North Coast Red Seal Ale

12oz brown bottle from The Lighthouse in Manchester. Pours a hazy light amber-red body with a good inch of off-white head that leaves some nice lacing. Aroma consists of equal parts pungent sweet caramel-honey maltiness and crisp citrussy American hops. Wow. Tastes sweet and malty initially, with caramel, honey, and slight biscuit notes, with a fair bit of support from grassy and citrussy American hops and a semi-dry finish. On the lighter side of medium-bodied with a fair bit of carbonation which is just subtle enough to enhance the drinkability. Super-drinkable, though not so much so that any of the other attributes, most notably flavor, take a back seat. Unbelievable. Practically perfect in every imaginable way. Tastes to me like home-brewing smells. For the style and for any beer, this is about as perfect as they come - it’s the first perfect ’5’ I have ever given. Amazing.

Vigorous pour results in a cloudy orange beer, with a large but quickly receeding ivory head. Highly hopped aroma, typical of the style. Flavor is nearly all sweet hops, with almost no malt profile. Palate is thick and smooth, but finishes far too dry, leaving me longing for a glass of water. Overall a drinkable, albeit unrefreshing Pale. Not at the top of my list.

Heavenly good hops and bitterness with a grapefruit flavor and pine. spicy. mildness lowers the points.

A sweeter rendition of a West Coast Pale Ale. A great drinker, and a great deal from Trader Joes.

Pretty cinnamon color; decent lace results from the half-inch fawn lather. A punch of grapefruit, pineapple, and peach PNW hops in the nose, plus boiled potatoes, ryebread, and bayleaf… all marred by a jagged sour milk twang. Brisk, fruity, resiny flavor… light pignola and buttery caramel… extremely mild, chocolately bitterness. Light, smooth palate, fluffy with carbonation. Pinetree and hominy aftertaste. Average.