Third Coast Old Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter

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This whole Micro-brewing has really gotten out of hand here in the states. But, that makes me a hypocrite because I was the first one to complain about not having options. Now I’ve too many. Seriously. It’s good though to know I can fall back onto some of my favourites before the micro-boom. Bell’s is one. I haven’t had all of their brew and may never do so, but damn do I love when I get to try a new one. It really makes me wonder if these other micro-brews sprouting up over night are really that good. Consistency and quality should become key. It’s where America went wrong. We can’t compete with quantity, and why should we? This brew reads like an American classic. A F. Scott Fitzgerald just makes age more easy, and so age makes this brew much better. But don’t be fooled. This was good from the start, much like that Fitzgerald classic. The label does a good job of minimally reaching the point. Lots of sediment in this one so the pour was careful, into the recommend Snifter. Pours a dark brown-burgandy, much like a dark belgian ale. Nice head, good amount of low in fizz to keep it fresh. Nose is lots of vinted malts, oak like vanilla, worn leather. Landscapes of herbal qualities comes to mind. The great and once vast forest of colonial North America, cedar, eucalyptus, oak, maple. Taste is pure class and quality. Well sipped. Oak, worn leather, smooth vanilla ends with herbal and earth tones of fresh dug roots. Buffalo grass, dark fruits such as plums and a slight apricot. Some slight tanin offers a nice bitterness to round out a slightly sweet, piece of perfection. Most other brewers would ruin this by leaning heavily on brown sugar, a Wal-mart like imitation. But not this brew, and certainly Bell’s would never sink to such levels. Massive <3’s on this one. Next week I’ll buy a 6’er and see how far 10.2 % can age.

I usually enjoy most offerings from Bell’s Brewery, but not this one. First of all, don’t call a barley wine an old ale! They’re two vastly different styles. Aroma was bread, licorice, and fermented raisins. Appearance was dark brown, minimal head and lacing. Taste was not my thing, overbearing flavor of burnt raisins, followed by licorice, and bitter hops. Would not recommend, didn’t sit well with my taste buds and was dumped down the drain half way through.

Pours murky brown with a very small white head that recedes very quickly to a few bubbles around the edge of the glass. Nose is dusty oak bookshelves that have been sitting in an attic for a long time. Sweet caramel notes, banana, cloves and grass. Taste is bittersweet up front, but mostly sweet but then gives way to all bitter toward the finish which then takes over to the end. Mouthfeel is soft and creamy, heavy body with a long aftertaste.

Bottle at home, from my Minneapolis Town Hall glass. Pretty sure this from 2009 or 2010.. Pours deep russet brown, almost murky chocolate brown, very attractive looking beer... Thin tan head, great lacing. A Sharp Looking Brew! Nose is raisin, tobacco, plum, prune, fig, spice, leather. Flavours of molasses, tar, leather, cedar, spice, clove, anise, and more dried fruits, especially prunes and dates. Outstanding mouthfeel, really glad I cellared this one. Fantastic beer!

on tap @ Benno’s in beautiful West Allis, WI.deep red pour with a thin tan head. aroma of toffee, sweet malt, earthy hops and fruit. sweet flavor of dark fruit, caramel and molasses. slick mouthfeel with a lingering sweet toffee finish.i generally prefer a more hop forward barley wine but this one is very good!

Bottle purchased at West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago. Pours a reddish light brown colour, with a light tan head that recedes to a ring rather quickly. Smells sweet caramel, vanilla, a little malt and some banana. Tastes quite sweet and some dark fruits with vanilla and banana. A little bitter bite on the tongue. Super soft and boozy. Awesome.

Had this beer at the 4th Annual Casanova Beer Cave Festival. Banana/clove scent, really sweet taste, not my thing.

This is very well done. Sweet, aromatic, and hides the alcohol quite well.

Originally reviewed: 1/14/09. Pours a deep mahogany, with just a bit of light coming through along the edges. 1/4 inch head, that dissipates to a thin sheet. No lacing present. Smells of raisins, caramel, wine, with some obvious sweetness. Nice crisp mouthfeel. This leaves a pleasant warming feeling in the stomach. Great for the cold months (even in NC). Taste of raisins, plums, caramel, and some grape-like wine characteristics. This is a good beer for sure. I’m not an expert in Old Ales by any means, but this is a good one.

This beer was worth the wait. Pouring a crisp, golden body and thin white head, this beer merely looked average. One sniff reveals tropical fruits, grassy notes and hints of fresh honeysuckle. The taste was fruity as well, mainly dried citrus, but the cherry character is what caught the senses. Only with a mild malty finish and slight warmth could you guess the generous ABV.

Bottle. Pours dark red and a small, off-white head. Dark malt aroma with caramel, dried fruit and earthy hops. Flavor is slightly sweet with dark malt, dried fruit, wood and moderate hop notes. Smooth finish with some hop and alcohol notes. A great barleywine.