North Coast Brewing
(short notes)
Fort Bragg, California
All beers sampled at the brewpub, August 1995, and a couple of the beers are worth seeking.
| Blue Star | American Wheat | * * * * |
| This was decidedly an American Wheat, and perhaps the best rendition of that style that I have ever sampled. It was unfiltered, and this was key to retaining the character of this beer. The primary flavor component was a wonderful wheatiness to it; this is a flavor that the vast majority of American Wheat beers lack. I rather liked it. |
| Scrimshaw Pilsner | Pilsner | * * |
| Not a lager, under any circumstances. Not crisp at all, but fairly clean. Not enough hop bite for a pilsner, and the estery fruitiness detracted from what ought to be a crisp beer. Clearly mis-named. |
| Red Seal | American Amber Ale | * * 1/2 |
| Light hoppiness in the nose. Good hop flavor, slight lingering bitterness, light bodied and dry finish. I would appreciate more of a malty profile (it had none, really) especially some crystal notes. |
| Centennial Ale | Summer "Golden Ale" | * * |
| Blandish. Not much in nose, or flavor. |
| Old No.38 Stout | Irish Dry Stout | * * * 1/2 |
| Poured under nitrogen. Roasty, coffee nose. Nice flavor profile; quite similar to Beamish. Good effort for an authentic Irish Stout. |
| Old Rasputin | Imperial Stout | * * * * |
| Two stouts in one day! This beer was only served in a 10-ounce glass, and I only had a couple of sips because I had to drive to Santa Rosa (an additional 2 1/2 hours out of Ft. Bragg.) It was complex, with lots of roasty-coffee-chocolate notes in the flavor and aroma. I enjoyed it; it is certainly better than the fine Grants Imperial Stout, but not quite in the league as Rogue's. |