Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat 6Pk

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat 6Pk is a bottle-conditioned American-style wheat beer from Kansas City, Missouri, at 4.4% ABV in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. This flagship offering from Boulevard Brewing Company earned a Gold Medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival in the Session Beer category and scored 90/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.4%  |  IBU: 14  |  Origin: Kansas City, Missouri  |  Style: American Wheat Beer  |  Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Boulevard Brewing Company was founded in 1989 by John McDonald in Kansas City, Missouri, growing to become one of the largest specialty brewers in the Midwest. Unfiltered Wheat uses a grain bill of approximately 60% pale malt, 19% unmalted wheat, and 21% malted wheat, producing its characteristically hazy golden appearance and full mouthfeel. What truly separates this beer from mass-market wheat ales is its bottle conditioning — a small amount of yeast is added just before packaging, triggering a secondary fermentation that encourages further maturation and builds a more complex flavor profile directly in the bottle.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A distinctly wheaty nose greets the pour, layered with tart cracker-like grain and a gentle squeeze of lemon zest. Subtle biscuity malt sweetness sits underneath, keeping the overall impression clean and approachable.

Taste: The entry is soft and effervescent, with sweet malt and biscuit flavors giving way to a mid-palate tanginess from the wheat. Hints of orange peel and a faint clove-like spice emerge as the beer warms, while the restrained 14 IBUs keep bitterness almost entirely in the background. The overall impression is one of balance — bright citrus fruit tempered by grainy sweetness.

Finish: Light, crisp, and refreshingly brief, with lingering wheat tang and a whisper of citrus. The carbonation from bottle conditioning provides a clean, dry close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Unfiltered Wheat

Pour into a weizen glass to showcase its hazy golden color and allow the bottle-conditioned yeast to bloom aromatically; tilt the bottle and swirl the last ounce to rouse the remaining sediment before adding it to the glass. A lemon wedge is traditional and amplifies the citrus character, though the beer stands well on its own.

• Beer-a-Rita / Beerita: The wheat body and citrus notes blend naturally with lime juice and a salted rim, making it a lighter alternative to a traditional margarita.
• Radler: Mix half-and-half with fresh lemonade — the low bitterness and effervescence of Unfiltered Wheat create a supremely drinkable warm-weather cooler.
• Michelada: The beer's soft wheat backbone and clean finish hold up well against tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime, adding refreshing body without competing with the spice.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and warm-weather gatherings where sessionability matters
• Introducing craft beer newcomers to the wheat ale style
• Pairing with light summer meals like grilled fish or salads
• Stocking a home fridge with an everyday craft option that rewards repeated drinking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat taste like? Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat delivers a balance of sweet biscuity malt, bright citrus notes of lemon and orange, and a pleasant wheat tanginess. It is light-bodied, crisp, and highly drinkable at 4.4% ABV.

How does Unfiltered Wheat compare to Blue Moon? Blue Moon is a Belgian-style witbier brewed with coriander and orange peel, giving it a more pronounced spice character, while Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat is an American-style wheat beer that relies on its grain bill and bottle conditioning rather than added spices for complexity. Boulevard's bottle conditioning also contributes a more nuanced carbonation and subtle yeast character that Blue Moon, a filtered and force-carbonated beer, does not share.

Is Unfiltered Wheat good for beginners? Its low bitterness (14 IBUs), gentle 4.4% ABV, and smooth wheat flavor make it one of the most approachable craft beers available. Beginners who enjoy lighter styles will find this an easy and rewarding entry point into American wheat ales.

Where is Unfiltered Wheat made? Unfiltered Wheat is brewed at Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1989 by John McDonald, Boulevard is one of the largest specialty breweries in the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Unfiltered Wheat? Grilled chicken or shrimp tacos complement the beer's citrus brightness. Light salads with vinaigrette match its crispness without overwhelming the delicate wheat profile. Fish and chips benefit from the carbonation cutting through fried batter. Fresh goat cheese or a mild brie echo the beer's soft, creamy mouthfeel. Lemon-dressed seafood like ceviche mirrors its subtle citrus aromatics.

What sizes does Unfiltered Wheat come in? Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat is widely available in 6-packs of 12 oz bottles, and Boulevard has also offered it in 12-packs and single 12 oz bottles depending on market availability.

Is Unfiltered Wheat worth the price? Unfiltered Wheat positions as an accessible, everyday craft wheat beer that punches above its price tier thanks to bottle conditioning — a production step rarely seen in similarly priced six-packs. Its GABF Gold Medal and 90/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing reinforce its quality credentials within the category.

Why Unfiltered Wheat?

Bottle conditioning is the defining edge here. While most wheat beers in this price range are filtered and force-carbonated, Boulevard adds live yeast before packaging to trigger a secondary fermentation that builds carbonation naturally and deepens the flavor over time. That technique, combined with a thoughtful grain bill blending pale malt with both malted and unmalted wheat, produces a textural complexity uncommon at 4.4% ABV. The 2008 GABF Gold Medal in the Session Beer category and a 90/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing confirm what Kansas City locals have known since the early 1990s — this is one of the most well-executed American wheat beers in production.