New Releases – Kansas City Beer

New Beer Releases

Boulevard, Big Rip, and 4 Hands all have new beer releases. A mix of the seasons as we have a Nutcracker Ale, Amber Ale, Wheat Wine, and Pumpkin Porter all being released.

Boulevard Brewing Company is releasing their popular Nutcracker Ale today, but it will taste slightly different than in previous years. Although the ale was dry hopped, it was not dry hopped with wet hops this year. This should eliminate the green characteristic and really bring out the holiday spices. Another release today from Boulevard is their Smokestack Seasonal Harvest Dance Wheat Wine. This beer has a fruity aroma with sweet malt notes and the flavor has a complex blend of sweet, bready malt, vanilla, oak, and a slighty vinous backnote.

A few more coming soon releases from Boulevard are their collaboration with Odell Brewing – Silver Anniversary Ale and another addition to their Backroads Beer Series – Last Splash.

Big Rip Brewing Company released their very first Amber Ale last week. T.H.i.C. Amber Ale was released just in time for their Ripper Halloween Party last Saturday. At 5.6% ABV, it’s a nice keep-your-pace beer.

4 Hands Brewing Co is releasing their Imperial Pumpkin Porter, ILL Repute, to their markets tomorrow. It’s their 3rd collaboration with Schnucks Markets, which is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. It’s an 8.5% beer that is brewed with pumpkin, nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Update- A few more releases:

Cinder Block released their Rough Cut Lager and a Cherry English Cider. The Lager is a full bodied, crisp continental lager with an ABV of 6.5% and 21 IBUs. The Cider is made with Michigan Tart Cherries and has an upfront barrel note with the taste of cherries to finish. 6% ABV with a smooth, drinkable mouth-feel, makes this cider a bit dangerous.

KC Bier Company will be releasing their Winterbock mid-to-late November. It’s slated to be at the 4th Annual Westport Strong Ale Fest on November 15.

Boulevard’s Collaboration No. 4 Out Next Week

Boulevard Brewmaster Steven Pauwels and Ommegang Brewmaster Phil Leinhart combined their expertise to come up with the latest Collaboration

Teaming up with their sister brewery, Ommegang, Boulevard’s newest Collaboration will be on taps on Monday and in stores Tuesday in the Kansas City area. Collaboration No. 4 is a spiced saison-style beer with an alcohol content of 7.3% which is in line with past collaborations. Ommegang brewmaster Phil Leinhart came to Kansas City in July to work with Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels and the rest of the brewing crew. After brewing a mix of various malts and hops, sweet orange peel, lemon peel, coriander, and grains of paradise, the wort was moved into two fermentation vessels. Pauwels added Boulevard’s signature Belgian yeast strain to one of the vessels and Leinhart added Ommegang’s house yeast strain to the other. The batches were then blended together for bottling. This is a limited edition release, so be sure to pick up a few bottles.

Past collaborations include a Stingo brewed with Dann and Martha Paquette of Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, a White India Pale Ale brewed with Larry Sidor of Dechutes, and an Imperial Pilsner brewed with Jean-Marie Rock of Orval. The White IPA was later re-released as the Reboot White IPA.

In other Boulevard news, Oatmeal Stout and West Coast IPA will be making their way into the sampler 12-packs this week. There will also be a collaboration, an English Strong Ale, with Odell Brewery that will be released the week of November 17th, to celebrate both breweries’ 25th anniversary. I had a sample of the ale in their tasting room a few weeks ago and it had a rich, creamy flavor that was a delight to drink. I would recommend picking up more than one bottle.