37/100) Boulevard Backroads

I have set myself the goal to review three beers or ciders every week for 100 weeks. I will be learning about beer and ciders more as I do this, and if I am successful in this venture, I will have tried about 300 unique drinks. If you're curious how I'm doing, the number in the post's title tells you which week I am in now.

Entwined Ale, Hibiscus Gose, Last Splash

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference. 

~Robert Frost

Welcome to the Backroads Series by Boulevard Brewing Company. These three are the first in their adventuresome and unusual set of beers. I hope you too will venture down this road less traveled.

Entwined) I really hate to knock their first Backroads beer, but this ale is just not for me. I just can't convince myself that I would want a beer that tastes that much like wine, and Boulevard's success on this one is that it indeed tastes like a light semi-sweet white wine. ☆☆

Hibiscus Gose) Characterized by a touch of coriander, salt, and tartness, the Gose, pronounced go-za, is a unique style of beer. Boulevard added their own touch via an infusion of hibiscus flowers. I rather like this one, and the only thing that could improve it is if it were warm outside. Cold and snow and just doesn't go with well with tart or the tropic image invoking hibiscus. ☆☆☆

Last Splash) This Pale Ale is wet-hopped. The concept behind that is that the hops are fresh, usually picked and then added within 48 hours. For me though, this beer style was the next turning point in my education. I used to say I don't like hops. Then I learned that hops were in pretty much every beer, so I learned to say I don't like bitterness. Then I learned through pale ales that bitterness didn't have to hit on the finish and completely wipe out one's taste buds. And now, I learned that fresh hops can make all the difference. There's a grassy bitterness to this beer, and the finish ends smooth. Pun intended: It made a splash with me. ☆☆☆☆