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Red Seal Ale
Fort Bragg, California
BJCP Category: 10B American Amber
North Coast Brewing Co. <visit site>
36
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[expand]Total Score: 37/50
While a very drinkable beer, the accent on hops rather than malt and the lighter body seem to better position this beer as an American Pale Ale. more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: Moderately high spicy and floral hop aroma. Quite a bit of alcohol evident in the aroma of my tulip glass. Pineapple esters abound; perhaps fermentation temperature was a bit high. No diacetyl. My sample had slight vegetal/cabbage aroma, DMS that faded as the beer warmed in the glass. Good balancing maltiness with hints of caramel malt. There’s an overall light, bright crispness to the aroma that’s quite pleasing. (10/12)
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Appearance: Amber color is appropriate but at light end of the American Amber Ale category. Considerable chill haze that cleared as the beer warmed to room temperature. Thick, long-lasting head was quite inviting. (2/3)
Flavor: Assertively high hop bitterness. Spicy, peppery hop flavor. Very well balanced with grainy, chewy malt backbone. Caramel malt character and a touch of roasted malt. Bitterness lingers heavily in aftertaste; a bit more than style calls for. No DMS. No diacetyl. Some indistinct yeasty esters help to solidify Red Seal as an ale. Alcohol in the aroma doesn’t come through in the flavor. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Mouthfeel is on thin side of medium where the style really should be a bit more malt accented. Medium carbonation is fine. Astringency from hop tannins is over the top for the American Amber Ale style; otherwise smooth. Not particularly warming from alcohol. (2/5)
Overall Impression: While a very drinkable beer, the accent on hops rather than malt and the lighter body seem to better position this beer as an American Pale Ale rather than an American Amber Ale. Still this is very enjoyable, particularly for the hophead. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 36/50
Crystal caramel maltiness provides support to the firry hop flavor. The hop character is assertively bitter without being aggressive and lingers just enough. more >
[close]Total Score: 36/50
Aroma: Firry (as in Christmas tree fir) with citrus Cascade-y hops dominating malt aromas. No diacetyl or esters but a very slight sulfur note in the background, like the smell of raw egg. What malt comes through is richly caramel, but detected at low levels. (7/12)
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Appearance: Deep golden amber with off-white head. A few uneven bubbles. The head still leaves ring of lace on the glass as the level goes down. Very clear, almost brilliant. (3/3)
Flavor: My first impression is of crystal caramel malt with a citrus, firry hop flavor and maybe a little pine. Hop bitterness is actually lower than I expected from the aroma. Mid palate a “brothy” flavor similar to eggy aroma creeps in—maybe a little DMS? Balanced, but the egg notes are bothersome. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium full body with somewhat soft carbonation. Hop bitterness lingers, and with some alcoholic warmth leaves a tingling sensation on the lips. Not astringent. Quite pleasurable. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Crystal caramel maltiness provides support to the firry hop flavor. The hop character is assertively bitter without being aggressive and lingers just enough. The eggy character is not one I normally find in this beer—Red Seal being a regular in our home—and I find it a little troubling. Regardless, this beer goes well with vegetarian chili, any vindaloo or a plate of garlic fries. (6/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 37/50
Good example of the style, and pleasant to drink. The assertive bitterness is geared toward West Coat palates, but a little more malt richness with less graininess would improve the balance. more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: Grainy, bready aroma at first followed by earthy hops with nutmeg, citrus and pine needles. Esters are light but contribute to the background. Good malt complexity—toasted notes with honey and toffee. Overall nature is subtle, but balanced. (9/12)
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Appearance: Copper/bronze color, excellent clarity. Solid carbonation forms a long-lasting head with uniform beading. (3/3)
Flavor: Balance is toward hop bitterness, which lingers nicely in the finish. The malt flavors at the forefront are consistent with the aroma, but it finishes a little dry and thin. Hop character is mainly earthly and spicy; citrus notes are subdued. Graininess accents the bitterness in the finish. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Good carbonation and creaminess. Body is a little thin, perhaps from being a little overattenuated. Slight astringency is linked to the husky phenols that give the grainy aroma and flavor. (3/5)
Overall Impression: Good example of the style, and pleasant to drink. The assertive bitterness is geared toward West Coat palates, but a little more malt richness with less graininess would improve the balance. A little more fresh hop character—particularly citrus—would add to the complexity of the aroma and flavor. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 36/50
More like a West Coast-style American Pale Ale, I think. Hop-focused and lacking malt complexity. Alcohol heat could be better controlled through additional cellaring. more >
[close]Total Score: 36/50
Aroma: Wow—I smelled the hops from a foot away! High hop aroma—citrusy, piney, pungent, grassy, fresh, dry hop-like. Clean American yeast character; no esters. Background malt, very subtle, slightly grainy, with some sweetness as it warms. Could use more malt complexity and depth. Alcohol mixes in with hops. (9/12)
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Appearance: Medium amber color—seems rather pale. Big creamy, long-lasting, slightly off-white head. Quite clear but not brilliant. (2/3)
Flavor: Strong bitterness straight through palate into finish. Clean, subtle malt in background—grainy, very light caramel. Dry finish. Clean yeast character with very few esters. Moderate hop flavor; not overpowering, citrusy, piney, and increasing as it warms. American character apparent. Alcohol noticeable and adds to dryness. (14/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body, seems lighter because finish is so dry. Moderate alcohol warmth. Medium to medium-high carbonation. Alcohol is a bit much. (4/5)
Overall Impression: More like a West Coast-style American Pale Ale, I think. Hop-focused and lacking malt complexity. Alcohol heat could be better controlled through additional cellaring. Great hop character but malt is somewhat disappointing, and alcohol runs a bit wild. Very clean, but age it to let it mellow out. Probably goes with a lot of food, but I was thinking of brewpub-type deep fried or spicy appetizers. The hops can stand up to a lot of strong flavors. (7/10)
