North Coast Old Stock Ale

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

2002 Edition: One of my longtime favorites, this beer will go into a tulip. The head is much more subdued than my previous bottles from this year. The half inch head quickly fades to nothing. The body is transparent only when held to a light source, and even then one must be quite close to the glass. The nose is malty and vinous. Slight vanilla and raisins are detected. This baby is in its prime. The malts are complex. I really cannot pick any individual flavor out of this. The malt is somewhat roasty, with dark fruits as well. The finish is dry, almost like I am drinking Cabernet. Must be the remnants of the hops. The mouthfeel is thick, but not coating as I imagine it once was. Even if there was a hint of the 11.4% ABV, this would be extremely drinkable. Time has been good to this, as the alcohol is buried deeply within this one. I cannot find any more recent vintages of this one in Indy. There seems to be plenty of this one, though. I give a three for appearance because of the enormous head on every other occassion that I drank this one. I will edit this the next time I pop one. Edit: My glass might have been slightly dirty the last time. This time, I get the nice head I am accustomed to from this one. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 07-21-2005 06:33:38

2007 vintage, have had the 2006 as well and was a big fan. Pours with excellent head and deep amber color. Aroma is rather unremarkable, but the flavor is rich, almost syrupy for lack of a better term. The only thing I’ve had remotely similar was the Dogfish 120min IPA. I’m hooked and will be waiting for the 2008 vintage to show up. I’ll be saving a few for 2010.

2002 bottle. Considering how strong this beer is during the first few years of its life I would have to say after 6 years in, this flavors finally comes through. The malt finally took the lead with a huge jump in flavor and finally overpowered the alcohol that always seems to make this beer so unenjoyable.

Bottle @ Coles Barleywine Tasting Buffalo NY. 2005 Version. Pours a beautiful whiskey like amber color. Caramel malt sweetness with hints of whiskey, peat & alcohol. Rich, complex & delicious. Loved it

2007, bottle. Poured a medium amber color with a nice tan head. Aroma of nuts, chocolate and ripe dark fruits. Flavor is more of the same, lightly sweet, and with a great alcohol bite and smooth finish. Delicious.

Re Rate- 2007 Vintage. Bottle courtesy of BMan1113VR. I will judge based on this sample seeing as my first was spoiled. Pours a beautiful deep reddish amber color with a small top colored head that turns into a nice thing ring around the glass. Nose is caramel, sugar, bourbon, dark fruit, and a little bit of bread. Mouthfeel is medium to thin but coats the mouth pretty well and warms the back of the tongue. Taste is sweet and mellow especially after about a year and a half of age. Little bit of cherries, oak and vanilla in the taste too Nice brew. 2008 Vintage. Wow the folks at NC have really screwed up this year. My beer was an absolute nightmare and turned into a drain pour for all parties involved. Pours a beautfiul reddish brown color with a cinnamon colored head that is quite large for a BW. But that is where the praise stops!!! Nose is a disgusting combination of stale wet vegetables, vegetable oil, and the inside of an uncooked pumpkin. Taste is grainy, husky, and finish sweet and alcoholic. There was nothing good about this beer. I assume this year’s batch or just my batch were a mistake. Beware of the 08!

2007 bottle. Pours a ruby colour with a tan head. Big on the nose with notes of dried fruits, caramel and milk chocolate. You can feel some of the alcohol. The taste is sweet with notes of dried fruits and a bit to much alcohol (giving the beer a medicinal taste). The finish is long, a bit roasted and with some bitterness. Good one - a bit to alcoholic though, but hopefully that will go away with some ageing.

2007 Bottle - I imagine that drinking a four pack of this will do to your voice what smoking a pack a day for 20 years will do. This was all alcohol, no finesse. It should come with another warning label...