Old #38 Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

CortexBomb

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour is opaque black with an off-tan head on top. Smell is lightly roasted, chocolate.

The flavour is dry and roasted. Light chocolate tones lurk in the background. Some spicy hops on the very edge of the tongue. Lightly nutty. A good representative of the style.

Mouthfeel is decently full and carbonated, but not exceptionally thick. The drinkability, a shade above average as well. This is a solid, enjoyable take on the style, but it's nothing I would go out of my way for.

The bottom line: As Irish Dry Stouts go, North Coast has put together a good variation on the style. There is nothing here that is particularly memorable, but if you're in the mood for a lighter stout like this, Old #38 is an affordable and tasty option.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2008 01:54:17 | More by CortexBomb

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-21-2013 23:31:13 | More by GinsuDave

alelover

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-10-2013 02:55:48 | More by alelover

jkane101

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-10-2013 00:14:43 | More by jkane101

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

"Named for a retired steam engine on the California Western Railroad Redwood route, Old No. 38 Stout is a smooth, firm-bodied stout with the toasted character and coffee notes of dark malts and roasted barley." Brewed in the style of an Irish Dry Stout, but reminds me more of an Export Stout based on it's qualities and aroma.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Served north of 48º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a brown smooth, yet crispy head with an average retention and light crispy lacing. Body color is a dark brown, near black. Moderate visible carbonation. Appearance is nice although not a big draw of this beer. 3.5

(Smell) Aroma consists of a moderate roasted barley, a forward herbal and floral hop character, and a mild acidity that wafts over an otherwise clean, subtle malt base. The aroma reminds me a great deal of a Guinness Foreign Extra, and probably comes close to other Export Stouts in its composition. I really enjoy the hop presence in this one, it's a driving hop character that pairs well with the roasted barley. Potency is medium. 3.75

(Taste) A lot more of the same, although the acidity is a bit more pronounced, with a very subtle clean roasted bread finish. The hop character is very herbal and mildly grassy, and the malt bill is somewhat masked, much like an Irish dry stout would be. Sweetness is moderate at best and the hop character and acidity makes for the most pronounced part of this beer, complimenting a notably dry finish. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Carbonation is very light, with just a touch of buzz on the tongue, but not a lot of creaminess or thickness to go with it, it feels a lot like a dry stout minus the nitrogen boost. Body is medium/heavy for a dry stout, medium+ overall. Alcohol presence is mild for the style, tucked behind the hop character. 3

(Overall) I find this beer uncommitted between competing styles, and as such I can't determine whether I actually enjoy it or not. The makings of an Irish dry stout are nearly all there, with a dry, modestly-hopped malt body, well masked. The hops are more prevalent than in the average dry stout, and make for more of an export-style stout. Despite the focus, I can find many enjoyable things in this beer, it's not my choice beer, however, but may be a step up from Guinness or Murphy's lovers, however. 3.5

North Coast Brewing Company's
Old No. 38 Stout
3.5/5.00

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:47:34 | More by Jadjunk

aztraz

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

04-27-2013 21:06:50 | More by aztraz

CrazyHarry

California

4.23/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a really terrific dry stout.

Pours a dark black with a creamy tan colored head that has a nice sheen to it.

Faint aromas of coffee and chocolate, but the real joy is the taste - medium bodied, smooth mouthfeel with flavors of roasted dark malts, chocolate and coffee without the tart/sour flavor of a Guinness. I could drink this all night!

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-12-2013 18:33:46 | More by CrazyHarry

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

04-09-2013 22:14:45 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

tito42

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle to a tulip.

A: Nearly opaque black with a touch of cola around the edges of the glass. Thick, foamy, cocoa head.

S: Roasted barley, bready yeast, earthy hops, peat, and hints of plum and chocolate.

T: Strong roasted barley presence up front. Flavors of plum and chocolate are much more present than in your reference Irish Dry Stout (Guinness). White cane sugar.

M: Light-bodied as a dry stout should be, with a middling hops finish for the style and a bit of a drying effect on the tongue.

O: Very solid dry stout. My first North Coast brew, I'll definitely be trying more of their offerings.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 02:45:07 | More by tito42

hosehead83

Ohio

3.89/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a "stubby" 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Dark brown/black in color, with ruby highlights, big, thick cloud-deck of tan foam.
Aroma-Faint chocolate, coffee notes
Taste-Dark roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, drying finish. Roasty and tasty, a nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 16:28:39 | More by hosehead83

Tom_Gilman

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

04-04-2013 03:21:51 | More by Tom_Gilman

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +4.2%

04-03-2013 03:06:14 | More by drgonzo2k2

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3/5  rDev -21.9%

04-01-2013 14:24:12 | More by Whiskeydeez

kbenson13

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

03-23-2013 02:37:54 | More by kbenson13

Punisher

Missouri

4/5  rDev +4.2%

03-20-2013 04:36:45 | More by Punisher

animal69

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

03-19-2013 04:18:36 | More by animal69

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%

03-18-2013 16:40:28 | More by ummswimmin

chaint

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

03-17-2013 16:47:43 | More by chaint

Skyjmpr

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

03-15-2013 19:17:17 | More by Skyjmpr

mctizzz

New York

4/5  rDev +4.2%

03-15-2013 04:36:21 | More by mctizzz

olfolxholme

California

4.11/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle into Samuel Smith tulip pint glass

A - Massive cocoa head on top of a surprisingly dark brown beer with red highlights. Impressive head retention, bits of lacing. Lives up to expectations, for sure.

S - Initial aroma is a blast of chocolate and lots of sweet, sugary, dark roasted malt. Some coffee. Aroma fades a bit, but is still a very pleasant component of the beer.

T - Roasted malt character, chocolate, a touch of bitterness. A pinch of mineral character. Cereal grains in the aftertaste - reminds me of Grape Nuts.

M - I have to remind myself that this is an Irish Dry Stout and that the thinner mouthfeel is appropriate (as compared to an American Imperial Stout, which I usually drink). It's pleasantly carbonated, very refreshing, and just because it's thinner than most of the stouts I drink - that doesn't mean it's "thin." Some dryness with the grape nuts aftertaste. Definitely begs for another sip.

O - I really enjoyed this beer. It's not a style I drink that often, but it makes me want to try a few others and compare. My hunch is that this is a fuller flavored representative of the style. A lot of the flavor and aroma profile could work just as well in a bigger, oilier Imperial Stout. But it works quite well in this context. A MUST TRY for fans of the style, and one I will check in with from time to time, I'm sure. Worth trying for any BA. Could be an excellent "gateway beer" for Guiness drinkers.

54

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 18:10:23 | More by olfolxholme

Axle

Rhode Island

4.75/5  rDev +23.7%

03-04-2013 20:32:15 | More by Axle

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours very dark brown, almost black color; with a 1 finger dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of cocoa, chocolate, roasted malt, light char, toast, molasses, raisin, toffee, light coffee, and roasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity; decent strength. Taste of cocoa, chocolate, roasted malt, toast, light char, molasses, toffee, light raisin, light coffee, and roasted earthiness. Lingering notes of cocoa, chocolate, roasted malt, toast, molasses, toffee, light raisin, and earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted flavors with some light fruitiness; with good robustness, and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy, chalky, and fairly crisp mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with almost zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good dry stout style. Good balance and complexity of nicely robust flavors; and very smooth to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering; but I probably got an old bottle judging by the fruitiness and molasses notes.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:50:46 | More by superspak

MudDrinker

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

02-28-2013 04:25:44 | More by MudDrinker

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

02-22-2013 13:45:58 | More by JMS1512