Grand Cru - North Coast Brewing Co.

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.25/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Didn't expect this beer to come out looking like Coors, but it had a dark golden color. Just don't see that too often when something is labeled as bourbon barrel aged, but hey, something new. Aroma was all over the place. Mostly it was just the smell of alcohol. Throw in some roundabout fruit and wood, and there it is.

Taste, wow, even bigger disappointment. More alcohol heat, no distinguishable direction, seems like a grand cru where everything, including the kitchen sink is dumped together, slap it in a spirits barrel and a few months later, you have a beer that retailers can ask $20 a pop for. The bourbon aspect is paltry compared to the alcohol heat and belgian steroid yeast. Where the agave was, I have no idea. It was like a mix of raisin and pear, with wet oak, and rubbing alcohol with a boilermaker shot of whiskey added for 'bad' measure.

North Coast frequently gets it right with their affordable beers. Their barrel Rasputin was never in my opinion better than the regular, and this stuff is just downright disappointing on a whole nuther level.

Avoid unless the price comes down to like, $1 a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2011 00:16:13 | More by Beerandraiderfan

dansmcd

Australia

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - A clear, pale golden colour under two fingers of fluffy white head, and then long strands of lacing.

S - Sweet pears, yeast, champagne, honey.

T - Sweet pear and peach, slightly acidic and quite boozy as you'd expect at 12.9%.

M - Medium bodied and sweet.

O - At first, quite an interesting beer, but after half a glass its more than a touch too sweet and sugary.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2011 08:19:30 | More by dansmcd

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Mugs Alehouse, Brooklyn, NY

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color and poured with a quarter-finger high off white head.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of sweet fruit in the nose.
T: The taste has malty sweetness along with fruity flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Considering its strength, this beer is relatively easy to drink because the sweetness is not cloying and the alcohol is very well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2011 00:28:46 | More by metter98

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

(Served in a chalice)
A- This beer pours a crystal clear golden yellow hue with a thin white cream and a champagne carbonation trailing to the surface.

S- The clean soft honey notes are dry with an agave nectar note and some malty cardboard notes to finish that are more abbey yeast and not really oxidation.

T- The slight sweetness has a dry hop note and some carbonic acid notes that finish with a slightly sweet boozy agave hint. The yeast character comes through with some pale malt and a touch of peach as the beer opens up. The finish takes on a vinous white wine and estery hint aswell.

M- The light mouthfeel has a gentle fizz to it and an alcohol spice in this finish.

O- There is some nice yeast character that is a bit hard to describe but blends with a hint of agave and some champagne characteristics except it is not really dry. There are some triple qualities but I don't get any barrel character. It becomes a bit one-dimensional and doesn't have a real character that makes it interesting enough to want to finish the whole bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 22:19:36 | More by rhoadsrage

harrymel

Washington

1.48/5  rDev -58.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Bottled: unk

A: pale golden with little head production. No lace. Etched mirror surface. Excellent clarity.
S: pear juice, some floral notes, belgian yeast. Kinda like a tripel with a sharp edge.
T: Really sweet and cloying. Wow, this is like syrup and tripel yeast. Wow, seriously sweet. So much yeast flavor too.
M: Thick and sticky with moderate on low carb. Semi dry finish.
O: This beer is an embarrassment.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 07:13:42 | More by harrymel

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

North Coast Grand Cru

It looks like what you might expect of a Belgian "grand cru". It's got a slight haze while cold (how can that be faulted?) and its orange-gold body is quite nice. The head retention is pretty good (white, and fairly small bubbled, BTW), but the lacing could have been a bit better - still, there are no real faults with the appearance at all.

The aroma is bready and gently sweetish with a hint of wet oak. It even gives me hints of coconut here and there. There's a touch of sharp yet dull fruit, perhaps like a handful of dried apricots topped by a single slice of freshly cut pear. And a light bit of spice... or is that alcohol? With everything combined there's a bit of a tropical fruit thing happening.

In the mouth it's got a nice, gently bristling carbonation within a medium, gently dextrinous body. It reminds me of sparkling wine. Nice.

The flavor is what makes it a bit odd. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was at first, but when I read that it was brewed with agave nectar it all made sense. I was originally thinking tequila, which seemed bizarre and completely out of left field, but I guess I was actually on the right track. As it warms and becomes a bit 'softer', however, it smooths a bit and more of the fruit and oak come forward. You're also getting used to the taste of it at that point, and it doesn't seem so odd anymore at all, but those first few sips can raise an eyebrow. It's rich, but the flavors remain very concentrated; they don't separate to the point that you'd say "Oh, there's the fruit, and there's the malt... oh, and there's a bit of alcohol". And to be honest, on that note, I didn't really get any hop character until the finish, unless it was citrusy and I was just confusing it with yeasty fruitiness. (I actually found it a bit like papaya). But the hop I get in the finish is more leafy and grassy - or perhaps it just appears that way when combined with the delicate note of vanilla that appears with the oak.

So what to make of this odd bird? I don't think I can judge it against any "style", so it's got to be done hedonistically. Would I drink it again? - sure! Do I want to buy it? - no, not really, but I am a cheapskate. Could it have been brewed better? - probably yes, but I still can't fault it as is. So how about this, did I want to have a second glass out of the bottle? - yes, so OK. Everything told it's pretty decent. I wish its components were a little more balanced overall, and played their parts with just a little more flair, contributing to the betterment of the whole, but it is what it is. Time in the bottle may help, but I doubt it as I didn't find a lot of yeast to help it along. Drink now; one thumb up.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 00:08:21 | More by NeroFiddled

brotherloco

California

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml C&C bottle. Served in a tulip at cellar temperature.

Pours a clear golden orange with a big loose off-white head. Lots of cascading bubbles remain in the glass. Some broad lacing.

Aroma is earthy and funky and definitely tilts Belgian. I get a lot of nutty swiss cheese notes along with some buttered popcorn. Sweet malt, vanilla, and booze.

Initial taste is very sweet and heavier on the palate than I was expecting from the apparent carbonation. Not sure what the agave nectar is contributing, but there is definitely a sweet fruit juice note. Oaky wood notes sit in the background along with some spiciness. Finish stays sweet and seems to bury whatever booze I got in the nose. Decent and interesting, but too sweet to rate highly.

Body is full and carbonation is low in comparison. Not really enough to support the thick feel.

This is certainly a unique offering and definitely has a "wine" quality to it, but it isn't a total stunner.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 22:18:32 | More by brotherloco

Gobzilla

California

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a pale yellow with yellow highlights and a nice 2 finger bubbly head thst left plenty of lacing sticking to the glass.

S: Got a whiff of dark fruits upfront on the nose with sweetness from the belgian yeast, some traces of brett funkiness and pear notes.

T: The sweet belgian yeast was more apparent on the palate with pear, dark fruit, and hints of booze but had a touch of tart bretty funkiness.

M: the brew was light to medium in body with a good amount of carbonaton which had a sweet, slight fruity, funky bretty tart finish.

D: it was drinking pretty damn good considering the ABV and was tastier than anticipated. Definitely could drink another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 23:09:42 | More by Gobzilla

Ratman197

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle poured a clear tarnished gold with a small lingering ivory head. Aromas of cookie, pear, pineapple, bourbon, light oak, light vanilla and alcohol. Palate was light to medium bodied and crisp. Flavors of cookie, apple, pear, pineapple and light bourboin with a crisp lingering fruity finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 19:37:05 | More by Ratman197

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

16.9 fl oz corked & caged bottle, purchased at quite a steep price. My girlfriend and I read the words "agave" and "bourbon barrel" and we were sold. Hopefully it was worth it. Poured into two goblet glasses.

A: Slightly hazy golden honey colored body with a big rocky white head initially. A thin bubbly retention cap stuck around, along with some minor patches of lacing.

S: Odd overall aroma; notes of pear, lemon, yeasty, bread and a dried woody bourbon element. The back end brings a large amount of alcohol esters. Eh, it doesn't really smell overwhelming good, but there's nothing completely off-putting about it.

T: Lots of Belgian-style yeast flavors, dough, stale dried fruits (lemon and pineapple). Mid-palate has a nice honey flavor and alcohol kick which leads right into a seriously weak bourbon element. It's almost laughable, actually. Either their barrel treatment skills are lacking or other parts of this beer completely consume any barrel flavors that were imparted. Not impressed.

M: Bubbly, very lively carbonation and medium-bodied. Somewhat sticky on the palate; finish is a bit off with an astringency I can't place.

Well, this was one beer that is absolutely in my opinion not worth the money. I didn't drain pour because of the price but had this been offered to me for free I doubt I'd finish it. A weird combination of flavors and certainly not what it was billed to be.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 13:19:25 | More by ShanePB

WynnO

Florida

2.45/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

The beer is decent in every category except taste. It evokes confusion to my palette, unable to decide what it wants to be. I sense a dry, in your face bitterness---bitter as in an immature old ale.

Rather than regret throwing my money away on this $19 snow job of advertising and squirrely one-liner quotes on North Coast's website, I actually wish I had bought two, putting bottle #2 away in a cool dark place for a year, maybe two. It might turn into something to brag about by then. If you want it to drink now though, spend your money on something else.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 04:19:49 | More by WynnO

Arbitrator

California

1.43/5  rDev -60.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

On tap at the Bistro barrel-aged fest. One of the reasons I need to get a smartphone is that I can't check what crappy beers I've already had before. This is one I mistakenly purchased at an (average) cost of $3 a pour.

A: Pours a clear, pale gold body with a short-lived finger of off-white head.

S: Yeast. Lemon, floral hops, a touch of pepper in the finish. This reminds me of a tripel.

T: Lots of yeast. It's like they made some wort, tossed in some yeast, and killed the fermentation a day later. Ta-da! Yeast soup. Not much spice or Belgian flavor on the tongue, but it's nice and sweet, which is good.

M: Full-bodied with low carbonation.

O: Bah. I'm beginning to think North Coast is a one-trick pony, and that trick is Old Rasputin.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2011 03:53:13 | More by Arbitrator

ADZA

Australia

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-See through golden honey hue which leaves a two finger head and little clingy lacing.

S-White grapes,musty barnyard funk,peaches,alcohol and yeasty belgian bread.

T-Candied peaches,pineapple,barley,mangoes and porridge with oats and paw paw.

M-Light to medium bodied with a creamy backbone.

O-Very nice with its high ABV well hidden and would drink again cheers.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 12:23:06 | More by ADZA

diamondc

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Golden hue, not much head or lacing. Hazy.. can't expect much at this abv level.

S: Intense fruitiness... apricot & peaches mainly. Hard liquor, a bit of vinegar, caramel. Oak aroma becomes more noticeable the warmer the beer gets. Unique.

T: The initial taste is of intense syrupy cloyingness. Then there is a delicate mango/passion fruit/agave nector flavor after the initial sweetness. Not a lot of hop flavor on the aftertaste. I get vanilla and a bit of dry wood flavor instead.

M: Rivals Duvel in the way of hiding the high ABV. I can't detect any hotness here. A bit syrupy, but kind of refreshing.

O: A surprise, and a winner. Glad I shelled out the $16 bucks for the bottle and I might do it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 05:36:58 | More by diamondc

Zaplt

California

3.2/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours a huge white head that has very poor retention and little lacing. Golden amber color.

Aroma - Caramel sweetness and a bit of a tart slight sourness coming through.

Taste - Clove, floral tones, caramel, breadiness with a light hop bite that meets with the bourbon and the alcohol at the finish. Not as tart as expected. The bourbon barrel is evident but the whiskey taste seems to clash and barrel through any other complexity that may shine through without the aging. The aroma was very inviting but the taste seems to not live up to it.

Overall - For the price, no thank you. I felt as if it was a pretty average beer covered by oak and bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 05:00:17 | More by Zaplt

lonestar4lunch

Texas

4.15/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the most beautiful Belgian pale ales I have ever seen, or beer for that matter. It just looks so damn clean and refreshing, just something about it. It is a light orange that is crystal clear and a light head on top. Aroma is of pear, peaches, yeast and a weak funk. This is deceptively carbonated on the first sip. The taste follows nose with the pears and other light fruits along with some alc warmth. This is very crisp just overall relatively easy to drink. Calling this a Grand Cru allows it to meander thru the Belgian Pale style and back. This is very good and just a bit different to really stand out. In all honesty, after every sip I think this is a lighter version of Avery's Beast. Well dang done.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 01:56:30 | More by lonestar4lunch

david18

New York

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been enjoying this beer quite a bit lately but was surprised to hear it characterized as a Belgian Strong Pale. It was darker and not esthery enough in my opinion. However, as a strong ale I like this very much.

Appearance is a medium to dark brown with lots of carbonation. Very opaque but not cloudy.

Aroma is quite malty. More malt than anything. Not a lot of yeast in the aroma.

Flavor is quite strong but well balanced at the same time. Good malt flavor balanced with the hops. Very good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 14:53:46 | More by david18

rarbring

Sweden

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A clear golden brew with small bubbles, a white high head that settles rather quickly, leaving good lacing, and having some curtains.

The smell is sweet and fruity, grapes, vinegar and a whiff of stable.

The taste is sweet, grapes, elderberries, apples, vinegar and white whine.

Medium low carbonation, minimal bubbles, a fresh feeling, a warm and dry finish.

A very nice brew, very well with dinner, read meat.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 20:01:35 | More by rarbring

srandycarter

California

3.05/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I am not going to do my usual breakdown. This beer pours clear, extremely clear, light amber. Not much very white head that goes to disk fast. Some cling. Smell is cider or mead. Not pleasant for a belgian. Taste is weird. Cloying, cidery, not what I expected. Don't need to go on. Will drain pour balance... not because it is too gross, but because I don't waste beer calories.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 04:36:23 | More by srandycarter

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew poured out as a very nice sparkling gold color with a pretty nice white head on top. The head has a decent retention but not much lacing at all. The smell of the beer gives off a mix of champagne and bourbon. The aroma is a little sweet and has a big yeasty aroma too. The taste of the beer is a little tart upfront with some elements of vanilla and booze. The aftertaste is soft and light. Very palatable stuff here. The mouthfeel of the beer is light, fairly refreshIng and smooth. It's got plenty of carbonation at first but settles well on the tongue after swallowing. Overall I enjoyed the beer. I can't say that I'd buy it again because of the price tag on it but still it's not a bad brew at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 02:36:17 | More by Knapp85

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Interesting take at bourbonizing a Belgium pale ale touched with agave…

Presentation: 500 ml corked and caged brown bottle. Simple design with a golden label presided by an embroided Celtic like pattern, alongside a minimal description of brew, and serving recommendation. Shows 12.9% Alc. by Vol. Poured into a snifter.

A - Clear deep gold pour, short lived frothy head, and moderate lacing.

S - Toffee and burnt caramel with a yeasty sense, hint of buttery booze...

T - …which translates nicely to the palate. Syrupy range, with that burnt caramel, buttery sugar, hint of hop and spicy, citric peel with a deep lingering yeastiness, hints of wood, vanilla, with a remote sweet memory of bourbon.

M - Full to medium body with good carbonation adding a nice rhythm to the sweetness.

O - Good sipper, slightly boring towards the end, but offering a nice initial range.

Notes: Worth the try and the experiment but again I feel a tad shortchanged with these heavy and small bottles carrying these price tags… I was reluctant to try it and ultimately it was a nice experience but nowhere as close to the promised quality-hype...

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 02:37:58 | More by Daniellobo

Gobigvt7

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16.9oz corkncage (heaviest bottle I've held in ages) into a new belgium chalice.

hazy (from bubbles), then crystal. peachy straw-colored with a dab of amber. a thumb of white head quickly dissipates, but legs remain.

smells rather hot and sweet, like a champagne, faint peaches and passion fruit.

immediately boozy and cloying, lots of fruity, yeasty flavors (peach, passion fruit, honey, clover). Not a lot else. A sugar bomb.

sticky and syrupy, the abv has a lot to do with the flavor here. Still only medium bodied as far as weight goes.

Disappointing, but decent. Could have been better balanced, but flavors were there. $15.99 a bottle was a little steep.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 03:27:31 | More by Gobigvt7

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pop goes the cork and a soft pour fills the glass with a clear golden color and a dense white head filling the upper half of the tulip.

Sweetness in the aroma may just be too much of an understatement. Fruity nectar alongside a good does of vanilla makes for über sweet aroma. Just a hint of alcohol in the background breaks through the sweetness.

Fortunately on the palate a bit more of the beer came through, with a strong malty bready backbone upon which the sweetness of the agave build off of. Some woodiness from the oak comes along as well just before a decent bourbon kick right at the end.

Mouthfeel was full bodied and a bit warm. Overall, I wasn't sure what to expect from this beer. Certainly not a disappointment but far from the best for a barrel aged beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 00:39:01 | More by Kinsman

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

1.63/5  rDev -54.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Good looking beer, that’s for sure. A fluffy bright white head builds quickly and then fades quickly on the beer. The beer is a very bright brass/gold color with perfect clarity and nicely spaced escaping strands of carbonation. No lace to speak of.

Aroma is very fruity with pear and light apple notes. Definitely a sweetness noted here.

Oh My, this is a sweet beer. Pear flavor and specifically like the syrup from canned pears. Really over powers everything else. Some candied sugar.

Cloying does come to mind.

Wow, this is a decidedly bad beer. Have no interest in finishing the glass. Not coming back for more here.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 19:51:55 | More by Reagan1984

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured a medium golden color with a nice white cap

S: Fresh fruits like some apples or even pears going, some wood, hint at vanilla and agave of course

T: Sharp alcohol tinge with agave, Earthiness, wheat or hay, wood, vanilla with a syrupy, sticky feel with pears, apples and subtle vanilla, agave and light pepper at times

M: Big beer, medium body and feel of wheat on the palate

0: An average on this because it is not one I would go back to again, not unless it had a couple of years on it

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 16:41:58 | More by barleywinefiend