Beer Review: Blackberry Farm Boundary Tree

photo by Kevin Gibson

This hoppy Belgian-style ale from Tennessee is perfect for warmer autumn days and barbecues

Blackberry Farm Brewery has developed quite the reputation down in Tennessee, an unusual home base for a brewery that focuses on Belgian-style and Belgian-inspired beers. That reputation exists because they simply brew really high quality beer.

The brewery itself has an unusual story, being born in 2011 as part of a luxury resort in the Smoky Mountains, set on a farm that originally got its name in 1939. The current owners launched the brewery to sell beers to visitors, and nearly a decade later the products are also packaged and distributed.

The brewery’s mantra is its devotion to quality and love of beer as a social mechanism of sorts. Check out the website and you’ll find this passage, which is damn near poetic: “Deep in our hearts we believe that beer’s ability to bring folks together, spark conversation and foster camaraderie is akin to magic.”

I procured a sixer of Blackberry Farm’s Boundary Tree, a hoppy Belgian-style ale, and I got pretty much just what I expected: a deft blend of a hoppy pale ale combined with the softness and fruity tones of a Belgian ale.

The light amber beer and medium off-white head are instantly enticing, with tropical notes from the hops and the distinctive bubble gum aroma produced by the Belgian yeast strain used in fermentation. However, the latter sensation is my least favorite aspect of many of the Belgian beers I’ve had over the years, so I paused for a second, wondering just how strong it would be in the beer’s flavor.

But I took that first sip and found what, quite frankly, was a splendid and balanced blend of all the characters discovered in the aroma. My palate made its way through the gummy yeast notes and found the citrusy hops that also offered a hint of expected hop bitterness.

And as I got three or four sips in, my taste buds made peace with the yeast, allowing the beer to present itself as a soft-bodied, clean and quenching beverage that is deceptively approachable given its 6.5% alcohol content. The medium-dry finish on the beer was a nice surprise given the soft body, and the tropical notes only helped its attractiveness.

I won’t usually seek out Belgian-style beers, but I’m always lured by hops. The execution on Boundary Tree is outstanding, which is no surprise given its origin. I probably won’t crave more of this, but I’m glad I opened my door to it and would absolutely recommend it for those curious about both Belgian ales and hops and how they can intermingle.

This one would be great for sipping on late summer or warmer autumn days, perhaps paired with grilled shrimp at a barbecue. And since it’s made for bringing people together, make sure you share (while social distancing, of course).