North Coast Old No. 38 Stout

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Dry Stout
Fort Bragg, California USA

Not the darkest in color for the variaty, almost invisible tan head, coffee is heavy on the nose. Tastes of smoked chocolate and coffee with notes of nuts and a rich, full, even creamy body. A bitter finish. Pleasant.

On tap at North Coast brewpub on 6/28/09. Pours very dark burgundy with nice head. Dominant coffee aroma, with touch of pine and earthen chocolate. Little sweetness, then a long dry coffee flavor dominates. Solid example of the style.

Bottled. Poured deep brown with a creamy, well-retained cap of dark tan head. The aroma picked up well-roasted coffee and dark chocolate character with some sweeter chocolate and earthy accents.. soft overall and supple. The flavor was centered around dry-roasted coffee, with baker’s chocolate giving more of the bitterness on the edges.. vanilla and a touch of earth toward the back.. toasty coffee with some sweetness on the finish. Medium-bodied and dry on the palate with a fine roast to it.. balance was there, and this went down quickly. No-frills, but it didn’t need ’em.

Bottle. Deep black-red color. Coffee and chocolate aroma. Initial dry mouth feel leads to a smooth, smoky,coffee malt finish. Hops are more present than in your typical Stout. Lots of roasted malt in the finish. A nice Stout.

I do enjoy this beer, although the numbers calculate lower than I would like to suggest. This stout I could drink for days...unlike the Old Rasputin, which is my favorite. It’s a quality stout with balance and I like to use it as an introductory stout to folks that don’t get on well with Guiness.

Been awhile since I’ve seen a North Coast brew... and I’m glad to have this one in my hand albeit horribly overpriced. Poured out a mid sized brown head that is on the foamy side. Ok retention with slippery lacing. Dark dark brown brew. The aroma is of roasted malts, chocolate, orange and wet coffee grounds; none of which are strong. This has a nice soft demeanor. The flavour is very nice and mild with a toffee / chocolate / roast coming out first, touch of hops, fruit and astringency in the middle and finishes with chocolate and coffee. Mouth feel is excellent as this beer put my mouth through a rollercoaster of experiences: smooth, average carbonation, tart, dryness and a coffee bitterness that has some pretty decent legs without ruining the next sipping. As much as I like this I don’t find myself drawn to get more. Still, it’s a very enjoyable beer.

Never judge a book by its cover. I’ve had this bottle sitting in my fridge for close to 2 years because nobody was ever eager to try it. Pours a pitch black body. Aroma is light notes of malt and coffee. The taste is smooth, flavor of coffee and some roasted notes.

bottle. nice solid intriguing dry stout.... Old No 38 really feels like a toned down version of Old Rasputin... nice licorice and sweet malt presence. feels stronger than 5.6%. pours a mild black with an average tan head. wonderful licorice, coffee and sweet aromas. light to medium body. really nice flavors throughout... this offers more than your typical dry stout... nice one.