Brewhouse One: Oak-Aged Floral Saison

Oak-Aged Floral Saison

The peonies are blooming, the birds are chirping, and warm weather beers are brewing. Spring is always beautiful around Boulevard, but this year it brings a slightly bittersweet feeling as we remember a long-time Boulevardian who we lost last winter.

If you’ve been to the Beer Hall or on a brewery tour in the past 15 years, there is a good chance you experienced Carlene Schipfmann’s kindness & impeccable hospitality, most likely without knowing it. Carlene was a master of behind-the-scenes kindness and service. She was constantly making someone’s job easier, their day brighter, or their plate sweeter. No, seriously, over the years she baked hundreds (thousands?!) of sweet treats for employee lunches, special occasions, or simply because she wanted to try a beer in a recipe. Her bourbon balls will be part of Boulevard lore forever.

Every spring, Carlene arranged peonies on her desk. A lover of flowers, she was no shrinking violet. As a companion to her kindness and unfailing generosity, she had…opinions. She was not afraid to tell you exactly how the chairs should be arranged, the merits of a well-organized event, or the shortcomings of improperly stored linens. If you got her started on politics (not that we ever discuss politic at work) or the quirks of our booking system, you better have 20 minutes to spare and be ready to giggle. She was intensely intelligent, witty, and passionate.

Her passion extended to many areas of her life, including beer. At a time when women were scarce in the beer industry, she was one of Boulevard’s first female volunteer tour guides. Her knowledge of beer styles and processes, plus her true enjoyment of craft brews inspired other women to pursue careers in the beer industry.

Boulevard became part of Carlene’s community. During her life she built a network of friends, volunteers, and organizations to support including 90.9 The Bridge, Boulevardia, and several local nonprofits. In honor of her dedication and work in the Kansas City community, we are donating a portion of proceeds from this Brewhouse One release to one of her favorites, Harvesters.

For us behind the beers, Carlene was someone whose presence was deeply felt, if not always seen. She was often just around the corner doing something small to impact her community. She never asked for recognition, in fact she hated it. It was in her nature to do invisible things correctly with care and kindness.

So, with care and kindness , we present a beer we hope Carlene would be proud of: Oak-Aged Floral Saison Ale with Rosehips, Hibiscus, and Lemon Peel.

A light & summery saison aged on neutral oak, this beer really lets the flowers and rose hips have the front seat. Pouring a fantastic red color thanks to the addition of Hibiscus flowers, the beer hits your nose with a bouquet of deep floral spices, plus a light spritz of lemon peel. The addition of lemon peel adds a spritely layer to the floral and slightly tart rose hips, making this brew nice and refreshing, easy to savor and share with others on a springy day.

It’s bright, floral, and a special without making a big fuss, just like Carlene.

This spring, stop and smell a peony, then have a glass of Oak-Aged Floral Saison to remember our sweet Carlene.

Release Day Happy Hour

Join us for a happy hour on Thursday, May 21^st from 5-7 pm to celebrate Carlene’s life and impact at Boulevard with a delicious pour of Oak-Aged Floral Saison, a build-your-own bouquet pop-up, and happy memories.