Azalea Coast Navigator Lager

Date: 04/12/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Hickory Hops

Appearance: clear dark red, wispy beige head,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel aroma with lots of earthy character,
Flavor: sweet dark caramel flavor, touch of candy sweetness is reeled in by a big earthy character, touch of tartness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Dark pruple-ish red, no head. Nice red wine and tobacco aroma, and the flavor definately continues the red wine character. Some leathery notes, some roacky, stoney noates, as well. . As it warms, a suble citrus flavor emerges. Not bad at all. On tap, Flying Saucer, Raleigh.

Draught at Flying Saucer in downtown Raleigh. Mahogany color, clear, medium beige head. Aroma is a little thin, but with some caramel. Flavor is sweet, stronger on caramel, but thin on finish. Still, very smooth. Little bit of alcohol in aftertaste.

On tap at the Durham WBF. Clear amber with a small off white head. Candylike sweet malty nose and flavor, rather one dimensional. OK.

I had this beer at the World Beer Fest in Durham, NC on 10/7/06 and it was incredible. The sweetness of it was very different from other Doppelbock that I have had. There was a richness to it, nutty and chocolately with a hint of fruit.

Pint @ Harrison Grille. Was told this is 8.5%. Ok nose, sweet. Malty, cardboard, nutty, chocolate, caramel. Clean orangy brown color, no head or lace. Sweet flavor. Roasted malts, Maple, caramel, lite chocolate, molasses. You get the idea. Medium body, smooth creamy oily mouthfeel, sweet sticky finish. Tasty enough, but a little unlively on the mouthfeel. I’m not the biggest dopplebock person. Abv wasn’t that apparent. I liked the maple aspect of it.

Sampled at the 10th annual Brewgrass festival in Ashville. Chestnut – walnut colored. Very clear with a light thin head. Very sweet and malty aroma. Sticky, nutty, sweet. The flavor was not what I was expecting as the guy serving this at the booth did not know what type of lager it was (in fact, no one at that festival was ever able to explain what type of lager anything was…at any booth..irritating). As such I was surprised by the sweetness. In fact, I found the sweetness overpowering and cloying. There is some toasted malt that tries to balance it, but with no success. If there are hops in here they are negligible and add little if anything to the flavor. Mostly a candy sweetness that is overpowering. A sticky, creamy body.

Draft... NTB Ernesto Festo ’06... Very dark, clear crimson ale with a small, frothy, off-white head. Malty, fruity aroma with notes of chocolate and dark fruit. Very chocolatey, cloying flavor features lots of light molasses and dark raisins. Medium-bodied with mild carbonation. Lengthy, very sweet finish.