North Coast Old Stock Ale

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

2007 vintage, aged about 8 months. Pours a cloudy, murky, brownish-amber body. A small, foamy, off-white head settles quickly to a swirly film with a slightly pronounced edge. Virtually no lacing noted, though a swirl of the glass leaves behind runny, sheet-like legging, indicating a substantial body. The aroma is rich, warm, and alcoholic. Rich caramel and maple syrup malts are intensified and enhanced by copious amounts of vanilla on the nose. A deep inhale reveals underlying fruits and nuts, specifically candied apples and pecans. Moderate alcoholic heat completes the aroma, making this feel like a fruit custard or pie spiked with both vanilla and hazelnut liquors. The flavor follows suit perfectly, just as rich and decadent as the nose. A slight burn up front fades quickly, with malty goodness left behind to soothe the palate. Some spicy hops emerge, joining forces with the moderate carbonation to tickle the tongue and the roof of the mouth. The hefty vanilla component is reaffirmed, as are the hazelnut and pecan. A thick, nearly full mouthfeel isn’t as syrupy or cloying as I was expecting. For such a young barley wine, I am thoroughly impressed, though I’m sure this will only get better with age. Overall, this is a great winter warmer or dessert beverage, perfect for sitting by a fireplace or completing a good meal. I can’t think of a more perfect base beer upon which to base the bourbon and brandy barrel aged versions, both of which are also magnificent.

Sampled at "An evening with Pantanap #2". ’07 vintage. Pretty clear orange with medium beige head. Aroma is doughy sweet with some maple syrup. Flavor is alc, maple syrup, bread, pretty harsh. Syrupy medium body. Unbalanced big alc and a lot of maple syrup.

2004 big alcohol nose with vanilla and caramel,malty sweet some peppery spicyness.Medium body excellent english style barley wine

2007 vintage. Strong and smooth. Pours dark amber, small persistent white head. Dark fruit in the nose and on the palate. Just a touch of hops to round it out. Excellent barley wine.

3/13/08 - 2007 bottle tried again has loads more plumb then remembered, thick but smooth, bought this second bottle to sit for a while and just could not leave it very long.

1/8/2008 - 2007 bottle poured into a snifter has a sunset orange red caramel color with minimal carbonation visible and a slight ring of tan colored foam at the glass. beer did attempt some lacing as it sat for a few minutes. aroma has raisin, plumb, light roasted malt, alcohol, and tobacco. first sip is a little boozy, has a lighter mouth feel than i would guess, not sticky sweet, and carbonation kicks in unexpectedly. has a thickness but powers down very smoothly, good dose of malt in here really tames the hops right out, want to gulp it down but have to sip it as it is so good. definitely some alcohol power in here that will catch you off guard if you don’t know.

1/7/2008:
2007 VINTAGE:
Very nice malty (cookie and molasses) and hoppy (pine) aroma. Also detected some tawny port, alcohol and raspberry. Poured a medium sparkling clear amber with a creamy off-white head. Initial flavor is alcohol followed by a long and nutty aftertaste. Mouthfeel is creamy and carbonation is soft. There is a strong presence of alcohol throughout. Will probably improve with age.
Ar: 8
Ap: 4
F: 7
P: 4
O: 15
TS: 3.8
2-16-2008:
2008 VINTAGE:
Wow, as much as I liked the 2007 vinatge, the 2008 was horrible! Shared with ilovedarkbeer. Aroma was raw pumpkin with meelon, cinnamon, alcohol and vegitables. Creamy, off-white head with good lacing. Flavor was bad. Dry texture, lively carbonation and astringent!
Ar: 4
Ap: 4
F: 5
P: 3
O: 10
TS: 2.6
2004 Vintage consumed 5/13/2009, thanks to Lumpy. Pours with a small head over a murky amber body. Aroma of port, alcohol, toffee, maple and plum. Taste is prune, alcohol, toffee, light port, some oxidation and raisins. syrupy mouthfeel.
838415=3.8

Poured a dark amber color and almost no head. Very sweet beer with almost no carbonation. Didn’t realize the high alcohol content until I looked at the desciption on this page. Went down very smooth.

[859-20071128] 12floz (Vintage 2007). Boozy fig raisin sherry aroma. Clear, brown amber body with a small medium-lasting creamy yellow-tan head. Boozy raisin flavour has some grainy dough. Medium-full body. Very much like sherry or port or wine.