Beer Me! — North Coast Brewing — Fort Bragg, California, United States

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North Coast Brewing

444 North Main Street
Fort Bragg CA 95437
Telephone: +1 707-964-2739
Hours: Sunday 4:00pm-8:30pm, Wednesday-Thursday 4:00pm-8:30pm, Friday-Saturday 4:00pm-9:00pm.
[Contact] [Update]

Notes

Visited: September 9, 1995

Opened: 1988

Annual Production: 27,000 bbl

Contributors: Diane Crawford, Arash Shahzadi

Outstanding beers on tap...the bottled versions are very nearly as good. Call ahead for information about touring their huge facility across the street from the pub.

Directions: If you're coming from Anderson Valley, take Highway 128 north for about 30 miles. Turn right when you get to Highway 1, and head for Fort Bragg. North Coast Brewpub is 21 miles or so along on the east side of the road, and the big brewing facility is on the west side, right across the street. Can't miss those big stainless tanks!

Updated: May 29, 2019

News

2019-05-28: North Coast Brewing Company Announces Historic Leadership Changes (CraftBeer.com)
2019-02-20: North Coast Brewing reintroduces Brother Thelonious ale after resolving suit with Monk estate (SFGate)
2009-11-23: Trademark follies: North Coast Brewing and De Molen go toe to toe over Rasputin (Beernews.org)

Beer List

Acme California Brown Ale

American-Style Brown Ale

5.60% abv.
Awards:
- Bronze Medal, 2002 North American Beer Awards
- Silver Medal, 2001 World Beer Championships
- Silver Medal, 1998 World Beer Championships
- Date: March 15, 1997 (#2046)
  
  Package: draught
  
  Place: Kona Brewers Festival, Kailua-Kona HI
  
  Score: 16½ points
  
  Overall Impression (3½)
  Brown-red, low carbonation, good head. Sweet, roasty aroma. Sweetish, some roastiness, some bitterness, especially late.
- Date: March 4, 1997 (#2029)
  
  Package: bottled
  
  Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI
  
  Score: 16½ points
  
  Overall Impression (3½)
  Red-brown, high carbonation, good head. Roasty-sweet aroma. Bitter, sweet with roast malt. Hints of chocolate, hints of hops. Bitterness late, lots of hop flavor in the finish.

Acme California IPA

American-Style India Pale Ale

7.10% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2001 World Beer Championships

Date: June 10, 2008 (#7096)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Bright amber. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Fruity, piney hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, smooth. Big biscuity malt character, dry, with lots of spicy, earthy, resiny hop flavor. Nicely bitter. Finishes hoppy and clean.

Overall Impression (2)
Very good beer.

Acme California Pale Ale

English-Style (Extra Special) Strong Bitter

5.00% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2002 North American Beer Awards
Silver Medal, 2001 World Beer Championships
Silver Medal, 2000 World Beer Championships

Date: August 26, 2009 (#7895)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Amber. Slight haze. Dense head.

Aroma (3)
Toasty. Spicy. Biscuity.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, fairly fizzy. Spicy hops and biscuity malt. Neither is assertive, both are in balance. Clean biscuity malt finish.

Overall Impression (2½)
Date: July 23, 2003 (#4973)

Package: bottled

Place: Peabody's Ale House, Oshkosh WI

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Bright golden. Low carbonation. Moderate head. Very mild fruity hop aroma. Light-medium body, quite fizzy. Huge grainy malt flavor. Lots of fruity esters and a fruity hop flavor. Mild bitterness. Finishes clean.
Date: August 3, 2002 (#4393)

Package: draught

Place: Peabody's Ale House, Oshkosh WI

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Bright golden amber, thick head. Toasty malt aroma with a hint of caramel. Medium body, sweet and malty. Mildly toasty. Very mild fruity hop flavor and bitterness.
Date: March 4, 1997 (#2028)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Golden-amber, big head, OK carbonation. Grassy hop aroma. First impression: Anchor Steam! But not as bitter, probably smoother. Real nice balance, real pleasant lingering hoppy finish...some grapefruit flavor.

Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XII

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.20% abv.

Date: January 10, 2011 (#8418)

Package: bottled

Place: Place unknown

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Low dense brown head.

Aroma (4)
Rich oak, coconut, vanilla. Alcohol. Malt. Sweet and roasty.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick and chewy, and pretty fizzy. Massively malty, roasty, with huge oak flavors. Coconut. Vanilla. Leather. Very nicely warming.

Overall Impression (3)
Absurdly complex and well-balanced beer. Somebody gave me this bottle, but I can't remember who it was.

Date: January 13, 2012 (#8706)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Dense brown head.

Aroma (4)
Spicy, herbal, chocolate malt.

Mouthfeel (10)
Big and chewy and fizzy. Rich chocolate maltiness, with lots of spicy flavors from the alcohol. Grassy hop flavor, relatively low bitterness. Mild oak character. Warming at the end.

Overall Impression (3)
Great version of a great beer.

Date: April 8, 2013 (#9045)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Moderate dense head.

Aroma (4)
Coconut. Grassy. Oak. Whisky.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick and chewy, malty and roasty. All the great Old Rasputin flavors, nicely blended with oak and bourbon. Warming and satisfying.

Overall Impression (3)

Date: April 30, 1996 (#1415)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Yellow opaque, good head. Fresh hop aroma, some wheat. Pretty tasty wheat flavor. Pretty clean beer.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1187)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Yellow hazy, big head. Wheat malt, noble hop aroma. Malty, wheaty, clean flavors.

Date: February 3, 2007 (#6309)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Deep garnet. High carbonation. Huge fluffy head.

Aroma (3)
Lemongrass. Mild dark caramel, dark roast.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big body, really smooth. Huge dark caramel flavor. Spicy. Mild alcohol character. Sweet, dark, mildly roasty, spicy finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Good beer...maybe needs some age. North Coast donates $2 of the proceeds from each case to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1189)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Golden, OK head and carbonation. Malty aroma, maybe a little yeasty? Lots of caramel flavor, well-balanced. "Our golden summer brew."

Date: August 10, 2011 (#8614)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Golden. High carbonation. Low head.

Aroma (3½)
Oak. Dill. Citrus. Tart.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium-big body, fizzy. Sweet malt, lots of oak character. Big fruity citrusy hop flavor, moderate bitterness. Sweetness from agave? Quite warming.

Overall Impression (2)
Thanks to Carolyn Campbell for the bottle!

Date: August 19, 1993 (#260)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Yellow opaque. Some phenols in aroma, masked by soapy smell from glass. Thick. Clean. Phenols subdued. Wheat sweetness present but also subdued.

Date: August 20, 2008 (#7261)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Golden. High carbonation. Massive head.

Aroma (4)
Spicy, fruity, and really malty.

Mouthfeel (10)
Medium-big body, really creamy and malty. Very nicely fruity, with a mild earthiness.

Overall Impression (3)
Excellent well-balanced complex beer.

Date: November 6, 2001 (#3974)

Package: bottled

Place: Sam's Wine and Spirits, Chicago IL

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Deep dark red, thick head. Sweet, roasty, minty aroma. Medium-thick creamy body, fairly big hop flavor and bitterness, fairly roasty. Lingering hoppy finish.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1191)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Dark red clear. Big head. Chocolatey aroma. Thick! Chocolatey, but lacks the essential stout-like obnoxiousness.

Date: August 19, 1993 (#262)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Dark dark dark...red! Not black at all. Thick head. Very nice coffee aroma! Pretty OK. Thick, bitter, burnt. A bit too sharp.

Date: February 3, 2006 (#5826)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Not as black as the Yeti. Moderate dense head.

Aroma (3)
Very very roasty. Herbal note. Not as complex as the Yeti. Mild malt.

Mouthfeel (8)
Big body, smooth. Fiercely roasty with a mild herbal hop flavor.

Overall Impression (2½)
Really tasty, and one of my all-time favorites, but tonight it just doesn't stand up to the Yeti.

Date: April 1, 1998 (#2604)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 18½ points

Overall Impression (3½)
Dark dark brown, moderate head. Alcohol blast, licorice aroma. Thick, alcoholic, sweet, roasty chocolate.

Date: June 6, 1996 (#1501)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 19½ points

Overall Impression (4)
Black, big brown head. Strong sweet black malt aroma. Very black, sweet, and bitter. Roasty bitter finish that lasts forever. Whiff of alcohol as you swallow, but not a lot of alcohol "flavor". Very tasty beer...glad I bought the whole four-pack. "Serdechniy drug ne roditsya vdrug."

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1192)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Dark red clear, huge head. Alcohol, spicy hop aroma. Chocolatey, thick, alcoholic, not particularly bitter. This too could stand to be a lot more offensive (like the Stout 16-1191).

Date: June 28, 2003 (#4921)

Package: bottled

Place: Flanagan's Stop and Shop, Appleton WI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Bright red. Thick head. Mildly caramelly aroma, mildly spicy. Big creamy body. INTENSELY malty. Big herbal hop flavor, moderate bitterness. Huge caramel malt finish with some herbal hops.

Date: July 16, 2002 (#4371)

Package: bottled

Place: Flanagan's Stop and Shop, Appleton WI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Deep red, low carbonation, thick head. Richly malty aroma with mild herbal hops. Huge body, massively malty but only mildly sweet. Lots of woody, oaky flavors. Warming and drying at the end.

Date: December 22, 2003 (#5161)

Package: bottled

Place: Club Liquor & Beer, Menasha WI

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Bright red, fairly fizzy, with a nice head. Lots of wood aroma and some alcohol. Fairly big body, really smooth. Fantastically malty, with lots of oaky notes. Lots and lots of caramel, too. Just enough hop flavor for balance. Very very tasty beer. Thanks to Jay Jackson for the bottle!

Date: August 8, 2005 (#5738)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Dark red opaque. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Milk chocolate and ethanol.

Mouthfeel (8)
Huge body. Fiercely malty. Lots of caramel. Lots of alcohol. Raisiny and resiny.

Overall Impression (2½)
There are two more bottles in the cellar.

Date: September 8, 2007 (#6626)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 19 points

Appearance (3)
Bright deep red. Low head.

Aroma (4)
Intensely malty. Alcoholic.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big body, smooth and still. Hugely malty. Chewy. Very warming. Absolutely intensely malty.

Overall Impression (3)
There's lots of this in the cellar.

Date: July 8, 2008 (#7156)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
BRIGHT red. No head.

Aroma (3)
Caramel malt.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big beer, really smooth. Intense caramel malt, fairly smoky. Nice alcohol warming sensation.

Overall Impression (2½)
Many bottles of this beer are going to the cellar!

Date: February 7, 2010 (#8144)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 15 points

Appearance (3)
Deep red. Massive head.

Aroma (3)
Smoky, fruity, and floral.

Mouthfeel (7)
Big and chewy. Richly malty, smoky, caramelly. Nicely warming.

Overall Impression (2)
Still pretty young.

Date: January 15, 2011 (#8425)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Dark brown. Thick dense head.

Aroma (3)
Massive bourbon. Coconut. Alcohol.

Mouthfeel (9)
Huge, chewy beer with lots of bourbon. Really warming. Lots of oak flavor, grassy. Big dark caramel malt base.

Overall Impression (2)
Needs some age.

Date: February 19, 2011 (#8468)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Deep red-brown. Dense head.

Aroma (4)
Rich caramel malt. Oaky.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big and chewy. Malty, toasty, caramelly, biscuity. Alcohol.

Overall Impression (2)
Definitely one for the cellar.

Date: January 12, 2012 (#8705)

Package: draught

Place: Lauter Tun, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Deep red. Moderate head.

Aroma (3½)
Caramel malt. Leather. Alcohol.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big, creamy, smooth, and very malty. Mild oxidative flavors, leather and oak. Mild alcohol character. Smooth, clean, warming finish.

Overall Impression (2)
I tried a bottle of this in September 2018, and it tasted much the same, dulled only slightly by age.

Date: November 12, 2018 (#9955)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 13½ points

Appearance (3)
Copper-brown, some haze. Low head.

Aroma (2)
Toasty, bready. Papery.

Mouthfeel (7)
Medium-big body, smooth. Really malty, toasty. Kinda papery. Mild alcohol.

Overall Impression (1½)
Not bad, but I shouldn't have waited so long.

Date: July 5, 2003 (#4945)

Package: bottled

Place: Peabody's Ale House, Oshkosh WI

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Golden, some haze. Huge creamy head. Bananas, spicy, yeasty, alcoholic aroma. Medium creamy body. Nice and malty with some bananas, some cinnamon, and a hint of cloves. Tasty, smooth, and warming.

Date: February 27, 1998 (#2406)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Golden, fairly high carbonation, good head. Smoky aroma. Good body, spicy, some bananas. Sweet in the middle.