North Coast PranQster Belgian

A Belgian strong ale drunk at Sail and Anchor from North Coast Brewing.

Not much more than a generic belgian taste, though with a bit of a Heffe taste to it. Very smooth carbonation with a lingering sweetness. After a few sips this stacked up a bit and made the whole experience a shade too sweet for my tastes. Overall dissapointing compared to the other beers that I have enjoyed from North Coast. 6.5

North Coast Red Seal APA

OK North Coast - seriously now, this is your last chance to justify the hype.

How to put this? Ah yes - this doesn't.

It's an reddish amber colour with an underdeveloped head in the glass, and gives off notes primarily of caramel to the nose. Taste-wise.. quite similar really. Pretty bland despite its talk of hops, not a great deal of fruitiness, slight metallic aftertaste, puts me in mind of a muted American pale ale, or perhaps even an amber ale really.

What's there is solid enough I guess but it's just nothing to get excited over whatsoever. You could be drinking LC Pale Ale or Lupulus or Tuatara or countless other examples and be way ahead of this. That's enough out of you, North Coast - until I find your Rasputin back on tap somewhere again. 6.0

North Coast Old Stock Ale 2012

Another barleywine, hooray!

This one's a fair bit removed from the frankly excellent other two tested - pours a totally different hue and with a more docile (read: elusive) head characteristic too. Sits heavy and portly in the glass.

Orange and marzipan come through on the nose.. quite light compared to the others and given its power at . Quite sticky in the mouth, heavy feel, malty flavour profile, some dark fruits in there too, bread, pudding, sultana, alcohol.

I'm aware this is one to be cellared etc ideally but at present all I can do is review what's in front of me - and at this stage it's just not that crash hot. Like Michael Clarke pre-captaincy, North Coast continue to talk a good game with a lot of fans but not really deliver at the highest level, to my palate at least. 6.0

North Coast Old No. 38 Stout

North Coast, of Rasputin Imperial fame.

Hmm.. pours pretty watery, with no head. Taste is a little watery too, not quite as full as it could be. At least the flavours are good - roasty, with slight choc, tannin waxiness, typical stout profile.

Not overly complicated or worldbending in a world of much competition but fine for a drinking stout. Don't know that I'll be knocking myself out for more North Coast though despite the typically glowing reviews elsewhere.  7.0

North Coast Old Rasputin

Another Imperial Stout, tipping the scales at a referee enraging 9%.

I say enraging because it seems 9% is on the lower side for this style, which is frequently spot on the big 10 instead. In any case this pours nicely, with an attractive off-white head and solid black body.

The alc is definitely present in this beer, but it's not overly intrusive. Taste around that is coffee dominated, bit of dark choc, various dark malts, dark fruits.

Quite impressive in its own way but I find myself wondering why I'm not drinking a big nicer porter stout, or a massive IPA or something instead. Those who are a fan of the style however should still give this a go. 7.0