Lost Coast Brewery 25th Silver Anniversary Belgian Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Lost Coast Brewery 25th Silver Anniversary Belgian Ale.

Commercial description (off the bottle): “Lost Coast Brewery established in 1989. Our location? A 100-year-old building called the Pythian Castle. Originally built 1892, we purchased it from The Fraternal Order of the Knights of Pythias. The hard part was learning the secret handshake.

The North Coast is a great place for brewing. The year round average temperature is ideal for top-fermenting ale yeast. Embracing the rich tradition of English-style ales, Master Brewer Barbara Groom has added a distinctive West Coast flavor to her ales. Brewing with Western Plains barley & wheat and the exceptional water of Humboldt.

Because you seem to be drinking beer faster than we can make it, we outgrew the Pythian Castle and we’re building a new, larger brewery and taproom. Thanks! We still do the handshake.

A Belgian Style ale brewed with spices, Belgian & American Malts, perfectly balanced with European hops & traditional Trappist Ale yeast for a ripe, rich fruitiness.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear orange/amber with a thick beige head and soapy lacing.

Aroma: Caramel and toasted malts, dark fruits, spice and Belgian yeast.

Taste: Caramel, biscuit and toasty malts, dark fruits, spices, banana, Belgian yeast and a tad boozy.

Overall: Another solid beer from this brewery, Lost Coast Brewery 25th Silver Anniversary Belgian Ale is delicious.  This 8.8% ABV offering is worth trying for fans of the style.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Avery Brewing Company The Czar Imperial Stout

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Avery Brewing Company The Czar Imperial Stout.

From the Avery Brewing Company website: “Behold the stunning crimson hues through the inky blackness. Inhale the noble Hallertau hops, spicy and floral. Savor the flavors redolent of English toffee, rich mocha, sweet molasses, candied currants and a hint of anise. We highly recommend cellaring additional bottles, as the Czar will continue to mature and become denser and more complex with age.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours black with slight ruby highlights, a dense cream colored head and lots of lace.

Aroma: Roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, toffee, molasses, vanilla and dark fruit.

Taste: Flavor follows the aroma with roasted malts, cocoa nibs, espresso, toffee, molasses, vanilla, dark fruit and a touch of booze.

Overall: Smooth, rich and supremely drinkable, Avery Brewing Company The Czar Imperial Stout is yet another extremely fantastic beer from Avery Brewing Company.  Weighing in at 11.1% ABV this is another beer I wish I could source here in the Bay Area. I’d drink this one again and again!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Bear Republic Brewing Company Grand-Am American Pale Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Bear Republic Brewing Company Grand-Am American Pale Ale.

From the Bear Republic Brewing Company website: “Inspired by our team’s passion for racing, Grand-Am™ is an American Pale Ale worthy of the “Racer” family. True to our roots, this sessionable yet assertive ale balances both classic and new American hop varieties with a distinct malt backbone. Start your engines…”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a golden orange color with a creamy off-white head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Citrus hops – grapefruit, lemon and orange with bready pale and sweet malts.

Taste: Flavors follow the nose – citrus hops, toasted pale malts and a certain honey sweetness.

Overall: Crisp and balanced, Bear Republic Brewing Company Grand-Am American Pale Ale is a fantastic Pale Ale. This 6.5% ABV offering is extremely drinkable and something I plan to keep around in the beer fridge. Highly recommended!!!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Anderson Valley Brewing Company Boont Barl

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Anderson Valley Brewing Company Boont Barl - Bourbon Barrel Aged Amber Ale - Malt Beverage Aged 6 Months In Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrels.

I picked up this beer at CRAFT Beer & Wine in Alameda, CA (here).  This place has a great selection – check it out!

From the Anderson Valley Brewing Company website: “What began with our flagship Boont Amber Ale and a passion for experimentation has become a unique addition to our Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Barl Series. The six month aging process in third-use Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels imparts flavors of coconut and vanilla and subtle bourbon aromas that are enhanced by a noticeable oak character in the finish. A great accompaniment to fine meals or to be enjoyed on its own, Boont Barl is a truly sessionable barrel-aged beer with finesse.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a murky amber with a large off-white head and spotty lacing.

Aroma: Caramel, toasted malts, vanilla and very slight oak and bourbon scents.

Taste: Follows the nose with caramel, toasted malts, toffee, vanilla and very slight oak barrel and bourbon flavors.

Overall: Sweet and lighter than any bourbon barrel-aged beer I’ve had, Anderson Valley Brewing Company Boont Barl truly is a sessionable barrel-aged beer. At 6% ABV I could drink this all night. Very enjoyable.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Almanac Beer Company Golden Gate Gose

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Almanac Beer Company Golden Gate Gose.  I picked up this bottle at Cork 'n Bottle Liquors (here) in Fremont, CA. They have a great selection of craft beer as well as a number of beers on tap.  Add Cork ‘n Bottle to your list of craft beer destinations.

From the Almanac Beer Company website: “Our Golden Gate Gose is inspired by the classic wheat beer hailing from Leipzig, Germany.  Traditionally brewed with salt and coriander, our tart California-inspried version is brewed with San Francisco Bay sea salt, lemon verbena from Eatwell Farm in Dixon, and coriander grown and dried especially for us by Dirty Girl Produce in Santa Cruz, California. Fermented with our house saison yeast, this delicate and tart beer is a perfect summer refresher.  Pair with fresh seafood and sunshine.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear pale yellow with a thick bone colored head and soapy lacing.

Aroma: Minerals, straw, citrus, coriander, saline, floral and a touch of sweetness.

Taste: Citrus, coriander, grainy and wheaty malts, salt and a touch of yeast.

Overall: Light and refreshing, Almanac Beer Company Golden Gate Gose is incredibly drinkable.  This 5% ABV beer went down fast.  Great mix of sweet, tart and salty.  I would absolutely drink this one again.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Rubicon Brewing Company Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Rubicon Brewing Company Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale.

From the Rubicon Brewing Company website: “Our American Style Pale Ale. Made with crystal malts and just enough Mt. Hood hops in the finish. A great session beer.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear light pale orange with a slightly off-white head and lots of lacing.

Aroma: Light citrus and floral hops and biscuit malts.

Taste: Pale and crystal malts balanced well with citrus hops and just a touch of pine.  Biscuity and bready.

Overall: Crisp, clean and extremely drinkable, Rubicon Brewing Company Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale is tasty.  I had the chance to try this 5.4% ABV Pale Ale on tap so when I saw it in the store I instantly picked up a six pack.  This is something I will absolutely pick up again!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Deschutes Brewery Twilight Summer Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Deschutes Brewery Twilight Summer Ale.

From the Deschutes Brewery website: “Summer has its own rules. As luck would have it, it also has its own beer. This clever golden-hued ale pours remarkably crisp and clean. A distinctive malt body complements a refreshing hop profile led by a heady dose of bold Amarillo hops. Enjoy.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden orange color with a white head and great lacing.

Aroma: Orange and other citrus aromas, bready malts, pine and light caramel and wheat scents.

Taste: Citrus, pine and earthy hops balanced with caramel and bready malts.

Overall: Sweet, citrusy and refreshing, Deschutes Brewery Twilight Summer Ale is an excellent summer beer.  Not an IPA, this 5% ABV offering is an excellent combination of hops and malts and is well crafted. I highly recommend this one!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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North Coast Brewing Company Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is North Coast Brewing Company Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

From the North Coast Brewing Company website: “Every year we age a special batch of our much-loved Russian Imperial Stout in Bourbon barrels. The depth, intensity, and complexity of the flavor profile of this special release, like its predecessors, make it a worthy tribute to Old Rasputin.

Prior to 2010, Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin was released in such limited quantities that it was available only at the North Coast Brewing retail shop in Fort Bragg, California. However, we received so many requests for this beer that we began producing enough Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin to put into broader, but still limited, distribution.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours black with a fluffy tan colored head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Bourbon, chocolate, espresso, roasted malts, oak and vanilla.

Taste: Dark chocolate, bourbon, espresso, oak, roasted malts, vanilla, anise and a touch boozy.

Overall: Smooth and creamy, North Coast Brewing Company Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout is well done.  This 11.3% ABV barrel aged beverage is worth every penny. North Coast Brewing Company always impresses me.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Boulevard Brewing Company Pop-Up Session IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Boulevard Brewing Company Pop-Up Session IPA.

From the Boulevard Brewing Company website: “Boulevard Pop-Up Session I.P.A. joins its big brothers Single-Wide and Double-Wide in our trailer park of hop-centric beers. ­This “session” model is built for frequent excursions, with a very drinkable character and relatively low bitterness tucked behind a big, fruity hop aroma.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours straw yellow with a frothy white head and great lacing.

Aroma: Fruity, citrus, pine, floral and tropical hop scents with a touch of biscuit in the nose.

Taste: Citrus, pine, pineapple and grassy hop notes balanced with grainy and biscuit malts and a touch of honey sweetness.

Overall: Bright and clean, Boulevard Brewing Company Pop-Up Session IPA is delicious and highly drinkable.  This 4.3% ABV offering is super sessionable and is yet another Boulevard beer I wish I could source here in the Bay Area. Another very well done offering!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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