So, finals are over; time to catch up on all the beer reviews I promised on the beer stash that Brent smuggled back to the Atlantic coast from Houston last month!!

First off, my absolute favourite of the bunch: Boulevard Collaboration #1, Imperial Pilsner. I freaking LOVED this beer; I could drink it all day every day. Well until the sneaky 8% ABV caught up with me anyway

This beer is a joint effort between Boulevard’s Steven Pauwel & Orval’s brewmaster Jean-Marie Rock; it’s made from 100% Pilsner malt and 100% Saaz hops, its Belgian style is apparently similar to a beer that Rock brewed at the beginning of his career.

STYLE:       Imperial Pilsner

ABV:          8.0%

SERVING:    750ml bottle; corked and caged

This beer poured an incredibly pretty looking glass; gorgeous egg white-esque head atop a clear, straw gold glass of delightful effervescence. The carbonation on this thing was a joy to behold; leaving many glasses of champagne I’ve had in my time for dead! The beautiful foaminess stayed throughout, but left little lacing on the glass as I drank it.

The aroma is pretty light; herby and citrusy, with a touch of sour. The carbonation level was obvious in the mouthfeel, a perfectly crisp pilsner, but with a creaminess on the end.

The taste is an utterly balanced one; the pilsner malt is evenly matched with the level of carbonation and the noble hops. It tastes a little on the belgian-y side, with a slight funky-saison-sourness; but has a fabulous drinkability that hides the 8% ABV too well – it might well have knocked me on my arse had I had another one of these chilling in the keezer like I wanted!

Verdict:     Delicious. Want more. When will Boulevard be available in SoFl?