North Coast Laguna Baja Beer Review

The Craft Beer Market

North Coast Laguna Baja is a Mexican-Style dark lager brewed by North Coast Brewing Co., a craft brewer based in Northern California. The craft beer market has grown rapidly over the last 40 years after Congress legalized homebrewing in 1978. As a result, this inspired many beer enthusiasts to start their own small breweries. However, today the overall beer market is declining. and the number of breweries in the United States is trending down.

North Coast Brewing

North Coast Brewing opened in 1988 as a local brewpub in Fort Bragg, located on California’s Mendocino Coast. The brewery has developed a strong reputation for quality, having won more than 110 awards in national and international competitions. Some of their highest rated beers include Scrimshaw Pilsner and Red Seal Ale, a copper-red pale ale. They have a pub in Fort Bragg.

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North Coast Laguna Baja Beer

North Coast Brewing describes Laguna Baja as “a classically styled Vienna lager (in the Mexican mode), rich dark amber, with a malty aroma and a full, creamy body.” Laguna Baja has a 5.0% ABV and 19 IBU. Other nutrition information is not verified. It has a “Very Good” rating on Beer Advocate.

Our Review of North Coast Laguna Baja Beer

I have had three beers from North Coast Brewing, Scrimshaw, PranQster and Red Seal Ale. Scrimshaw is a pilsner and PranQster is a high ABV Belgian ale. Red Seal Ale is a Pale Ale that happens to be red rather than a red ale. It is much hoppier than other red ales and lagers.

My favorite beers are generally red and amber lagers and ales, and Figueroa Mountain Danish Red Lager in particular. Danish Red Lager is a Vienna Lager like Laguna Baja.

Like the other North Coast Beers, Laguna Baja is another good beer that I would gladly drink again. It is malty and caramel-ly and I prefer the low IBU. However I don’t understand what makes it “Mexican-Style.” If you watch the video, I also got temporarily confused by Vienna being in Austria and Danish Red Lager referring to Denmark.

I still prefer Figueroa Mountain Danish Red Lager but North Coast Laguna Baja is a very drinkable, smooth and flavorful beer.

For other recommendations, see our review of North Coast Red Seal Ale and Figueroa Mountain Danish Red Lager.

For beer nutritional information of all beers we have reviewed see Beer Nutritional Information.