Forceful Starbuck’s-like dark roasted coffee strength fortifies milky brown chocolate richness, mild cappuccino-espresso stint, and creamy vanilla resiliency coarsened by earthen hazelnut-walnut sash. Though pallid cola hue seems strangely light for robust style, its silken lactose flow secures mocha java, vanilla bean, chicory, and pipe tobacco illusions of moderate Irish dry stout.
NORTH COAST OLD NO. 38 STOUT
Beautiful sweet mocha fragrance, insistent barley-roasted entry, and sweet caramel-chocolate persistence set up creamy cappuccino milking of syrupy ruby maroon treat. Grain-thickened earthen bottom and tar-like bitterness punctuate espresso finish. Too strong for amateurs, but absolutely essential for the rest.
NORTH COAST LE MERLE SAISON BELGIAN-STYLE FARMHOUSE ALE
Wobbly saison tries to be all things to everyone but half-asses the attempt. Honeysuckle-kissed apricot-tangerine-mango-pineapple tropicalia counters sour apple-cherry tartness and white peppered cinnamon-nutmeg spicing for impressive initiation, but metallic acidity decreases herbal-floral latency ’til astringent grassy-hopped barnyard-hay-horse blanket funk damages any lemony grapefruit rind remnant. Dry vermouth finish picks up misplaced medicinal mote.
(NORTH COAST) CRU D’OR BELGIAN STYLE ALE
Beguiling ruddy-hued Belgian-styled dubbel could be richer and more authentic, but who’s complaining as syrupy whiskey overtones embellish sweet banana-bruised cherry-juiced heft and cotton-candied caramelized apple crest. At midst, vanilla bean, rum raisin, sugar plum, and sour fig illusions crowd spicy cinnamon-coriander nook. Subdued Courvoisier, brandy, and bourbon tonicity increases complexity.
(NORTH COAST) BROTHER THELONIUS BELGIAN-STYLED ABBEY ALE
Enticing bronze-bodied Belgian-styled dubbel integrates chewy prune-spewn rum raisin thrust with dank candi-sugared yeast sinew and creamy cocoa clasp. Buttery Chardonnay, burgundy, and bourbon notes recede as cresting white grape souring amplifies nutmeg spicing and cherry puree slumber.
NORTH COAST BLUE STAR WHEAT
Turbid pale honey hue matches pliable chaffed wheat balm, but reticent lemon-lime tang and bland spicing mire leisurely dry-hopped finish, sterilizing already mushy nature. Not on par with better North Coast brews.
NOGNE O #100 BARLEY WINE-STYLE ALE
Stirring Norwegian full body penetrates deeply as creamy chocolate-roasted burnt caramel malting sweetens dark-spiced cookie dough richness and dried-fruited anise-currant-sarsaparilla illusions. Sherry finish allows candied apple, bruised cherry, and vinous grape undertones to peak above raisin-plum souring and peanut-shelled hazelnut-walnut barb. Creme de cocoa, ice coffee, smoked molasses, and oaken vanilla nuances waver.
NOGNE O IMPERIAL STOUT
Coarse hop-roasted char and seared wood bittering joust musty waft of pencil shavings, crayon, and clay. Coffee ground midst musters Blackstrap molasses, cola nut, cocoa, and vanilla illusions, but tertiary port-wined plum-fig-black cherry whir lost by sticky black licorice finish.
NOGNE O BROWN ALE
Boldly robust ale recalls finest dry stouts, easing nutty up-front thrust into molasses-smoked wood-seared oats-charred black coffee bittering. Hop-oiled espresso, tar, and tobacco chaw notes cake latent dark-spiced chocolate serenity.
(MOCTEZUMA) NOCHE BUENA SPECIAL HOLIDAY AMBER ALE
Billowy tan-headed copper amber too fizzy and soft-bodied to finish strong. Still, despite dank grains, lack of holiday spices, and inert chocolate flirt, it goes down easy. Dos Equis version is better.
(NINE G) INFIDEL IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE
Snazzy red deviled label and austere 8.4% alcohol ebb welcome sinister heretics to coppery hell-bent libation ultimately less brazen than prudently dulcet. Strengthened piney hop-spiced bitterness counters honeyed nectar inducement and resultant tangerine-grapefruit-apricot tang impacting mineral-grained toasted barleymalt spine reinforced by fluttered cookie dough sweetness. Brewery defunct: 2010.
(NINE G) BLACKSNAKE PORTER
Striking stylistic libation flaunts incipient visual stimulation as richly cascading rocky tan head slowly settles above proud mahogany body. Up-front, harsh Blackstrap molasses thickness overlays affluent black chocolate malting and muddy black coffee persuasion. Ensuing hop-roasted tobacco-charred bitterness intensifies burgundy-port influence, coarse walnut-cola nut jot, and earthen mildew bottom. Brewery defunct: 2010.