Third Coast Beer - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

zjungleist

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured yellow and slighly cloudy with a very weak head. Smells mainly grassy with a tiny bit of malty sweetness. The taste is pretty much purely bitter with a nearly bile-like aftertaste. I got a small amount of malt up front, but that was about it. Mouthfeel was decent with lots of sharp carbonation. Drinkablity was OK, but I found the hop profile to be all wrong. In truth, I thought I was getting the Third Coast Old Ale, but I grabbed this instead. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2006 01:15:44 | More by zjungleist

Crosling

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Golden. Mildly aromatic, slightly tart, with notes of vanilla, orange creamsicle, lemon and pilsner malts. When I was drinking this I wasn't sure if this was a lager or an ale. The malts are grainy, unexciting, and have notes of corn and butter. The hops are herbal and earthy, with notes of lemons, herbs and cream.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2008 14:41:06 | More by Crosling

pmcadamis

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - This one is mustard yellow with a crisp white head. Retention is decent, and some white lace is left on the pint glass.

S - Tangy citrus-oriented hops with a hint of salty sea air. This almost smells like a German pils but maybe a hint more sour.

T - Yeah, this is definitely noble-hopped. This one is confusing to me... it feels like a pale ale, but has very acrid and bitter German-style hop flavors, and the saltiness is a bit off-putting. Not terrible by any means, it's just weird. Weird can be good.

M -Thinner than it should be, this is pretty much highly carbonated, sharp, and crisp. Finishes hoppy with a hint of something herbal. Tea and mint maybe.

D - This is a very off-centered brew that seems too strange to really enjoy. Not bad by any means, but I'd pass on a second one.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2009 03:53:23 | More by pmcadamis

beertunes

Washington

2.9/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Received as a gift from a friend after her recent trip to visit family. Thank you, Mara! If the 4 digit number on the back of the label is the batch #, this was batch #9245. Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a cloudy yellow (almost looked like a Hefe), with1/4 inch of clean white head that dissipated quickly leaving just slight lacing.

A mostly neutral, but slightly skunky, aroma greets the nose, with a nice grainy scent underneath. The flavors are the typically easy grain and soft hop generally found in the style.

Body and drinkability were both typical for the style. There are times when a nice, smooth, quaffable blonde is the beer you're in the mood for, and this would be a good choice. If it were regularly available to me, it would be in my regular rotation. Worth trying, and worth having a friend bring back from vacation.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 21:07:21 | More by beertunes

morimech

Minnesota

2.93/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An attractive gold color with a large pillowy head that leaves moderate lacing. Some particulate floating around also. I guess that comes from bottle conditioning. I wish they would let a consumer know this before they pour a bunch of spent yeast into their beer. I was careful on the second bottle.

The smell is very bready and yeasty with hints of citrus.

There is not much taste up front. Get the hop bitterness after swallowing. Not too impressive. It is light bodied like you would expect and carbonated very well.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 22:54:38 | More by morimech

jeffmonarch

Maryland

2.93/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle in a pint glass.

A - Really light yellow with a thin white head. There is also a nice amount of sediment floating around.

S - Some citrus, there's more there but it's so faint i can't make them out.

T - Starts with a slight bitterness that turns into a slight sweet taste and finishes with a medium bitterness.

M - Light bodied with good carbonation.

D - This beer is ok. It has a descent amount of hops. It doesn't really stand out as anything special.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2007 06:01:13 | More by jeffmonarch

clvand0

Kentucky

2.95/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a cloudy orange color with a medium head and just a tiny bit of lacing on the glass. The aroma was pretty hoppy with a bit of wheat. The taste seemed a bit plain and not to my style. It had some citrus hints but mostly it was hoppy and bready. Drinkability was ok, but this one just didn't fit my style.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2003 11:46:16 | More by clvand0

Oxymoron

Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Third Coast pours a crystal yellow with some sunshine and light sediment, whoops. The head was a white frothiness that quickly dissipated but a little remained through the tasting.

The nose is limited overall. Some grainy characteristics are presence, on the lighter end. Hints of biscuit & a light bready aroma. Some noticeable yeast notes, specifically acetaldehyde. A bit of DMS and diacetyl as well. There is a light hoppy note that is more lemony but some alcohol heat as well.

The taste is also very limited as well. The malt comes out nicely with a good grainy backing. A bit sweet would have liked a bit more bitterness to balance. But some light lemon and orange in the finish. The yeast is a distract with some sulfur, ok for style, but big acetaldehyde and esters, figs mostly. Some diacytl as well but lighter versus the nose.

The body is nice considering style. A good malt backing that lingers into the body gives it a bit more omph. Some slickness but the yeast is just too much of a distraction. Hard to hide some of those flavors in such a light beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2005 01:22:09 | More by Oxymoron

benito

Oregon

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I am surprised to see this classified as an APA.

The bottle may be the most exciting part of the beer: it leaves the Bell's insignia aside, portraying a detailed map of the NW corner of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Other bottles carry different Michigan maps.

The beer pours a straw-golden color and has very little aromas. Not to judge a book by its cover, but the color and scent alone makes me skeptical of how flavorful this beer can be.

The taste is marked by a mix of high carbonation and crisp hop bitterness. Unfortunately, the hoppiness is not offset by any other flavors which means the aftertaste is a lingering, unbalanced bitterness. To the brew's credit, it drinks easily without too much residual bitterness after the initial reaction.

Not high on my list of American pale ales and IPAs, though this seems like a good beer to use to introduce non-craft brew drinkers into the field. Affordability is also a plus.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2004 03:34:02 | More by benito

scruffwhor

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A nice two finger head with slow retention to a thick, foa,y head. The steady bubbling complimented the slightly hazy amber, maple colored beer. The aroma was a funky hop with some tainted smelling malts. This beer tasted a little adjuncty to me. Not expected from any Bell's beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2006 20:22:32 | More by scruffwhor

brentk56

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with a modest head that drops to a ringlet and leaves some shards of lace

Smell: Grainy with a DMS corn element

Taste: Starts out with a biscuity, lemony sweetness that is joined, mid-palate by a grainy bitterness; after the swallow, a floral element appears with an assetive grainy finish

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with plenty of carbonation

Drinkability: Reading through the reviews, it appears that there has been some style drift; clearly not an APA and a blonde ale might be accurate but this could be a lager, too; whatever it is, it is just not my style

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2007 01:46:19 | More by brentk56

Onenote81

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Clear pale gold with a white cap. Aromas of fresh hops, orange slices, grains. Crisp mouthfeel with apparent carbonation. Easy drinking as it should be. Big bitter smack at each sip. I was not expecting that. Bitter, peppery, sweetness is short and fleeting. This was not the refreshing drink I was expecting it to be. This had some harshness to it, that I don't think belongs in this light simple style. When I want some bitterness, I'll reach for a IPA or hoppy PA. With a Blonde, I expect sweet flavors, light crisp feel, and an ease of drinkability. This was not that. Not my cup of tea. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 17:49:51 | More by Onenote81

Gaisgeil

Michigan

3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Wow, a Bell's offering I really don't care for, I'm fairly amazed.

Pours a wit like golden, hazy and light with a fizzy white head with a good bit of retention. Nose is fairly clean, slightly citrusy hop notes and a sutle yeasty quality. Taste is quite dry and light, almost like a lager, but with some slight fruitiness and a heavier ale-like mouthfeel. This thing is quite a hodgepodge. Finish is fairly dry and clean.

Not a bad brew, but something about it just turns me off of it. Not my thing at all.

Slàinte!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2006 07:43:56 | More by Gaisgeil

botham

Illinois

3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a sam adams glass. pours a semi hazy golden color with fine sediment in the brew, and two fingers of off white tight head. light lacings.

aroma is lightly sweet and malty, with a subtle fruity quality that blends with a floral base, working well together to create a full aroma. a touch of honey sweetness is present as well.

taste is lightly malty up front, with a hoppy finish. soft grassy hops comprise the finish, while pale and munich malts hold together the front. there is no sweet character here, and the fruit and floral aroma is gone as well. just malt and hops. with a lightly bitter aftertaste.

mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a light bite from CO2 and a semi dry finish of residual hops.

drinkabliity is decent. if the brew was a bit sweeter and had a bit less CO2 in it, this could be a solid brew, but it falls short in a few areas.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 23:32:31 | More by botham

mntlover

Tennessee

3.03/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a golden yellow with lots of particles suspended in the yellowness small white head on top of the mix.
Aroma is light malt wheat and corn mixed, some grassy hops also in the mixture, doesn't smell like a APA, smells more like an adjuct lager wheat mixture.
Taste is light malt some corn light wheat malt also lots of yeasties adding to the taste. Finish is bitter with some spicey pepper flavors from the yeast. Very light crisp tasting beer, except for the bitter finish I still do not see how this is a pale ale even with great liberties allowed for style variances.
Mouthfeel is light crisp fairly clean good thirst quicher for a lawnmower beer.
Drinkability is average not something I would want to try again after the other Bell's stuff I have had latley this is a dissapointment, or a missed styled beer may be a better description, if style was adjunct lager would be rated much higher. Thanks go to merlin48 for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2004 20:24:21 | More by mntlover

walleye

Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured a nice golden color with a nice white head and some decent lacing. aroma, citrus like grapefruit and a hoppy nose. looked like sea monkeys floating around in my glass. flavor citrus and hops,did not care for this one. do not think I will try this beer for some time.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2005 01:47:11 | More by walleye

buschbeer

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured into a pint glass to an inch of white head that was gone in no time. This beer is yellow in color and has suspended yeast particles in it. The aroma is sweet bready malt. The taste is sweet malt and is replaced by a metallic bitterness. It reminds me of a European beer. The mouthfeel is medium and has a slight grittiness to it. This is not my favorite style so the drinkability will take a hit.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 21:39:08 | More by buschbeer

SmithwicksNut

Missouri

3.05/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My wife surprised me with a mix six. Batch# 8893 bottled Dec. 16, 2008. I little old from what I ususally get.

A: Straw color with a big fluffy white head. A cloudy beer with the look of an unfiltered wheat beer. Nice lacing on the glass throughout the beer.

S: not much in the way of hops aroma but a lot of grain malt smell.

T; A crisp beer with bitterness and grainy taste. A dry bitter finish.

M: Crisp, medium light carbonation makes this a easy beer to drink.

D: A very easy beer to drink which makes this beer a decent session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2009 21:04:06 | More by SmithwicksNut

musicforairports

New York

3.05/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz into a Bell's tulip. Bottled June 20, reviewed July 27.

Golden and clear, with a fantastic head and great lacing, but with some floating sediment.

Smell is heavy bready malts and a weird, pear-like mustiness.

Taste is strong bready malts mostly, with some noble hops. There's also still some weird musty funk vibe. I don't know if something weird happened to this bottle in my drive from Kalamazoo to New York, but this is a bit strange, if still rather drinkable.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side, smooth and a bit creamy.

I guess I haven't had many American Blond ales. This one is light enough to drink easily but the flavors aren't great, in my opinion. The first Bell's beer I haven't liked too much.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 03:29:03 | More by musicforairports

GIVEMEBACKMYSON

Alaska

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy golden color with enough yeasties to make my glass of beer look like a snow-globe.
Smells husky and straw like with a hint of peat moss and piss.
No bad flavors here persay, but definitely lacking in any sort of assertiveness or intricacies. Pretty straight forward lager. A bit of a grainy character to it, and sometimes it is just like wheat bread. Overall it reminds me of the boring side of a frosted mini wheat.
The mouthfeel is definitely the shining moment this beer has. Creamy, well carbonated, light but not without plenty of body and depth, and the yeasties add to this.
Pretty drinkable/sessionable, but why bother. Comparable beers abound with smaller pricetags.
Did Bell's decide to make this as a booby prize or something? I grabbed this with excitement thinking there was still some Third Coast Old Ale on the shelf and I was the lucky finder. Well the jokes on me, as they decided to make a boring lager and give it the same name. Real clever, guys. Bunch of regular fuckin comedians.
Pricks.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2005 15:34:46 | More by GIVEMEBACKMYSON

OnThenIn

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: white head with a half finger of head. A light, slightly hazy golden body.

S: The aroma is hop dominated. The aroma is mostly citrus with a touch of pine. There is a hint of aroma from the malt.

T: It is hop dominated with a great deal of pine and there is hop bitterness in surprising quantity. The beer is sadly one dimensional.

M: the carbonation is a little bit of a let down. It is thin bodied.

D: The beer is rather drinkability, but the lack of complexity really hurt the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 23:26:55 | More by OnThenIn

stimulus

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass. Batch 9859, bottled 7/8/10.

A: Pours a hazy, unfiltered pale yellow like a witbier.
S: Not really sure, but this smells pretty terrible, sort of like Natural Light.
T: Surprising hop bitterness, with a near pilsnery taste, but then that Nattie Light taste on the finish.
M: Smooth, well carbonated, and light bodied.
D: Somewhat sessionable, but not something I'd want more than a pint of.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 00:38:59 | More by stimulus

ccrida

Oregon

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into my Schell's shaker pint, Third Coast is cloudy yellow with a white head leaving decent lace.

Smell is grainy, sweet, on the mild side.

Taste is pretty good, a simple, clean. A bit soapy, some graininess.

Mouthfeel is light, a bit slick.

Drinkability pretty good. It's a boring beer, but inoffensive.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 01:56:11 | More by ccrida

Phelps

Arizona

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Let’s start with a complaint: why give this beer the same name as the old ale? I can see this creating a lot of confusion among consumers. To me, Third Coast is Bells’ old ale, and I’d be upset to find this in my glass instead. But anyway...

This was enjoyed in a tiny snifter at Tops.

Golden wheat in color, almost perfectly clear. A thin head of wispy white remains for a while, becoming a thin ring.

Bright, floral, fruity nose. A touch of pear and apple blend perfectly with lilac and orange blossom. Soft and sweet.

Much drier flavor. It’s heavily grainy and bitter, with soft old wheat and apple in the front and an extremely dry finish and major side-of-the-tongue bitterness rounding things out.

Medium body with nice viscosity. High, painful carbonation breaks the brew into large bubbles. Clean though bitter.

This blonde’s very drinkable with a great nose, but it’s a little too bitter for the style. I could use more sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2012 01:53:23 | More by Phelps

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This guy is a light, hazy straw color, some floaters roaming around in the beer. Tiny white head on the top. Lemony scent, tones that seem similar to a wit to me. Light grain malt front, lemony zest, some bittering hops. Slight soap taste. Im not too impressed with this one, it seemed to have some wheat characteristics, but the other reviewers dont seem to have noticed that, so maybe mine was off.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2005 01:00:39 | More by Tballz420