The Best of the Best: Boulevard Wheat

I have spent this summer searching beer aisles in grocery stores, liquor stores, and specialty beer stores for the best summer beers, which, in my opinion, are wheats, hefeweizens and pale ales.  This post will focus on the wheats.  There are some fantastic wheat beers out there.  But after spending a week in Kansas City, Missouri, I'm not sure that I will find another wheat beer that beats the Boulevard Wheat.  The Boulevard wheat is an unfiltered wheat.  The reason I believe it is one of the best summer beers has to do with how well-balanced it is.  It is a beer that sophisticated beer drinkers as well as light beer drinkers can enjoy.  It is a thin beer that makes it accessible to folks who would prefer drinking Bud Light or other similar, watery beers during the hot weather, but it has a tremendously smooth, rich taste that elevates over any other light beer out there.  

The Boulevard Wheat has a light, toasty flavor to it, is mildly bitter and has the standard traces of fruitiness (perhaps peach) to it that come with all wheat beers.  It isn't excessively hoppy, like many of its competitors.  Rather, it is strictly wheat.  In other words, Boulevard acknowledged its strength in the midwest and built a strong beer from it.  

Unfortunately, it is somewhat difficult to find Boulevard products outside of the midwest.  This is slowly changing, but requires a visit to the speciality stores on the east or west coast.

Here is what Boulevard has to say about its Wheat at its website:

" American-style Wheat Beer

AVAILABILITY: Year-round; bottles and draught

INGREDIENTS: Pale malt, unmalted soft red winter wheat. Magnum & Simcoe hops.

STARTING GRAVITY: 11.3 degrees Plato

ALCOHOL: 3.5% by weight, 4.4% by volume

BITTERNESS UNITS: 13 IBUs

AVERAGE EBC COLOR: 7.5

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer is a lively, refreshing ale with a naturally citrusy flavor and distinctive cloudy appearance. This easy-drinking American-style wheat beer has become our most popular offering, and the best-selling craft beer in the Midwest.

SENSORY DESCRIPTION: Subtle flavor profile with hints of wheat and grain works well as a compliment to lighter dishes. Mild sweetness compliments fruity dishes. Flavor hooks: subtle fruit

PAIRINGS: Very light foods including salads, sushi, vegetable dishes or fruity desserts. Grilled chicken and boiled, steamed or broiled seafood, breads and pizza. Feta, Gouda or Gruyere cheeses also pair well"

Beer from the Last American Frontier: Alaskan White Ale

The peculiar thing about beers from Alaskan Brewery are that, in many respects, they all taste the same. Alaskan Breweries make an Amber, a Pale, a Stout, an IPA, a smoked Porter, and a Winter and Summer Ale in addition to the White Ale. I've had most, but not all, and each, while different, carries the same distinctive spices that Alaskan Breweries are known for.

For some, this might sound like a criticism. However, the nice thing about the distinctive Alaskan Brewery flavor is that it is solid and reliable. Alaskan Breweries do not make a bad beer and the White Ale, a relatively new addition to the Alaskan reportoire, is no exception.

Anyone who has drank the Alaskan Brewery beers knows that they can be heavy beers. However, the White Ale is somewhat of a departure from this tradition. It is a crisp beer with a subtle citrus taste that is easy to drink on any occasion. It has a slightly dry finish to it. The best way to describe it is by saying it is a light beer with all of the traditional Alaskan Brewery flavors.

Here's what Alaskan Breweries has to say about its White Ale:

"Style:
Alaskan White Ale is based on a Belgian-style witbier, literally translated to "white beer." White beers, or "witbieren," are named for the suspended wheat proteins creating a cloudy appearance in this unfiltered beer.

Flavor Profile:
Alaskan White Ale has a soft, slightly sweet base with the unique spice aroma of coriander and crisp, citrus finish of orange peel. A light and effervescent body combined with the smooth palate creates a complex and delicate beer that is deliciously refreshing in any season.

History:
Popular in late 18th century Belgium before the universal use of hops as a bittering agent, Witbieren were traditionally flavored with coriander, citrus and a secret spice known only to the brewer. Alaskan Brewing recreates this historic style with Alaskan White Ale.

Ingredients:
Alaskan White Ale is made from glacier-fed water and a generous blend of the finest quality European and Pacific Northwest hop varieties, wheat and two-row specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500 squaremile Juneau Ice Field and from the more than 90 inches of rainfall Juneau receives each year.

Recommendations:
The crisp flavor of Alaskan White Ale pairs well with spicy foods and lighter fare including fresh salads and grilled shrimp or halibut.

Specifications:
Original Gravity: 1.047, Alcohol by Volume: 5.3%, Bitterness: 15 IBUs, Color: 7 SRM

The Story Behind the Label
Polar bears are native to the Arctic Ocean and can be found traversing through the snow, ice and open waters along the northern coastlines of Alaska. Although closely related to the brown bears of Alaska, the polar bear is classified as a marine mammal adapted to the icy climate of the Arctic. Alaskan White Ale toasts this extraordinary bear and its place at the top of the world."