there- Gutenberg Hill is not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, the terrain didn't seem to improve. Encountering a steep descent posted with a 35 mph turn sign about halfway down the hill, and large farm buildings in the distance, Joe was prompted to remark “if I don’t make it back, look for me on the other side of that blue barn!” As the thiry-mile loop continued with its rolling hills, steep ascents and 50 mph descents, game plans were made for conquering the two-lap race.

 

Sunday morning, and the rain continued. Everything was packed into the van before heading up the road to the race, and as incredible as it may seem to mere mortals, these two were smiling and actually looking forward to 60 miles of hell! The race began with a one-mile neutral start. Carl’s group left first, followed five minutes later by Joe's group. Unfortunately, Joe's race ended before the neutral start did—a mechanical issue (if you can call a rear derailleur running parallel to the ground an issue) forced him to walk back to the start, no mean feat in a pair of cycling shoes. Carl was in the middle of the pack at the end of the first lap, and hung on the second time around to finish in 3:05:24 and 11th place, giving him 11th place in the Omnium standings for 40+. Despite the brutal crit and road race courses, and the less-than-favorable weather, the quality of the race, the friendliness of the people of Hermann- and of course all that good wine and beer- made it an easy decision: Tour of Hermann is on the schedule for 2010. Two riders, three races, four bikes—one helluva good time.

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Our Irish Eyes are Smiling

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, the Des Moines Register recently conducted an experiment that we should all be so lucky to try. They took five beer enthusiasts and had them taste Irish beers to get their opinions on the subject. The result? Boulevard’s beloved Irish Ale tied for first in the panel’s final results. A big thanks to Tom Perry and the Des Moines Register for including us in the lineup, and for the photo of Ashley at The Bait Shop serving up a cold pint of our Spring seasonal.

Aluminum Unfiltered Wheat Beer

It’s been an exciting day around the brewery. It seems appropriate that the high reached 78° in Kansas City on the same day we bottled a new container that’s ideal for golf courses, lakes, pools — basically anywhere the sun is shining that doesn’t allow glass. The first cases of our a new, 16-ounce aluminum bottle for Unfiltered Wheat Beer rolled off the bottling line today, and we’re proud to announce the new package will be available beginning April 1. Click here for a QuickTime movie showing a full 360° view of the bottle. Read more, and view additional photos of the bottling run, in this KC Business Journal article.

Night Light

If you happen to travel on I-35 near Southwest Boulevard after dark, a quick glance (keep one eye on the road!) to the west should give you a direct view of our nifty new rooftop sign. The colorful lit sign is perched above our event space terrace and greets visitors to the downtown KC area. Click here for another photo by a fan of the brewery (thanks John!).

Southern Hospitality

Many of our North Texas friends may have recently spotted Boulevard beers during a local news broadcast. Specialty beers including The Smokestack Series are featured in this video segment from a Dallas/Fort Worth TV station. Reporter Meredith Land interviews our North Texas wholesaler, Andrews Distributing, while a bottle of Long Strange Tripel makes a guest appearance at a local pub. 

Smokestack Series Limited Releases

The Smokestack Series recently welcomed three new Limited Release beers to the line-up, and your enthusiastic response has reached far beyond our wildest expectations. Saison-Brett (November release), Bourbon-Barrel Quad (December release), and Imperial Stout (January release) have all caught the attention of beer enthusiasts from across the country, and we deeply appreciate the accolades and recognition that followed each unique batch. The truth is, our brewers have been looking forward to sharing these special beers for quite some time, and though we can only offer them in limited quantities due to their unique properties, look for more new limited — and some not-so-limited — new Smokestack releases in 2009. To find out what others have had to say, visit beeradvocate.com, ratebeer.com, craftbeerradio.com, or any of the fine blogs listed on this site.

Three’s Company

It’s official – we recently announced the introduction of not one, not two, but three new beers before the end of 2008! You may have already heard about the highly anticipated Smokestack Series Limited Release beers (PDF), but we’re also proud to introduce Single-Wide I.P.A. as the latest member of our year-round lineup. Currently, this dry-hopped ale is only available on draught in Greater Kansas City and Lawrence, Kansas, though it will be ready for all markets (bottles and draught) in March 2009. Read the full release here, and be sure to ask for Single-Wide I.P.A. at your favorite bar or restaurant.

Lights. Camera. Beer!

If you’re looking to learn more about our Smokestack Series, click on over to YouTube for four new videos featuring passionate members of our brewing team. They’ll fill you in on what makes each selection unique, the origins of the styles represented, and a recommendation or two on food pairings. All beers are Rated “G” for “Good.”