Cru D'or - North Coast Brewing Co.

DrDoitchbig

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured a dark brown mixed with tones of maroon. I wasn't too careful with my pour so there is quite a bit of suspended sediment, including some small black specks. From certain angles the edges have a strange apple juice look to them. The head began at a respectable two fingers and the retention was solid for the first 10 minutes or so, after that I couldn't even stir up head with agitation.

Smell: The smell is fairly sweet overall. There are a lot of fruity esters floating around. Picking up some dark fruits, mostly raisin and plum. Also getting some definite apple lingering in there. Behind that there are malty shades of molasses and caramel.

Taste: Everything from the smell is present with the molasses and the caramel on the forefront. The ester flavors are also present, the dark fruits are still here but it seems the apple has slide slightly ahead of them along with something else possibly pear. All the esters work together to provide a nice, slightly tart finish.

Mouthfeel: I put it a bit on the thin side, a low-medium body. The carbonation is on the low end also. Not the best aspect of this beer.

Drinkability: I sipped on this one for quite awhile and at the beginning it was too sweet for my liking, but as I worked my way through the sweetness died down a bit and I began enjoying it more and more. Definitely a solid beer.

Overall I can tell off the bat that the Dubbel will not be my favorite beer style, but it won't be on my shit list either. I will definitely be seeking out some of the more highly regarded takes on this style.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 06:52:34 | More by DrDoitchbig

match1112

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

03-08-2013 01:11:13 | More by match1112

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours very hazy dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace that lingers. Spotty wisps of foamy lacing cling on the glass. Aromas of raisin, prune, caramel, toffee, toast, chocolate, dark bread, earth, and light yeast spiciness. Nice aromas with good balance and decent strength. Taste of raisin, prune, toffee, caramel, toast, chocolate, earth, bread, and light yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of dark fruit, toffee, caramel, toast, chocolate, bread, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a bit. Very nice balance and complexity of flavors; nicely robust with zero cloying flavors on the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied; with a creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good Belgian dark ale. Nice complexity, balance, and robustness of flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 07:41:22 | More by superspak

yamar68

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to match1112 for this treat. Not sure what the vintage is but he told me that the beer has a few years on it. Poured from 12oz bottle to Duvel over-sized tulip glass:

Pours a hazy caramel brown with a finger or two of tannish head that receeds to one side of the glass, no real collar but still a slight bit of lacing.

Big toffee and dates on the nose. Some mushy cherries and red grapes. Very smooth and no detectable oxidation or booze presence.

Those bright fruits have settled down quite a bit. Some figs, a very slight cardboard taste that lingers - just barely noticeable. Pretty dry finish.

It seems as though the beer has lost nearly all its carbonation. Just enough to produce a short-lived head.

Never thought I'd get the chance to try this beer - thanks very much Matt!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 18:05:44 | More by yamar68

mechanicalprints

Arkansas

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

02-21-2012 23:06:01 | More by mechanicalprints

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

02-15-2012 02:25:08 | More by jfcaa193

Stoffel

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

01-06-2012 03:07:47 | More by Stoffel

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +10.5%

11-20-2011 05:43:19 | More by JAHMUR

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.5%

11-17-2011 01:10:03 | More by Exiled

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another gift in a recent trade. I was sent two of these and decided to open one up to see what it was about. Poured into a white birch glass.

dark brown, opaque with a huge billowing tan head that literally fell over the sides of the glass. I did not think it would actually ever go down. It finally settled down but left a ton of lace down the glass for the rest of the session. First whiff of the aroma was very fruity, albeit dark. Hints of apricots and raisins, along with some plum and a touch of alcohol were all readily present. The distinctive aroma of Belgian yeast was ever so present as well. Very nice, floral aroma. First sip was delicous. Very full flavored and lively. Lots of fruity flavors, again figs, apricots, banana, and a nice mellow spiceness melded well with a touch of alcohol that was ever so gently mixed in. Very nice warming feeling upon putting down a few sips. Mouthfeel was superb. Very rich, creamy and thick, great carbonation.

Overall this beer was awesome and exactly what I needed after dinner. I nursed this for almost an hour before all was said and done.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 16:11:30 | More by mikesgroove

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

We pour a dark brown hazy beer that maintains a nice reddish glow. It holds a one finger head of large tan bubbles, which sink rather quickly. The carbonation is lightly visible around the edges, and no sediment is noted. This beer's aroma is bold! It is marked by sugary sweet caramel notes, red licorice, hints of phenols, and a fine concoction of esters and yeast. The taste begins with bready malts. We then move forward to sweet fruits throughout the center, most notably, ripe apple and banana. There is also a rich, calming nuttiness to the flavor, which acts to curb the sip's sweetness. The aftertaste, while remaining well balanced, is borderline sour, and a bit earthy. Despite the sweetness, the beer is not syrupy, and remains medium bodied and lightly coating to the mouth. The carbonation, while present, is not a major player to the experience. Drinkability is medium, as some of the strong flavor highlights slow the sipping down.

Overall, what we found most enjoyable about it was its remarkable aroma (and an honorable mention for being organic). It is sweet and inviting, and you could nearly smell it from across the table! Everything it suggested was touched upon in the rest of the beer, but by the end of the glass it can become almost cloyingly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 05:09:03 | More by TheBrewo

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one's been in the basement for a while. No date on the bottle so....

Appearance: Dark red to brown and a little turbid. Scant off white head with very little retention and no lacing (none).

Smell: Tart cherries and raisins. Slightly toasty malt and some spice-- clove mainly.

Taste: Pretty tart fruit flavors for a dubbel. Cherry is prominent at first, but the raisin/date sweetness takes over later. Toast on the finish is really pleasant.

Mouthfeel: Its OK I guess. A little to flat. The finish is pretty nice in that after the beer is swallowed, it feels like you've consumed something pretty substantial.

Drinkability: This may be past its prime, but without a date, I'll never know. Definitely been in my basement for at least a year. Since this beer has since been discontinued, I guess it doesnt matter. I like it fine.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 00:53:36 | More by rapidsequence

Zodijackyl

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

Pours dark amber/brown with a light fizzy head. Smells like sweet bread, lots of yeast and malt. Taste is a balance of smooth, bready malt with fruits - bananas, raisins, and currants - spiced with cloves and other fruity spices. Not overly nor artificially sweet, but the malt and fruits are sweet in themselves and well complemented by the spices. Medium-heavy carbonation works well with the yeast and fruit, with a creamy and yeasty mouthfeel, though the powerful yeast inhibits the drinkability a bit.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 01:45:42 | More by Zodijackyl

jdense

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle from Whole Foods Hollywood PDX poured into Piraat tulip 6.23.2010.

Clear reddish amber body, 3/4 finger white head, quick dissipation, a lot of carbonation climbing up the sides of glass shortly after pouring, quickly disappeared. A couple of minutes later there was scant carbonation rising from bottom of glass, suspicious looking. Malty sweetness in the nose plus fruity esters, plums/prunes, dark cherries, little hop aromas. Taste is more fruity than sweet, some pears in addition to above stone fruit, once again minimal hop presence, but a bit of grassy hops on back end. Mouthfeel is medium with decent effervescence. Decent drinkability, but this beer tastes a bit immature, though the taste profile is certainly more complex as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 04:34:19 | More by jdense

KrisPaulk77

Mississippi

3.03/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured this into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.
The beer poured a hazy amber brown with a chunky head of tan foam. The head lingered for a moment and then receded.
The aroma is big, spiced banana bread with a touch of clove, raisin, plum, and sweet sugar.
The taste of the beer was too cloying and sweet for me, thin feeling and sugary. The spicy banana comes through as well and the alcohol has a bit of warmth.
I couldn't finish this one. It proved to be too sweet and cloying. I would possibly revisit this after cellaring one and getting a little age on a bottle. I love North Coast, but this one was a let down.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 01:39:24 | More by KrisPaulk77

3rdRowTailgater

Louisiana

3.38/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass. Has a moderate amount of head that dissipates rather quickly. Has aabsolutely beautiful color to it. It's a deep dark maroonish-brown that has a ruby quality when held to the light. Nose has a very rich aroma with a hint of black cherries. The taste is a dark fruitiness with a slight maple syrup quality to it. Extremely malty and very little hop flavor is allowed to come through.

All in all it is a nice American take on a Belgian dubbel. Good, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2010 02:28:38 | More by 3rdRowTailgater

kingcrowing

Vermont

2.95/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a goblet.

Pours a dark cloudy brown with a thin white head. Nose is fairly boozy for only 8% but it's quite sweet, malty with notes of raisins, banana and bread.

Taste is a bit cloying, not too boozy, has hints of ginger and banana bread. It's got a nice mouthfeel but its sweetness is a bit too much for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2010 02:29:57 | More by kingcrowing

Dijeriduster

California

4.08/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bought at the brewery April 2009 - cellared at 50 degrees til 1/16/2010. First beer I've ever cellared....well worth the wait!!

A - Good thick head forms on the pour, great lacing. Head sticks around for a while.

S - Sweetish belgian smell, lots of malty ambers with a slight grape / currant overtone coming thru.

T - Wonderfully sutble beer after aging! Malty amber notes come thru with an undertone of currants. Currant notes come thru strong as it heats up. Slightly sour Belgian yeast aftertaste.

M - Nice creamy mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

D - Quite high. Bummed I only cellared one bottle. This should be a main stay for North Coast - with a disclaimer noting the potential for cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 03:38:20 | More by Dijeriduster

zdk9

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark brown with slightly ruby highlights. A bit cloudy. Just a slight touch of foam atop the beer and not a lot of lacing.

S- Bannana, caramel. Actually quite a bit of caramel, like a flan sauce, or a coffee with caramel creamer. Some sweet and slightly roasted malts. A good strong smell.

T- Drier and hoppier than the smell. The caramel is there but greatly subdued beneath unsweetened chocolate. Roasted grains and straw on the back of the tongue, which accompanies some very earthy hops.

M- Dry and minerally. Sweeter down my throat.

D- An interesting dubbel, with a different taste than what I'm used to (though I'm not all that experienced with dubbels so take that for what it's worth). Good.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 22:04:41 | More by zdk9

theboozecruise

Louisiana

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 4-pack of these guys from a going out of business sale. Hate to see a decent beer retailer go, but had to take advantage of the deals! Poured into a Chimay goblet, murky brown color with a small off-white head that dissipated quickly into nothing.

The smell is strong, very floral with a little hint of caramel.

The taste is very similar, hints of caramel mixed in with a floral hoppy flavor. Definitely a belgian ale here, trademark flavors are present.

All in all a very good beer, as to be expected from North Coast. It doesn't measure up to the best Belgians of the style but it holds it own against American counterparts nicely.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2009 22:34:29 | More by theboozecruise

robbyc1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful garnet red clear ale, with a tan slight head.

Deep malty nose of plumbs, raisins, wafting alcohol, and figs. Really deep and satisfying, makes you want to taste it now.

This organic brew is very nice for the style, deep malty tastes follow the nose, it's round and flavorful, with a balanced fig finish, not sweet like some dubbels. Not complex but very satifying.

Big round heavy mouthfeel, with a softness that is nice, not overly carbonated.

A too easy drinker that hides the abv well, a great after dinner brew, just needs more complexity to be a great one.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 03:44:31 | More by robbyc1

jgasparine

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Poured from the bottle with no head whatsoever, and just the *faintest* hint of edge lacing. The body was a nice dark amber color, which showcased some persistent bubble trains.

S- Smells of candy sugar, toffee and rum-soaked fruit. On paper this sounds wonderful, but something about these aromas came-across a bit muddled.

T- The anticipated flavors of candy sugar, toffee and rum-soaked fruits come through on the palate... along with some vinous notes and the distinct flavor of Belgian yeast.

M- A nice medium to firm body, with a fair amount of unattenuated sugar and a nice soft carbonation. Quite nice in the mouthfeel department.

D- Goes down smooth... not a bad interpretation of the style. And while I enjoyed this beer, I don't think I'll have more than one in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 02:05:55 | More by jgasparine

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks for sharing Mike! Deep aburn pour with little to no head and a slight beige ring around the edge that lasts a while. Lots of prune in the aroma with burnt caramel and burnt sugars, some plum, and very perfumey. Semi sweet burnt malt, lots of spiced fruit, and slightly yeasty flavours. Maybe a tad cloying. Still pretty good. Thanks mike!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 18:31:12 | More by mrmanning

Mora2000

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Beer pours a nice brown color with a medium head which quickly dissipates. The aroma is a combination of Belgian sugar, malt and alcohol. About what you would expect from a dubbel, only with a little alcohol. The taste follows the aroma, only with alcohol playing a bigger role. This is a decent Belgian dubbel, but doesn't stack up to the efforts from breweries who specialize in Belgian beers. I'm glad I tried it, but probably won't try it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 01:33:04 | More by Mora2000

DarrellK

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For a domestic attempt at a Bekgian ale this is a good attempt.

The pour yields a great tight head that leaves a nice lace. The aroma is malty and alcoholic and persistes throughout the drink.

The body is very good, not as thick as honey but nice anf viscuous. The finish is definitely maltyand aclcoholic. I'm not a big fan of high gravity being the star of the show but it works in thia brew.

The price was also very reasonable for this quality of brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 21:25:23 | More by DarrellK