Grand Cru
North Coast Brewing Co.

 

 

This beer is classified as a Belgian Pale Ale style beer in this website's data base. This beer is pretty dark amber/medium brown color. And it isn't very pale at all. Rather cloudy/hazy actually. I think this beer's style is listed in BA's data base incorrectly. Doesn't have much head at all when poured out pf the 16.9 oz. bottle, but a medium sized white ring surrounding the inside of the glass along with some very small spots of surface foam. Aromas of some bready malts with definite caramel sweetness, Belgian candi sugar, and some plum and date notes, also dark red apples and a hint of apricot. And I think a bit of nectar as well along with some yeasty esters. Rounded out with a bit of bourbon oak. The flavors are very similar, with caramel sweet and bready malts, Belgian candi sugar sweetness, some fruity notes of plum, dates, and hints of apple and apricot. Also, a definite bready, and just slightly funky yeasty note, a bit of nectar, that's all rounded out with some bourbon oak. Not really any discernible hops. Has a smooth, just slightly oily and just slightly chewy, medium bodied mouthfeel with light carbonation. Has a slightly grainy finish. The various flavors really linger on my palate for a long time nicely after each sip. A very interesting beer here. I've had this bottle in my cellar for about 4-5 years until I drank it tonight.

Eric

A-Pours a hazy amber color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has fruit and spice hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a fruit and spice flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A good Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Murky light orange hue.

White head; minimal lace.

Grapefruit & cranberry nose; hint of booze.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Oak, bourbon, tequila & grapefruit.

Too bold for me!

 

Pours murky copper, thin head of large bubble dissipate quickly.
Smell is apricots, cherry, grape, corn.
Taste is orange, grape, barrel, some alcohol though smooth.
Some notes of oxidation though they blend well. Lingering finish of whiskey and orange.
Mouthfeel is medium, smooth, no carb. Some tingles on the tongue like neat whiskey.
I'm interested to try more of this. After this bottle I got a 4 pack of 2018, curious to see if I can keep the carb and if so, how it fares with less oxidation.

poured from a 1pt. 0.9 fl. oz. caged and corked brown bottle

North Coast Grand Cru poured a hazy dirty gold color - almost peach like. No head or lacing to speak of was produced. The nose was sweet, some yeast and light fruit were present. The taste follows the nose with the flavors of peach, pear and apples detected. Mouth feel is a little syrupy and sticky. High-medium bodied with lower carbonation than expected. The alcohol was present, however. well hidden for its 12.9 abv.

Overall, a flavorful Grand Cru that its drinkability is limited by that high abv.

With an opaque amber straw color, the flavor is balanced with sweet apricot and dried fruits, along with delicious dark caramels, brandy overtones and a slight yeast undertone. The aroma is yeasty phenols and brandy, with an aftertaste of a more yeasty plum cake. Despite the lack of carbonation from not opening the bottle for a long time, it has a enjoyably munchy mouthfeel that act as a pleasant digestif. For a barrel-aged offering, I really like how it has the actual flavors one would expect from bourbon barrel aging without getting too boozy. Don’t forget to try out other great barrel aged options, mainly the Barrel Aged Numbskull and Olde Ale/Special Reserve from Alesmith Brewing Company, Rye-on-Rye from Boulevard Brewing Company, Chanukah in Kentucky from Shmaltz Brewing Company, the Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale from New English Brewing Company and the Vanilla Bean Stout from Avery Brewing.

The body has a gradient of dark amber to sunset red, with a minimal bubbly collar.

Cherry, oak, yellow apple, caramel and agave.

Carbonation is crisp, body medium, finishing semi-dry.

 

 

 

"Goof"...... or.... I mean "Good" ?????? Come on BA.... this is at the very least a "very good" !

 

February 2019 review update: grabbed my last of a handful of bottles of this (bought a whole bunch at Costco however many years ago...) and thought I'd revisit and revise - upwards! - my rating.

First off, this is heck of a beer. Opaque brownish-orange, thick mouthfeel, about as sweet as a sweet & strong beer should be, thick mouthfeel, strong alcohol heat and minimal carbonation. An enjoyable winter sipper. Tastes like Old Stock's lighter, brighter, sweeter cousin. Reminiscent of some sweeter English barleywines I've enjoyed. I'm glad I stocked up on this and saved some and if they brew it again, I'll buy it again.

Second off, what this beer is not: It ain't a Belgian Strong Pale Ale! Should be categorized as an Old Ale, American Strong Ale, etc. I don't know how to change this but it sure isn't right.

Finally: The rating here is criminally low. But maybe my rating is too high since enthusiasm and 13% ABV may have the better of me. So maybe split the difference. But if you come across a bottle of this and enjoy old ales, strong ales, British Barleywines, etc., you're going to love this stuff.