Boulevard Brewing Co. / Firestone Walker - "Collaboration 6" ale

Here's a tasty collaboration beer I recently had on draft at Red Apron, a little bar / butchery joint inside northeast DC's Union Market (where I attended a less-than-stellar beer festival some years ago). This stood out to me on the menu: it's "Collaboration 6", a 12.50% ABV barrel-aged blend of ales by Boulevard Brewing Co. and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. 

File photo (c) RateBeer.com

It's actually a blend of extant ales, composed of the following blend by percentage:

• Boulevard's "Bourbon Barrel Quad" - 45%
• Boulevard's "Imperial Stout X - Tart Cherry" - 10%
• Firestone Walker's "Stickee Monkee" - 35%
• Firestone Walker's "Velvet Merkin" - 10%

So a blend of some really quality stuff...I've had both Boulevard ingredients by themselves, in 750mL formats, and have had both Firestone Walker beers as part of the fine 18th anniversary blend, which I have had twice. I wasn't aware that this was the makeup of the "Collaboration 6" when I ordered it, but hey - that's the fun part about discovery.

It's black in the glass, with a thin clingy white foam. It's an interesting amber / brown color when candled. The biggest flavor note here is the sweet malts - whoa! The Bourbon Barrel Quad heritage comes through in both the boozy sweetness and wood barrel flavors. Interestingly, there's a nice undercurrent of cherry ( from the tart cherry stout infusion) which is most noticeable on the aftertaste. Overall, quite a heavy and sweet beer, and one that will surely warm you up on a cold winter's night.