North Coast Old Stock Ale

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Fort Bragg, California USA

North Coast Brewing Company--Old Stock Ale--12 oz. Bottle. 2004 Release. 11.40% ABV--36 IBU’s. (4.0 / 5.0) Mild lace head. Clear rich ruby color. Malty fruity mild hop front. Smooth creamy rich caramel black cherry malty body. Clean hot EtOH mild hop end. Smooth mild hop Barleywine. Rich but too big for me. Sampled 11/14/2004. 2005-6 Release. 11.40% ABV--36 IBU’s. (4.5 / 5.0) Rich lacy head. Mild sediment. Cloudy bright rich dark amber color. Creamy thick mild sweet rich caramel ester mellow fruit body. Spicy hot EtOH balanced creamy end. Rich hoppy spicy Old Ale. Sampled 7/26/2006. 2006 Release. 13.25% ABV--100 IBU’s? (4.25 / 5.0) Old Ale. 4 @ $3.69 Each. Mild lacy head. Cloudy dark amber color. Rich malty Cognac spicy floral fruit hop front. Creamy thick sweet tangy toasted doughy caramel body. Tangy hot Hop spice mild hot EtOH dry clean end. Cognac Beer mellows with conditioning. Sampled 7/15/2008. 2007 Release. 11.70% ABV--100 IBU’s? (4.0 / 5.0) Old Ale. 4-Pack $12.99. Light sediment. Mild lace thin head. Rich aromatic raisin fig plum hop front. Rich spicy sweet malty black cherry fig caramel fruit body. Hot spicy Hop EtOH cloying malt end. To Much but tasty. Sampled 6/27/2009. Aging 3 Bottles. 2008 Release. 12.50%--36 IBU’s. Old Ale. 4-Pack $13.99. Aging All 4. 2009 Release. 11.50%--36 IBU’s. Stock Ale . 2 @ $3.99 Each. Aging Both. 2010 Release. 11.70% ABV--36 IBU’s. 2 @ $3.99 Each.

2008 12 OZ bottle . orange pour with a small tan head, warming taste with a bitter finish.

2010 Vintage / 12 oz bottle - I’m not overly impressed with this well-rated ale. It is a little too sweet, and has a certain bitter aftertaste that lingers in the mouth. I remember trying last year’s ale and liking it, but not rating it. Maybe I’m being a little to harsh, but I can’t justify a higher rating right now.

North Coast Ole Stock Ale Pours copper with a thin white had and no retention. Strong aroma of booze, malt and dark fruits. Some spiciness as well. Flavor is sublime, barley wine that had aged. Somewhat bourbony, with sweet maltiness and a diminished hop character. Tastes like it has already aged some even though it is a 2010 bottle. I want some to lay down for a few years. Good shit.

Smells of light sugars, alcohol, fruit. Flavor is very similar to a candied apple. sweet, fruity and a nice warming alcohol tinge toward the end.

2009 Bottle. Pours thick and syrupy with dark amber coloring. Aroma is honey, caramel malts, figs and alcohol. Flavor begins with intense caramel and malt sweetness followed by hints of rum and candied figs. It finishes extremely smooth with a warm alcohol burn. Overall mouthful is malty and creamy. Lots of sweet, intense flavors that don’t overwhelm the palate. Should be delicately sipped like a fine liqueur. Looking forward to trying a bottle that’s been aged a few years.

Big and robust with flavor. Has flavors that has woody characters, vanilla notes, and barely notes. Enjoy slowly with a friend and some cheese.

11/29/2009 tasting 2009 -vs- 2004.

2009. clear pour... deep auburn brown with an orange hued tannish head. huge aggressive bubbles from the carbonation. aromas of spiciness, malt, over ripe plums, a little dust, herbs, flowery hops and a bit of smoky wood. it is really crisp and spicy compared o the smooth richness of the 2004. the palate lacks the sweetness of the 2004... yay! but also lacks the complexity... boo. flavors noted... plummy jammy goodness, nuts, cookie dough, smoky wood, a little peat-like earthiness, calcium, herbals, brown sugar and a touch of tartness on an otherwise smooth finish. alcohol is slight and pleasantly warming. the body is medium... surprisingly. though it feels thinner than the 2004. it is crisp and prickly yet the carbonation is low. a slight chalkiness is noticed in the mouth feel. 7.5/4/7/4/16/3.85

2004 11.4% pours out milky, thick and sludgey... opaque rusty colored mix of auburn and cherry juice. teenie-tiny bubbles of carbonation. loads of yeasty gunk is left in the bottle. it smells really sweet and malty compared to the fresh version... lots of sherry oxidation, vanilla, brown sugar, dates, maple, sticky fig newton cookies and waffle batter. the oxidation reminds me of burgundy grand cru whites with 25+ years on them! the flavor is seemingly sweeter... at least more malt forward than the 2004. ideally, it is too sweet but complexity makes up for it.... notes of brown sugar, chocolate chip cookies, golden raisin-like tartness, vanilla, wood, cinnamon and a bitter grain husk quality on the finish. it is spicy, prickly and tingly yet full bodied, thick and syrupy. it approaches cloying but never makes it there. it has a smooth texture with low carbonation and a chalky mouth feel. warmth from alcohol and spice is pleasant. 8.5/5/8/4/16/4.15

i like the oxidized aged notes of the 2004 but somehow it fuller in body and sweeter than the fresh version. now, mix the two=killer!