Lost Coast Brewing '25th Silver Anniversary' Belgian Ale. 8.8% abv. 18 IBU. Hazy red-orange color. Finger of white bubbly head that quickly falls to a thin surface. Good retention, excellent lace.

Nose of light fruit, berries, white bread. Front taste of sweet red berries, jammy, yeasty back end. Aftertaste of bittersweet fruit, biscuit, dank earthy sustain, slightly sweet finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, clingy, thick on the back of the tongue.

This is an excellent beer. The aroma and flavor profile bring to mind the also excellent Toaster Pastry, of which I am a big fan. That beer is one of my go-to beers, due to its perfect balance of bready and sweet fruity tastes. Today's beer captures that balance in a meaty Belgian ale. 

Sadly, it's an anniversary ale, which means it cannot become a regular year-round experience. However, the local bottle shop where I found this had several in stock. Two years old. I plan to buy them all. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Belgian ale brewed with Belgian & American Malts, perfectly balanced with European hops and traditional Trappist Ale yeast for a ripe, rich fruitiness."

[source: bottle]

North Coast Brewing 'Brother Thelonious' Belgian Style Abbey Ale. 9.4% abv. 32 IBU. Dark brown-red  in color. Finger of bubbly beige head. Good retention, moderate lace. Head recedes to a thick sustaining collar. Nose of sweet malt, dark fruit, bright spice, chocolate notes. Front taste of toffee, dark malt, sweet tangy citrus, spice notes, molasses on the back end. Aftertaste of prune, molasses, bittersweet dark chocolate. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is  hot, clingy, small-bead carb.

This is an outstanding beer, one that pays tribute to authentic Abbey Ales, quite similar to a Chimay Première (Chimay "Red"). The complex aroma is backed by its equally complex flavor profile, offering rich malt, sweet fruits, spices, and a decadent caramelly sweetness. The brief head and lack of lace are made up for by a thick collar that remains nearly until the end, along with a creamy carb in the aftertaste. A well-crafted beer made in the tradition of old world Trappist beers. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"North Coast Brewing Co. is proud to partner with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in support of Jazz education. The Brewery makes a donation to the Institute for every bottle of Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale sold. Like a Belgian 'Dark Strong Ale,' this beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9.3%. The package features a label picturing the Jazz master himself, and comes in either a 375 or 750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish, or 12 oz. 4-packs."

[source: northcoastbrewing.com]

Central Coast Brewing 'Stenner Creek' Oatmeal Stout. 6% abv. 31 IBU. Black in color. Finger of mocha head. Excellent retention and outstanding lace. Nose of roasted malt, coffee beans. Front taste of roasted malt, dark chocolate, black coffee on the back. Aftertaste is bitter earthy grain, sweet malty sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is silky, warm, smooth.

This is an excellent oatmeal stout, true to its category, with a freshness that rises it above many of its peers. The aroma is roasty malt with coffee notes, while the taste is that same coffee sense misled with chocolate and an earthy sweet finish. The body is rich and smooth, perfect for this beer style. Definitely worth seeking out. Highly recommended.

Oatmeal stouts and coffee stouts are often called "breakfast beers" and I enjoyed this one indeed at breakfast, on a cool morning in San Luis Obispo, home to Central Coast Brewing. We wandered in the small brewery after a night of Downtown SLO's many other breweries and pubs. If you ever find your way there, I encourage this new morning ritual, one that my friends and I intend to experience again.

From the brewery:

"An English seasonal variant of sweet stout, the liberal use of flaked oats adds a silky creaminess to the mouth feel. Packed with notes of caramel, chocolate, and coffee this full-bodied beer is luscious, balanced, and extremely drinkable."

[source: centralcoastbrewing.com]

Green Flash 'West Coast IPA' Double IPA. 8.1% abv. 95 IBU. Deep amber color. Clear. Finger of creamy-foamy ivory head. Excellent retention and outstanding lacing. Nose of sweet citrus, tropical fruit, floral hops, bready back. Front taste of bittersweet citrus rind, tall fruity bitter hops, sweet orange on the back end. Aftertaste of ample bitter fruity hops, grapefruit peel on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, slightly sticky, botanical, astringent.

This is an excellent DIPA. The hop profile is tall and vibrant, with a balanced bitter and flavors of sweet fruit, bitter citrus, and bright floral throughout. The malt taste is light but ever present with sweet and bready notes. This brew is worthy of your palate, particularly if you are a lover of hops. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Taste a piece of history. As craft beer pioneers, we embarked on an expedition to brew the benchmark West Coast IPA. We ventured into the unknown and struck gold, discovering a tantalizing menagerie of hops. Simcoe for tropical and grapefruit zest, Columbus for hop pungency, Centennial for pine notes, Citra for citrus zest and Cascade for floral aroma are layered throughout the brewing process. West Coast IPA exemplifies the Green Flash spirit of adventure and discovery."

[source: greenflashbrew.com]

Firestone Walker 'Stickee Monkee 2015' Central Coast Quad. Bourbon barrel aged. 13.4%. 45 IBU. Black in color. No head, retention, or lace. Nose of rich, sweet malt, dark fruit, caramel. Nose becomes more complex as the temp drops, with emerging port wine grapes and green herbal notes. Front taste of caramel, oak, brown sugar, plums, molasses. Aftertaste of sweet dried fruit, raisins, plums, sweet wine, wood notes, sweet coconut husk in the sustain. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, rich, sticky, thick.

This is an extraordinary, world-class beer. It's very rich, sweet, malty, fruity, and at times is herbal, botanical, woodsy. A complex myriad of flavors dances in the aroma, the first sips, on though the aftertaste and sustain. The barrel aging is expressed throughout, always in the background, with flavors of toasted oak and port wine. Outstanding. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Belgian Quad by recipe, but aging it in spirits barrels garners its own category: Central Coast Quad.  A beer formulated to sit on the sweeter and malty side so that we could utilize it for blending.  Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico and Belgian candi sugar add wonderful molasses flavors.  It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over this beer: toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco."

[source: firestonebeer.com]

“Since founding our brewery in 1996, we have specialized in the rare art of fermenting beer in oak barrels. In the Fall of 2006, we embarked on a program to barrel age a series of vintage strong ales that would later be used as components of a blended beer. That blend would become our first Anniversary Ale, ’10’. After the release of ’10’, we released limited amounts of the components beers on draft only. Many of these beers gained a cult following that craft beer fans raved about and begged for us to put in bottle. Stickee Monkee was one of these beers. We present the 2015 vintage of Stickee Monkee, a barrel-aged Quad. It has been said that the only constant is change and the same is true for barrel-aged beers. Cut from a similar recipe, this barrel-aged Quad evolved and shows a different face each year; a result of time spent aging in the barrel. Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico adds wonderful molasses flavors that are reminiscent of Belgian candi sugar. It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over; toasted oak, coconut, leather and rich cigar tobacco. This Central Coast Quad is a one-of-a-kind sipping beer built to last and will reward careful aging for years to come.”
[source: box]

This big beer is best shared with friends

My friends and fellow beer enthusiasts Patrick and Michelle shared their Stickee Monkee with me and some friends for my birthday. Cheers!

Lost Coast Brewing 'Great White' Ale. 4.8% abv. Hazy golden color with a finger of white bubbly head. Good retention, moderate lace. Nose of earthy hops, wheat, bread, faint citrus. Front taste of sweet biscuit, light malt, hop bitter, coriander. Aftertaste of wheat grain, light sugar, spice on the sustain. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is chewy, slightly sticky, bubbly.

This is a very good wheat beer. The aroma is hoppy with a touch of spice, followed by tastes of sweet breads and an aftertaste of fresh wheat. There are other wheats out there that stand taller than this beer, but it's still an excellent example of its category and worthy of your glass. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Crisp beer with a hint of citrus, made with two-row malted barley, unmalted wheat, a secret blend of Humboldt herbs, crystal clear mountain water and ale yeast."
[source: lostcoast.com]

"This light, citrus like beer is made with two-row malted barley, unsalted wheat, coriander, a secret blend of Humboldt herbs, crystal clear mountain water, and ale yeast. To serve, we suggest you pour all but the last two fingers of beer into your favorite glass. Swirl the remaining contents in a vigorous circular motion, chant the affirmation of your choice, then pour the delicious, nutrition yeast into your glass. Enjoy! Keep refrigerated, serve while fresh."
[source: bottle]

North Coast 'Old Stock Ale' 2014. 11.8% abv. 34 IBU. Deep ruby color with over a finger of thick creamy head. Excellent retention and outstanding lace. Nose of rich malt, herbal hops. Front taste of sweet malt, bright bitter herbal hops, toffee notes. Aftertaste of bitter hop bite over an earthy malty back. Big body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, bubbly.

This is an awesome beer, with a tall malt profile backed by a mix of ample bitter hops that lends itself to a more complex taste. Highly recommended.

According to the bottle, this beer is meant to be aged. Mine is about a year old and excellent. Last year, a member of my homebrew club shared a 12 oz. bottle of Old Stock Ale that had been sitting in his fridge for over four years. The taste was amazing, rich and indeed more mellow and smooth than from fresh, just as the brewery suggests. I encourage you to save a bottle of two to savor a year or so from now. It will be worth the wait.

From the brewery:

"Like a fine port, Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1.100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well-designed to round out and mellow with age. It's brewed with classic Maris Otter malt and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England."

[source: northcoastbrewing.com]

Lost Coast 'Alleycat' Amber Ale. 5.5% abc. 26 IBU. Dark amber-red in color. Over a finger of tan head with good retention and very nice lacing. Nose of caramel, toasty malt, vanilla notes. Front taste of caramel, sweet bread, bright bitter hops on the back end. Aftertaste is warm, with flavors of sweet malt and pronounced hops. A nice balanced bitter from the herbal hops stands out in the aftertaste. Medium body. Mouthfeel is slightly syrupy thick, with a nice creamy carb across the tongue.

This is an excellent amber, better than most, with a solid malty backbone, a touch sweet, followed by a balanced hoppy aftertaste. It should be considered one of the standards in its category. Highly recommended. 

From the brewery:

"A full-flavored amber ale made with roasted caramel malt and spicy German and American hops. Richly colored and medium-bodied, Alleycat is an assertive blend of malts with a sprightly cascade of hops."

I enjoyed this Alleycat outdoors, at my friend's ranch in North Fork.

Lovely lace on this excellent amber ale.