Heavily carbonated Bavarian wheat ale with recessive honey flavoring fading to light wheat-grained backdrop. Soda-like fizz overwhelms dainty yellow-fruited finish suitable for novices. Brewery defunct: 2007.
NOR’WESTER DUNKEL WEIZEN
Acrid unfiltered dark wheat knockoff mired by phenol astringency and mucky hop roast settles into fair coffee-burnt chocolate lactose souring. But acidic onrush ruins funky fig-like finish. Brewery defunct: 2007.
NOR’WESTER BITTER ALE
Satisfying amber-hazed bitter with resonating mineral grain entry and invigorating creamy malt richness maintains strong alcohol content. Satisfying on many levels: not too bitter for lite-minded blue collar drinkers nor too soft for snobby connoisseurs. Brewery defunct: 2007.
ELGOOD NORVIG ALE
Boorish swamp water overwhelms indistinguishable ale. One of the most pretentious English ales on the market and too ornery for serious brewhounds. Pass.
(FEDERATION) NORTHUMBRIAN BROWN ALE
Ruby amber translucence paler than toasted malt dryness, sour cocoa-chocolate astringency, and lemon-limed bottom would indicate. Variable honeyed butterscotch finish nearly rescues capricious appeal.
NORTH COUNTRY MAPLE AMBER
Foamy cold filtered amber ale lacks distinction, clarity of purpose, and advertised maple syrup thickness. Too fizzy (champagne, anyone?) and flat, lacking body. Hidden nut flavoring is slight while slick wine undertones create weird juxtaposition. Picturesque elk on label is its most interesting character. Brewery defunct: 2009.
NORTH COAST WINTERTIME ALE
Contrary to customary cinnamon-nutmeg influenced holiday ales, non-traditional dry malt brew wraps murky smoked salami-nutmeat aroma around insurgent sweet tobacco leaf palate and wood burnt resonance, finishing closer to an India Pale Ale. Expansive hop spiciness tones down initial toasted barley affluence.
(NORTH COAST) SCRIMSHAW PILSNER
Sassy resinous citric waft counters rye-dried sourdough entry of simple, yet peculiar, pale-hazed golden pilsner. Not quite distinct up-front, but toasted hop imprint and tangy marmalade-fruited appeasement jolt mild mineral-grained finish. Its unleavened breading will appease low carbohydrate crowd.
NORTH COAST RUEDRICH’S RED SEAL ALE
Likable citric-hopped frothy-headed copper-hazed bitter gains caramel malt fortitude above quaint chocolate nuttiness and sweet stone fruiting. Advancing sunny orange tang awakens barleywine smidgen. Less crisp, clean, and organic than most Cali brews, bringing a more blue collar grain-based pilsner appeal to medium-bodied nicety.
NORTH COAST PRANQSTER BELGIAN STYLE GOLDEN ALE
Distinct sourdough aroma, dry Scotch mouthfeel, and back-throated floral-spiced accents ransack candi-sugared Belgian yeast essence of silken gold-hazed strong ale. Better fruited sweetness (pineapple-cantaloupe-melon) than sharp cider bite, with citric-soured hop sop subduing white-peppered nuance. It’s got some kick.
NORTH COAST OLD STOCK ALE (2001)
Limited 2001 release not for faint-hearted as harsh 11.4% alcohol-smitten barleywine surge and opulent prune palate restricted to experienced drinkers. Blaring chocolate-caramel aromatics and sweet syrupy caramel swagger sway creme brulee illusion.
(NORTH COAST) OLD RASPUTIN IMPERIAL STOUT
Aromatic mocha malt serenity, bitter java palate, and dried date-prune punctuation give exquisite beige-headed ruby-shaded jet black stout initial pomp. Toffee creaminess allows lingering molasses-lactose thicket, cinnamon-allspice reminder, and roasted coffee aftertaste to increase full-bodied assertion. Addictive stuff.