North Coast PranQster Belgian

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Fort Bragg, California USA

not a huge fan of this one. it smells and tastes of wheat. it is pretty refreshing, and they mask the relatively high alcohol pretty well, but it just seems a bit funky or off. Maybe I got a bad batch.

Bottle... Poured a hazy, bright orange/amber with a nice head. Fruity, tart, malty aroma with a mild and creamy palate. Nice complex flavors of yeast, citrus and banana fruits, and a well hop and malt balance. Very reminiscent of a German wheat beer with just a little more Belgium-ness to it with spices. I dig this one, it’s pretty awesome and fun label.

Classified as a strong ale, but to me it contains the very essence of an excellent trippel. It is estery, buttery and rich. The aromas and flavors are wonderful and fit the profile of my favorite beer style.

Decent Belgian. First couple of draws had a funky/chemically aftertaste; however, that went away and I rather enjoyed the rest of this beer.

1/2/08: Bottle. Gift from my bro-in-law for Christmas. Didn’t recall that I had previously rated it. Rich, sweet, Belgian character in the nose, with a sanguine aspect. Furious visible carbonation. Sanguine aspect carries through in the flavor. Not as good (as fresh?) as the draught version I had last March. But still quite tasty. 3/11/07: Draught at Hop Leaf. I don’t know how this beer eluded me for so long. I’ve seen it everywhere. Perhaps it’s never been available as a single bottle and I haven’t wanted to buy a whole six pack. I haven’t heard much about this brew, but make no mistake, it is outstanding. Sweet citrus aroma that becomes sour upon 4th and 5th whiff. I may have even detected a hint of allspice. Cloudy orange with a white head. No lace. Lasting ring. Belgian effervescence. Strongish alcohol presence. Perfect balance. Sourness in nose doesn’t really translate to taste. Excellent brew.

Pours virtually no head, and it mostly diminishes. The body clarity is murky. There are small, densely packed particles in the ale. The body hue is a golden orange hue. The aroma is a wonderful mix of sweet molasses and fruit. The initial flavor is fruity molasses. The finishing flavor also sweet and fruity, the duration of the finish is average. The body is light to medium bodied, and creamy in texture. The carbonation level is fine, and the finishing feel is satisfying.

Bottle. Pours golden amber with a small frothy white head that diminish quickly, somewhat lasting, fair lacing. Aroma is mildly fruity and heavy malt with an average hops with notes of alcohol. It also had a honey or brown sugar mixed in. Medium bodied, average carbonation and a bitter finish.

Pours golden amber with a diminishing head. Nose is fruity but mild. Flavor is complex and fruity. Lots of apricot/peach/mango flavors going on. Estery and pleasant. Finish is pleasant and the alcohol lingers a bit.