Grand Cru
North Coast Brewing Co.

Grand CruGrand Cru
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From:
North Coast Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
12.9%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 16.98%
Reviews:
162
Ratings:
486
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 17, 2021
Added:
Jul 22, 2011
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  102
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.87 by Dave2234 from Minnesota

Oct 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.33 by Curt3 from Ohio

Aug 22, 2021
Photo of neenerzig
Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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
Mar 15, 2020
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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
Oct 10, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.59/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
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!
Apr 01, 2019
 
Rated: 2.88 by BeardedWalrus from North Carolina

Mar 11, 2019
Photo of bl00
Reviewed by bl00 from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Oct 29, 2018
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Aug 01, 2018
Photo of Mitzvahman72
Reviewed by Mitzvahman72 from California

4.58/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
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.
Feb 25, 2018
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.84/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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.
Dec 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.61 by Bajdog from Maryland

Nov 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by Shawnspl from Rhode Island

Nov 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.7 by M_chav from New Mexico

Aug 23, 2017
Photo of Hackattack
Rated by Hackattack from Indiana

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
"Goof"...... or.... I mean "Good" ?????? Come on BA.... this is at the very least a "very good" !
Jun 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

May 21, 2017
Photo of bshefftz
Reviewed by bshefftz from California

4.75/5  rDev +28%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
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.
Apr 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by Rootscipio from Texas

Apr 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Feb 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by WastingFreetime from Wisconsin

Nov 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.41 by glinnebur from Arizona

Nov 13, 2016
Grand Cru from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 486 ratings