Boulevard Brewing Company- Single-Wide IPA: A Boulevard Of IPA Dreams
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 6:50PM | by Jason 
Sunday August 22nd - We finally made it back from vacation yesterday and I have to say that it feels good to plant my butt firmly into my ass-grove on the couch. It’s been a great week that included staying at a beach house in Topsail Beach, NC, a couple of brewery tours (Mother Earth Brewing Co & Highland Brewing Co) spending time with friends and family, and finally collecting a ton of beer that I cannot get here in the Chicagoland area. All in all I managed to acquire 36 different Craft Beers from 22 different breweries. I have to say on one hand I’m excited to add to the inventory but on the other I still haven’t touched any of the brews my friends Tracy & Adam picked up for me on their trip through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. I had initially figured that I would start with the beer I received from them but I couldn’t imagine letting all of that other beer just sitting there to be ignored. So I figured that I would rotate back and forth between the stockpiles and try and keep my storied straight. The first beer is one that Tracy & Adam picked up for me in Iowa City at a place known as Dirty John’s, which boasts a pretty big selection. My first pick will be Boulevard Brewing Company’s Single-Wide IPA which Tracy says she picked up just because of the name, which is exactly what I would have done.
Boulevard Brewing Company classifies this brew as an American India Pale Ale (IPA) and their website describes Single-Wide IPA as, “Boulevard Single-Wide I.P.A. is our take on a style that originated in 18th century Great Britain. This American version—inspired by our Smokestack Series Double-Wide I.P.A.—boasts a heady combination of six varieties of hops, some of which were employed for dry-hopping.” Another standout characteristic is that Single-Wide is bottled conditioned, which is a process where a little bit of yeast is added to the bottle for additional fermentation and maturation and adds to the complexity of the flavor.
Single-Wide IPA pours a sediment filled golden orange with a 1 ¼” beige head. The aroma starts with a big floral hop hit to the senses and follows up with some grapefruit and earthy compliments.
Boulevard Brewing Company’s Single-Wide is freaking good, really freaking good. Right off the bat this beer gets you with the name. Second, the labeling and design is super-retro and adds to the appeal of Single-Wide. Bippity-Bop, your hit with a huge floral aroma once the cap is popped (again, twist off caps DO NOT belong on Craft Beers). This experience is capped off with an exclamation point of flavor that is simply awesome. Very rarely do you get a beer (From name to design, packaging and flavor) that is start to finish excellence. You get hit with a pleasant hop bite from the beginning that stays straight through till the finish where you get more of a citrus hop flavor. I have to say that I am rather taken with Single-Wide IPA. This highly pisses me off because I have only one to enjoy and I’m not sure that Tracy & Adam are heading back to Iowa City any time soon. According to Google Maps, It’s only about a three hour drive…this is a beer worth the trip. Cheers to Boulevard Brewing Company, this is now my favorite Missouri Craft Beer.
ABV: 5.7%
Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass
Verdict: Buy A Case
