North Coast Brewing Company: Red Seal Ale, Old Rasputin, and Brother Thelonious

North Coast Brewing Company is a brewery of both the cultured and rugged man.  Since its beginnings in 1988 in Fort Bragg California, North Coast Brewing Company continuously brings glory upon the United States craft brewing culture.  If you are a home or craft brewer, this is a place you need to go to take notes.  To top it off, they embrace jazz.  Perhaps this is why it appeals deeply to the sensuous.  On the flip side, Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout offers the perfect drink for the person without limits, who seeks thrills, finds adventure, and lives on the raggedy edge; it is pure Tiger’s Blood.

North Coast Brewing Company proudly boasts over seventy national and international awards. It earned the praise that it receives as one of the top ten breweries in the world.  North Coast shows a love for technique and a strong ability to improvise, just like a jazz musician. Dining at the Brewery located on the Mendocino Coast, offers a slice of heaven.  Even wineries have difficulty matching up to the simple and succulent menu offered by North Coast Brewing Company. 

Recently the North Coast re-animated the deceased corpse of San Francisco’s Acme Brewing Company’s ancient label.  This particular label found itself embraced by miners and warriors alike.  While oil fueled the bombers during World War II, Acme Brewing Company filled the crews.  During the war years, it boasted as being a beer with high IQ (It Quenches).  Unfortunately, for a few of us anticipating connoisseurs it still has not arrived in Texas.  When it finally does, it will receive the appropriate attention.

When thinking about the ultimate dining experience, I often drift to the subject of fish and chips. It represents a common culture amongst most of the drinking community and the world. Very few people remain unaware of the hauntingly delightful combination that this fare offers. Connoisseurs face each other off with pairing suggestions and in some extreme cases go to blows over it. North Coast’s Red Seal Ale is what I consider one of the ultimate pairings with Fish and Chips. Then again, some of my pairings challenge conventional wisdom.

Holding a scant 5.5% abv, Read Seal Ale is a true champion. Winning over twelve awards it brings forward the classic tastes and exemplifies the American tradition of Amber Ales. It pours a rusty amber color, though it does not require a tetanus shot to enjoy. The head produced from the pour is an immaculate white that springs forth with vigor. It gracefully settles into a thin lace, which tantalizes the eyes as the flesh exposes itself.

The aromas offer a blend of citrus, hops, and a slight and subtle pine fragrance. For mouth feel, it offers a medium body with a hint of grain. The flavors combine strong malt and hop flavors with the delicate touch of a doughy pastry on the endnotes. It provides a very short linger, which is perfect for fish and chips.

I personally do not recommend anything more than fish and chips with this particular beverage it is an ultimate pairing. Others often recommend BBQ and roasted meats; perhaps a plague will descend on them and correct them of their evil ways.

If Charlie Sheen every attended Q-Course, Selection, Sniper, Airborne, Pre-Ranger, Over the Horizon Kayaking, Scuba, and SERE training, or simply chugged down an Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout he might be able to claim owning some Tiger’s Blood. Unfortunately, his most manly hour consisted of a wimpy training program for the movie Platoon. Old Rasputin is the stout of the stout lover, it is a remorseless *%$^! that will leave you salivating while hugging a pillow begging for more.

The Russian Imperial Stout recipe claims its linage from the master brewer of Catherine the Great’s Court. Unbelievably, Catherine the Great personally enjoyed this beverage more than Champagne. Obviously, history remains kind to her; it is afraid she might wake from the dead and kick its butt. Old Rasputin owes its homage to Rasputin with very good reason; it will not die and might even remove your wallpaper if you are not careful.

Old Rasputin holds an 9% abv and little if any remorse. It pours a deep motor oil black that resembles the BP Oil spill at its worse. If launched into space, Old Rasputin would make a black hole pale in comparison. This is a stout you can rapidly pour into a glass for immediate satisfaction, it head is relatively light and offers a slight espresso coloration. It falls into lace rapidly and snuggly holds the dark flesh into place. If you are into tiger stripping a glass, Old Rasputin offers an incredible opportunity to do so.

The flesh offers up the aromas of coffee, dark malts, and a sinister sweetness. The flavors obliterate the tongue with the high-pitched taste of chocolate, hazelnut, and coffee. The flavors linger in an attempt to mimic Rasputin assertiveness; it will not die. The mouth feel offers the sensation of a decadent cream.

Old Rasputin holds few true friends in the pairing world. The best course of action is to enjoy its rich flavors with chocolate truffles or a decadent chocolate desert.

Not many ales pay homage to jazz. Brother Thelonius is one such ale; it pays homage to the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz and it offers a beer connoisseur the ability to contribute to this prestigious institute. It is a relatively safe and harmless Belgian Style Ale. It shows a definitive technical aim and makes for a pleasant dinner guest.

Brother Thelonius holds a generous 9.4% abv. Once released from the bottle it pours a rich dark caramel color. The head, in terms of Belgian Ales is moderately weak. The head slowly forms into a white and wondrously thick cream. After falling into lace, clumps of foam form springing from the well of carbonation at the bottom of the glass.

The succulent scent offers the fragrances of caramel, roasted barley, and a subtle hint of vanilla hidden behind the dense aromas. The taste is reminiscent of enjoying an ice cream Sunday in the hot sun, revealing a decadent blend between caramel, espresso, and vanilla notes.

For pairing suggestions, others recommend enjoying with a flank steak. This is a yawn and a straight lack of imagination. Break out the Jalapeño butter, slather down a New York Strip cooked medium rare, and enjoy. If any remains, give into impulse and enjoy it with an ice cream Sunday.