Tag Archives: North Coast Brewing

PranQster by North Coast Brewing

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12068818_10102849583713360_5124066634343540358_oRating: 4.5/5

PranQster by North Coast Brewing is a 7.6% ABV Belgian Golden Ale.

Label:
Belgian Ales represent the height of the brewers’ art. Sophisticated brewing techniques, yeast blends and unique flavoring elements have elevated the beers of Belgium to the status enjoyed by wine in other countries. PranQster follows in this tradition using a mixed culture of antique yeast strains that results in a floral nose, a full fruity flavor and a clean finish.

==Introduction==

First time I tried this beer was in 2012. Fastforward to 2015, and my friend Jose, aka Chino, gives me a bottles of beer as payment for fixing his wife’s computer and I was like, SOLD! I had tried many of the other ones including this one but to be honest, I never really had the chance to just sit down and review it. Many of North Coast brews like Old Rasputin and Grand Cru, which are some of my favorites I cheer on about. PranQster was a very delicious beer but I guess I just never brought it to the site, until now! So without further ado, lets take a look at PranQster.

Aromas:
Floral notes, honey, pineapple, grapefruit notes, banana esters, phenolic clove spice, Oranges, peppercorns, wafflecone, pears, bubblegum hints, lemon candy, rock candy, candy sugar, stone fruit peaches, mango, apricots, vanilla, kiwi hints, papaya, passion fruit, coriander spice and cane sugar.

Flavors:
Oranges, peppercorns, Floral notes, honey, pineapple, grapefruit notes, banana esters, phenolic clove spice, candy sugar, stone fruit peaches, mango, apricots, vanilla, kiwi hints, papaya, passion fruit, coriander spice, honey dew melon, wafflecone, pears, bubblegum hints, lemon candy, rock candy and flan hints.

Aftertaste:
Dry finish with peppercorn, stone fruits, phenolic and estery banana notes, Grapefruit hops and floral notes. No alcohol in the taste, Sipping drinkability, clear golden light body, crisp, clean, refreshing and moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good Golden ale representative of the delicious beers of Belgians, especially Belgian singles. Phenolic, Clovey and spicy like the many greats before it. Not in the Tripel category but pretty near it. A solid Golden for sure and one that is worth trying for sure but not one that I would consistently pick up. I guess my taste for Golden ales has expanded to something even higher. However, for those that are craft beer entry level, this is a good introduction to the delicious worlds of Belgians. Delicious and not overly punching.

Anime Corner:
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt and also Chuck! cosplaying as the Gorillaz were used in this pairing as they represent the gluttony of the dudes in the label. Mainly though, for the name, pranQster. They are up to no good playing by their own rules. They do what they want. This beer is refreshing and it does what it wants in your taste buds. At one time it will be lots of fruit and at another time it won’t. Learn to play a prank on this one if you will be one to succeed.

Sources:
http://wallpaperus.org/wallpapers/05/187/gillaz-stocking-1980×1080-wallpaper-947494.jpg

2011 Grand Cru by North Coast brewing

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10830643_10102408486121470_8192745512367485774_o 10959873_10102408486495720_6415657939344975375_oRating: 6/5

2011 Grand Cru by North Coast brewing is a 12.9% ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Agave Nectar and aged in Bourbon Barrels.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
67% ale brewed with agave nectar and aged in oak barrels, 33% ale brewed with agave nectar. (Released in 500ml cork/cage bottles at brewpub, on May 10, 2009, later rebranded as Grand Cru

==Introduction==
This is one of those beers I had back in 2011 that was technically the strongest ale I have had at the time. I was able to hold on to another for the last 4 years and now I bring out to see how it has matured. The grand cru here is something that my friend Julio told me about so long ago about a 12% ABV beer that totally blew his mind. At the time, 12% ABV was an amazing feat and it was in a realm of beer that I really had not seen before back in 2011. So to me it was a moment where I really had to try it out. Today 12%ABV is amazing as always but there are many different beers that can reach this and higher into the 20% ABV category even. Anyway, I really wanted to try this again and bring it to the site as an amazing beer as this was so damn long ago.

Aromas:
Bourbon, rich stone fruits like mango, peaches, apricots, dark fruits raisins, plums, figs, cherries, raspberries, caramel, vanilla, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, rye bread, old oranges, brown sugar, white raisins, passion fruit, marshmallows, guava preserves/membrillo, mezcal hints, tequila notes, butterscotch, danish cookies, dragon fruit and oak.

Flavors:
A punch of fruits like apples, stone fruit peaches, apricots, dark fruit raisins, plums, figs, agave nectar, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, strawberries, leather, rye bread, old oranges, mango, lychee fruit, guava preserves/membrillo, vanilla, hazelnut nectar, dulce de leche caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, whiskey, marshmallow, graham crackers, oak, mezcal hints, tequila hints, toffee, biscuit bread, honey, dragon fruit, passion fruit hints, white raisins, flan, sweetened condensed milk, danish cookies, cookie dough ice cream and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Agave nectar, stone fruits, dark fruits, vanilla, caramel, oak, bourbon, leather, raspberries, cherries, biscuit bread and rye notes, and sugary hints. Hints of alcohol in the taste but mainly sugary, medium crimson gold body, sipping drinkability and creamy and syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
What can I say but the maturity of this beer speak is many tremendous ways to me. This is a lot more delicious than when I last tried it years ago. Grand Cru beers are some of my favorite kinds of beers but when you have one that is actually bourbon barrel aged or for any matter or liquor barrel aged, it just brings about something very important about that beer that cannot be compared to many. This is quite the unique beer and many have forgotten about it being left in the underrated section of the beer self. Well, do yourself a favor and pic this amazing beer up. It is awesome!

Anime Corner:
Jo from Burst Angel was used in this beer pairing long ago to represent the colors of the beer, the label and the bad assery of this beer. Her crimson eyes tell the story of many shared and cold hardships that represent her strength and complexity, just like the complexity of this beer. This beer was something I had never seen before, a Grand Cru that was barrel aged. A Belgian style with agave and aged in bourbon. Really brings about that old western side with the whole gunslinger and holsters she wears. Jo maybe gold but the more you try this beer, you take a peek into how sweet this cowgirl can really be. There is much that can be said about this beer and how it can relate to Jo but I can only leave it up to you to make your own decisions about this one.

Sources:
http://www.freewallpapersbase.com/anime/wallpapers1/anime-wallpaper200963020454951577803.jpg
http://www.wallcoo.net/anime/Artbook_Flamboyant/wallpapers/1024×768/Artbook_Flamboyant_Burst_Angel_16_19.jpg

Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV by North Coast Brewing

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382030_10100953674296030_1531994946_nRating: 5.5/5

Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV by North Coast Brewing is an 11.9% ABV Russian Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
Never say Die!

Every year we age a special batch of our much-loved Russian Imperial Stout in Bourbon barrels. The depth, intensity, and complexity of the flavor profile of this special release, like its predecessors, make it a worthy tribute to Old Rasputin.

Prior to 2010, Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin was released in such limited quantities that it was available only at the North Coast Brewing retail shop in Fort Bragg, California. However, we received so many requests for this beer that we began producing enough Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin to put into broader, but still limited, distribution.
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This a pretty awesome beer. Upon opening this one, there was immediate aromas of rich coconut, vanilla, bourbon with roasted coffee, chocolate, caramel and some notes of Mexican sweetened condensed or flan. Maybe California’s response to Bourbon County Stout? The flavors are pretty sweet. The boozyness is only slight the flavors that hit the palate. Sweet rich chocolate, espresso, mocha, vanilla, caramel, whipped cream, rich Mexican flan, bourbon, coconut, figs, raisins and prunes. Another masterpiece exceeding the expectations. A must find for Barrel-Aged Stout lovers. Just awesome is what this is. If the original Old Rasputin is world class, this takes it to another level for me.