North Coast Old No. 38 Stout Beer Review
The Craft Beer Market
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout is 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.
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout Beer
North Coast Brewing describes Old No. 38 Stout as “a smooth, firm-bodied stout with the toasted character and coffee notes of dark malts and roasted barley.” Old No. 38 Stout has a 5.4% ABV and 53 IBU. Other nutrition information is not verified. It has a “Very Good” rating on Beer Advocate.
Our Review of North Coast Old No. 38 Stout Beer
I have had four beers from North Coast Brewing, Scrimshaw, PranQster, Red Seal Ale and Laguna Baja. 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. Laguna Baja is a dark Vienna lager. I recommend all of these except Red Seal Ale.
I am not big into stouts and porters or bitter beers and I had some concerns about the 53 IBU. Deschutes Black Butte Porter is excellent, but its IBI is only 30. Much to my surprise, Old No. 38 was not bitter and was very good. Perhaps not quite as good as Black Butte Porter, but good nonetheless. It was not too heavy and I could definitely taste coffee and chocolate notes.
For other recommendations, see our reviews of North Coast Laguna Baja and Deschutes Black Butte Porter.
For beer nutritional information of all beers we have reviewed see Beer Nutritional Information.
