The brewery has just released the 2008 vintage Old Stock Ale -
an event much anticipated by lovers of fine beer across the country. This
year’s offering continues in the tradition of earlier vintages
that have played to rave reviews and is brewed with Marris-Otter
malt and imported Fuggles hops. Customers have called it “awesome” and “even
better than the ’07 if that’s possible”. Past
vintages have received “Superlative” and 5-star ratings.
Old Stock, like a fine wine, is designed to be cellared, actually
improving with age. Over time, the beer mellows and rounds-out
making it a constantly changing flavor experience.
With an ABV of 11.4%, Old Stock is elegant and silky and has a
port-like quality that pairs it well with cheeses like a Colston-Bassett
Stilton or Parmagiano Reggiano.
Look for it, as they say, wherever fine beers are sold.
Introducing Le Merle
Our
new Belgian Farmhouse Style Ale (Saison) called Le Merle – The
Blackbird, is now widely available at retail outlets in 750ml corked and wired bottles. This subtle, sophisticated beer has already gotten some
critical endorsement. It’s
lovely stuff traditionally brewed using a unique Belgian yeast strain.
Le Merle clothing now available, see our online
store!
Brother Thelonious Swings
With the developing interest in Belgian abbey ales and the monasteries
that brew them, it’s time to remind the world that here in
the U.S., we have a Monk of our own. Jazz icon Thelonious Monk is
the inspiration for North Coast Brewing’s new Belgian-style
abbey ale called, appropriately enough, Brother Thelonious. The
beer is being released in conjunction with the Thelonious Monk Institute
of Jazz (www.monkinstitute.org), and the brewery will make a contribution
to the Institute for every case sold to support jazz education.
Like a Belgian “Dark Strong Ale”,
the beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9%. The package is a
750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish or 12oz 4
packs and features a label picturing the jazz master himself.
“Being a huge fan of Monk and his music has made working
on this project something special”, said Doug Moody, North
Coast’s Senior Vice-President and National Sales Manager. “We’re
honored to be associated with a world class organization like the
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and feel that this terrific beer
will represent its namesake well.”
Look
for Brother Thelonious wherever fine beers are sold and fine sounds
are heard.
When you buy Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale you also
help to support the Thelonious
Institute whose mission is to offer the world's most promising
young musicians college level training by America's jazz masters
and to present public school-based jazz education programs for young
people around the world. All of these programs are offered
free of charge to the students and schools.
Red Seal Triumphs at Final Four
Bob Townsend, beer columnist at the Atlanta Journal Constitution,
sponsored a beer competition mirroring the NCAA basketball tourney. Starting
with the Sweet 16, beers were seeded and voters selected the winner
of each match up. The winner then advanced to the next bracket. The
Final Four were Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA,
Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale and our own Red Seal Ale. When
the final buzzer sounded, Red Seal had beaten all challengers copping
more than 67% of the vote. That’s a slam dunk, baby!!!
Calendar
May Skunk Train's Spring Beer Fling
Saturday May 17
Join us for beer tasting live music and barbecue on a Skunk Train ride though
the redwoods. Departs Fort Bragg at 10:00 am. Call 800 866-1690
for reservations.
June
Latin Jazz on the Green. Sunday June
1st The
Recreation Park at Piper and University Streets in Healdsburg,
California. Gates open at noon, music starts at 1 p.m.
The Beerfest/A Benefit for Face to Face. Sat. June
7th,
1 to 5p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts,
Santa Rosa, California. Proceeds are for the Sonoma County Aids
Network.
July
Microbreweries Battling Breast Cancer. Sat. July
12th, 1
to 5p.m. at the Marin Brewing Co. Larkspur landing Circle,
Larkspur, California. Proceeds are for The Charlotte Maxwell Complementary
Clinic
August
Labor Day Weekend.
Blue Ox Beer Tasting. Held at the Senior Center, Harold St., Fort
Bragg, Ca.
A benefit for the Senior Center. Sat. 30th. Noon until 4p.m.
September
North Coast Brewing Co’s 20th year Anniversary Celebration. Fri. 5th, Sat. 6th and Sun.7th at our Taproom
and Grill. Stay tuned for details!
Fri. 19th, Sat. 20th, Sun. 21st.
51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey Ca.
Barrel-aged
Beers
North Coast has an active program of developing even more amazing
beers than are in the regular portfolio. Brewmaster, Mark
Ruedrich has created some small batch, barrel-aged beers that are
truly remarkable.
Aging high gravity beers in oak barrels adds a whole new
level of complexity and enjoyment to the flavor profile, and our
experience with the technique has been stunning. Coming in
the wake of the spectacular Old Rasputin X which was aged in whiskey
barrels, Mark has had great success with some ’05 Old Stock
Ale aged in Bourbon barrels and some in brandy barrels. It’s
exquisite, but there’s not much of it. It’s available
only at the brewery retail store or through mail order in California.
And, there’s yet another batch of Old Rasputin that’s
been aging for several months in whiskey barrels. Stay tuned
and keep an eye on the website for details.
North Coast Voted Best Northern California
Brewery. The readers of the Northwest Brewing News just voted
North Coast Brewing the Best Brewery in Northern California.
We’re really pleased about this one. They also named Old
Rasputin as the Best Imperial Stout. The folks in the Northwest
have had a head start on the rest of the country where craft
beers are concerned, so we think it’s a pretty knowledgeable
bunch….with great taste. Thanks, guys.
Ale
and Ahi at Napa’s CIA
- North Coast Brewing Company Explores Beer & Food
Fort Bragg, Mendocino
County, August 22, 2007 . . . North Coast Brewing Company
(NCBC), pioneers in the production of microbrews since 1988, is
educating consumers about pairing craft beers and fine food, with
guidance from noted chef and author John Ash. On August
9, brew master Mark Ruedrich and sales manager Doug Moody presented
the full line of NCBC beers to students of the “Sophisticated
Palate”, a program of the Culinary Institute of America
(CIA) at Greystone, Napa Valley. Students tasted all of
North Coast Brewing Company’s beers – from light and
fruity to rich and robust. Following the tasting, the participants
enjoyed a seven-course dinner
paired with beer.
North Coast Chosen as
Official
Brewery of the
Monterey Jazz Festival
This coming year marks the 51st anniversary of the
Monterey Jazz Festival – the longest-running jazz festival in the world.
And, we’re again very pleased to have been chosen as the official
brewery for the event. It allows us to further our support of jazz
education. Our Brother Thelonious will be featured and other North
Coast beers also will be available there to go along with the great
sounds.