North Coast Old Stock Cellar Reserve Brandy Barrel

Formerly brewed at North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Fort Bragg, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: JUL 30, 2011 Bottle obtained in a trade with Irishboy, years ago. Thanks Richard! A very hazy copper with ruby hues when held to light. Pours a thin beige head that leaves sticky lace. Insanely intense nose of brown sugar, caramel, banana, wood, vanilla and prune. Mellow fruity/caramel sweetness is balanced with a woody bitterness. Full bodied, oily, long fruity and boozy finish. World class effort. Thanks so much Rich!

Bottle at a Max tasting. Pours a cloudy and muddy tan. Aroma is massively thick of bourbon, caramel, port, oak, and marshmallow cream (I wrote "fluffy smelling"). Loads of flavor: notes of toffee, massive oak presence, and some cranberry. Thick and moderately syrupy body. This has held up. Minimal oxidization and still massively sweet.

Thanks matt. Happy to finally try this. Silky clean brandy heat. Soul warming. 15 percent abv has mellowed out it seems. Tasty. Nice balance between toasted brown sugar and sharp yet pleasant brandy barrel. Booze is nice. Oxidation nice sherry compliment. A touch over the hill according to some, but still quite enjoyable to drink.

375 ml shared by Matt. Thanks! Pours a murky brownish hue with copper edges, glow and good haze, with a frothy offwhite almost tannish head that dies to a ring. Laces small. Aromas are a rich melange of brandy, wet oak, touches of apples, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and bread, toast. Initial is medium bodied, cool caramel and vanilla, wet oak, touches of spirit, with with some lightly acidic apples. Some sweet vanilla, caramel, some toast, bread, brandy. Finish is a bit thinned, dry and brandy, tannins, really nice. Age has mellowed it a bit, but still a little hot overall. Not bad. Honor to try, as it hasn’t been re-released.

375 ml bottle. 2005 vintage. Big thanks to Mark for opening this one up. Pours a dark caramel color with pretty much no head and no lacing on the glass. A few big bubbles can be seen at the edge of the glass. The aroma is big brandy with notes of plum, raisin, and vanilla. Hints of coconut and oak as well. A little bit of alcohol, but nothing overwhelming. The taste is sweet with brandy and grape, followed up by some vanilla, coconut, oak, caramel, and some raisin. A bit of brown sugar as well. A bit of alcohol warmth on the finish, as expected for a nearly 15% ABV. Medium body. Very low carbonation, but it certainly works well for this beer. Overall, an amazing beer and I am glad to have tried it.

UPDATED: AUG 3, 2011 Re-review thanks to Alex... pours a dirty, bit ugly brown, no head at all... the nose is touch oxidized, but still pretty nice, apple fudge brownies... the taste is a bit light, brandy (alcohol), apples, caramel, a touch hot on the finish still... had this a year ago, good, but now its going down hill, drink this soon

10th January 2009
Wonderful aroma of woody brandy. Dark brown beer. A little carbonation - not much. Crisp and a bit dry. Lovely smooth brandy with a mild effervescense. Creamy brandy malt mid. Aromatic woody brandy finish. Very very drinkable and smooth. Lovely!

375ml bottle. 2007 vintage. Pours a translucent, copper amber with one ring of white head. Nose is awesome: oxidized, malty, woody, sherry, cherry. Flavor is awesome too: butterscotch, caramel, lightly medicinal, sherry, cherries, rum, can sugar. Full bodied and just a touch hot. Loved every bit of this, sweet, boozy, woody. Great.

375mL courtesy of CaptainCougar. What an incredible treat! THANK YOU!!! The pour is a flat, muddy brune that has excellent legs on the snifter. Very light carbonation appropriate for style. Viscous and cordial-like at 15% abv. Aroma is a bit oxidized from the age (some red apples), sweet cinnamon comes through, rich leather, spicy calvados. Taste is unreal: big cinnamon, powerful but mellowed booziness, aged rum, cocoa butter, beautiful warming alcohol, some dark fruits (rum raisin gelato, candied dates). Still a tad hot even with the age!

Chestnut brown, thin cream white head. Nose of sweet brandy, light tobacco, leaves, and leather, heavy malt. Flavor a but thinner, chocolate and light grain, raisin emerging through the finish. Bit hot and thin, age suppressed palate. The tobacco may be oxidation with brandy sweetness.