Grand Cru - North Coast Brewing Co.

UCLABrewN84

California

4.28/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Bier Academy in Canyon Country, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a 1/2 inch off-white head that fades to nothing. Absolutely zero lacing on this one. Smell is of spices, yeast, citrus, and a slight sour funk. Taste is of spices, minor Belgian yeast, citrus, cane sugar, and some slight funky flavors. There is a noticeable alcohol burn in the throat with each sip as well. A high level of carbonation with a crisp, bubbly, and slightly sticky mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is very tasty. I really liked the complex flavors, especially with the subdued Belgian yeast that let other tastes come out.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 20:48:17 | More by UCLABrewN84

rydev24

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.4%

05-12-2013 22:36:06 | More by rydev24

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$15.95 at a bottle shop. Poured into a snifter. Beautiful soft glow of honey amber. Practically no head, but I can't say that I was springing for much with that big 12.9% ABV rocking here.

Smells of Belgian yeast esters and bourbon. Sweet agave note offers that tequila vibe and some of the citrusy and stone fruit elements from the yeast combines not terribly unlike a margarita. Whiffs of honey, apricot, and golden raisin also contribute.

Kind of sweet, but there's a tasty whiskey note that carries some of the barrel without being too woody. Belgian pale malts and ruffling yeast offer more stone fruits. Hints of citrus conjure up flavors of orange and grape and apricot and golden raisin. More of that honey from the nose. Has a strange imbalance, the way mixing bourbon and tequila into a fruity cocktail would clash. Very interesting how it still retains a lot of Belgian flair. Booziness is kind of big, but not 12.9% big, in my opinion. My girlfriend disagrees, but I think this drinks on the easy side. Carbonation is tuned way down, but that doesn't hurt the feel too much. It's a beastly Belgian Strong Pale, not too much can be done about that. The body has a great full-on mouth-coat. A little tacky and quite condensed. I feel pretty good about sipping on this, even though I might be taking it down a little too fast for my own good.

Very unique BSPA. Maybe the first bourbon barrel-aged version that I've had. Would totally have this again and would be intrigued to try this one aged. Buy one at a good price and give me your take on it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:32:03 | More by thecheapies

cheefdaddy1

Mississippi

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%

05-11-2013 18:46:46 | More by cheefdaddy1

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

05-07-2013 22:25:01 | More by onix1agr

halo913

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +11.4%

04-29-2013 15:01:32 | More by halo913

stpaulsipper07

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +32.3%

04-20-2013 23:40:34 | More by stpaulsipper07

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +11.4%

04-20-2013 14:06:49 | More by drgonzo2k2

Stoutlad

Indiana

4/5  rDev +11.4%

04-16-2013 00:48:58 | More by Stoutlad

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.4%

04-14-2013 00:55:22 | More by IPAchris

Danobold

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

04-11-2013 02:56:52 | More by Danobold

valkyre65

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

04-03-2013 00:38:53 | More by valkyre65

HoppyKilaMonster

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%

03-26-2013 17:09:44 | More by HoppyKilaMonster

gunpwdr

Virginia

4/5  rDev +11.4%

03-25-2013 22:28:46 | More by gunpwdr

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +11.4%

03-24-2013 02:31:45 | More by Sparky44

michaeljstraub

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

03-21-2013 02:08:31 | More by michaeljstraub

atone315

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%

03-13-2013 01:15:45 | More by atone315

NorthSideSean

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

03-08-2013 05:34:33 | More by NorthSideSean

match1112

Illinois

3/5  rDev -16.4%

03-08-2013 01:09:13 | More by match1112

MarkyMOD

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

03-02-2013 02:33:12 | More by MarkyMOD

Hazy

Indiana

4/5  rDev +11.4%

02-26-2013 18:09:26 | More by Hazy

Andonato

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%

02-26-2013 07:38:05 | More by Andonato

JackOGreen

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +32.3%

02-25-2013 07:44:45 | More by JackOGreen

Kwak78

California

5/5  rDev +39.3%

02-21-2013 07:18:55 | More by Kwak78

SaintBenedict

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

North Coast Grand Cru pours a spectacular crystal-clear golden honey color with a short-lived spritz-y white head that soon settles to a thin cap of fine bubbles. After some time, a concentrated fountain rises from the center of the glass, directly above the etching at the bottom of the Duvel tulip.

The aroma is sweet and somewhat syrupy with notes of Belgian yeast and a touch of barnyard funkiness, along with damp hay, dried apricot, white grape juice, juicy tart berries, modest oaky wood and a kiss of bourbon.

On the palate, the agave makes itself known presenting a syrupy sweet flavor, as well as rum-macerated cherries, juicy apricot, fleshy peach, alcohol-soaked fruit bread, berry flavors, vinous notes and a super-charged malty sweetness. The ale finishes with hints of oak and bourbon.

The body is medium-full, with a thick viscous, oily texture and minimal carbonation, though a fair degree of effervescence is clearly present.

To be honest, both the nose and palate are a bit unrefined and overdone. I have a suspicion that a little more time would help to tone down the assertiveness of the ale. However, that being said, this bottle is already nearly two years old, so I'm not entirely convinced how it will fare after a few more years.

All in all, I'm torn: North Coast Grand Cru shows a lot of ingenuity and promise, but it comes off as green, immature—a bit too big for its britches, if you will. The "Grand Cru" designator should be reserved for the summum bonum of a brewery, which, by the likes of it, is an appellation that perhaps has been hoisted upon this brew too hastily.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 00:12:37 | More by SaintBenedict