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Beer Advent Calendar – Day 16: Boulevard Brewing Nutcracker presented by Dale Miskimins

@Sodakbeer, @Boulevard_Beer,

Beer Advent Calendar – Day 16: Boulevard Brewing Nutcracker presented by Dale Miskimins

To celebrate the Holiday Season, 2Beerguys.com and Seacoastbeveragelab.com have teamed up with beer bloggers around the country to host the first annual beer bloggers advent calendar. This is the season of sharing and we intend to share our love of beer with you. 31 Bloggers Blogging – click here for the running list of beers/bloggers. Let’s see who is spreading holiday cheer today!

Blogger: Dale Miskimins
Blog Name: sodakbeer’s Blog

Twitter/Facebook/Untappd: @sodakbeer – http://www.facebook.com/groups/sodakbeer/ – sodakbeer
Beer: Nutcracker Winter Warmer
Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City
Beer Details:

• Style: Winter Warmer
• ABV: 7.8
• IBUs: 38

Commercial Description:
Nutcracker Ale is Boulevard’s holiday gift for real beer lovers. This hearty, warming brew is a classic winter ale, deep amber in color, with hints of molasses balanced by the “spiciness” of freshly harvested Chinook hops.

Why I selected the Boulevard Brewing Nutcracker:
Boulevard is the largest craft brewery in the Midwest (great plains). They make many good beers and since this is their Christmas offering, I chose it for the “31 Beers of December”.

The Boulevard Brewing Company of Kansas City makes Nutcracker, a winter warmer beer. Boulevard has been in operation since 1989, and it is the 10th largest craft brewer in the US. Nutcracker contains pale, amber, Cara 300, Munich, and wheat malts as well as brown and dark sugars. Hops include Magnum, Chinook and Cascade. Wet leaf Chinook hops are used for dry hopping. The wet leaf Chinook hops are shipped directly from Washington to Kansas City to dry hop Nutcracker two days after harvest. ABV=7.8% and IBUs=38.

Nutcracker pours dark amber with a light tan head into a pint glass. The aroma is light spicy hops. The taste is nice and balanced between the hops, malt and light sweetness. The malt and brown sugar become more prominent as the beer warms.

Boulevard brewer Jeremy Danner graciously visited with me about Nutcracker and brewing at Boulevard for the last five years. He enjoys working at Boulevard where he is one of fourteen brewers. Upcoming beers include a coffee ale and a black rye IPA. His favorite Boulevard beers include the Saison Brett, Pale Ale and Pilsner. He also added that making balanced beers is important to Boulevard. His parting comments were to “drink local”.

About the SODAK – Beer news and reviews for Dakotaland:
My name is Dale Miskimins. I am a craft beer fan from Elkton, South Dakota. I am a veterinarian, husband, father, grandfather (x4) and dog owner (x2). Please visit http://www.sodakbeer.com and join me on this fantastic voyage.

About Boulevard Brewing and the Nutcracker Winter Warmer:
Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, with full or partial distribution currently in 24 states. Since 1989 our brewery has remained dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Our selection of fine ales and lagers include the Midwest’s best-selling craft beer, Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer, our flagship Boulevard Pale Ale, and The Smokestack Series line of artisanal beers. We are proud to be Kansas City’s Beer, and Missouri’s Largest Independent Brewery. http://www.boulevard.com