Collaboration No. 1 Imperial Pilsner - Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City

I first had Boulevard's Imperial Pilsner at the beer's release party in Lawrence, Kansas. In case you hadn't heard, this Imperial Pilsner is a collaboration between Boulevard Brewing Company and Orval's master brewer Jean-Marie Rock. Steven Pauwels, Boulevard's brew master, and Rock met at a conference in Tucson last year. It was there that these two Belgians hit it off and agreed to collaborate and resurrect a beer Rock had brewed some 30 years before. The style that beer most closely resembled is what we now call an American Double or Imperial Pilsner.

This Imperial Pilsner may have a great story but the name Pilsner just doesn't sound like a beer that's going to knock anyone's socks off... I've had some pretty good Pilsners before but at the end of the day, they're still just Pilsners. I would've loved to see a sour ale or a more obscure Belgian style come out of this collaboration, but when you think about the brewers responsible for this beer it makes a lot more sense. Boulevard produces a wide range of beers and have a number of capable brewers under their employ Orval, on the other hand, produces really only one beer (Petite Orval doesn't count...). I don't want to make this a critique of Orval, but it's a dryer, hoppier Belgian Pale Ale that is great on it's own but isn't my favorite Belgian stlye. There are a few similarities between Orval and this Imperial Pilsner but they are largely anecdotal.

The first thing you notice about the Imperial Pilsner is that it's definitely a Pilsner at heart. There is a very obvious Pilsner malt aroma and flavor to this beer. It's quite strong as first but without being too crisp or dry. On top of all the malt there is a nicely rounded fruit sweetness. Light citrus hops and a pinch of yeast tie everything together.

At the release party for the Imperial Pilsner I had the pleasure of asking Steven Pauwels a few questions about this beer. The big question I had floating around in my head was about who contributed what to this beer. Jean-Marie Rock's fingerprints are all over this beer, with it's pale malt and subtle sweetness, so what'd Boulevard do to earn their spot on the label (other than print the labels themselves of course...)? Pauwels said that Boulevard's contribution can be found in this beer's balance. It may sound like a throw away tidbit but it's true....

What makes the Imperial Pilsner a great beer is it's smooth drinkability. Pilsners are crisp, dry and not particularly flavorful beers. Boulevard and Jean-Marie Rock have taken a good deal of Pilsner malt and made it enjoyable by blending just the right amount of sweet and mild flavors into an otherwise harsh beer. If you're looking to taste a piece of brewing history and want to try an "Imperial Pilsner" then there is really no reason to pass this beer up.

It's likely that Boulevard will collaborate with other brewers in the future, but none will be as revered as Orval's Jean-Marie Rock. It's like they say, you never forget your first time.