North Coast Old Stock Ale

[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.

Poured a dark, ruby-red color with little head. This ale is excellent in the Belgian style with it’s own distinct malt taste. A very smooth brew, it is full of flavor from beginning to end with a lingering, but terminating breadth of taste.

2007 vintage bottle so not aged at all. Pours a ruby brown colour with no head. Sweet brandy aroma. Simple flavour of candied fruit and spice with warming alcohol...expect the other bottles to age well.

Bottle, bought @ Kolding Vinhandel.
[Vintage 2005]
Pours a beautiful deep mahogany with a small fizzy beige head that quickly disappears. Aroma is great, with port, raisins, overripe plums, light hops and a touch of chocolate. Seems quite vinious. Strong oily mouthfeel, low carbonation. Flavour is very rounded, lots of dark cloying sweetness with Belgian sugars, raisins, plums and light chocolate appearing. Vinious, yes, but not as powerful as the aroma suggests. Very mellow, great for sipping (watchign Fulham-Chelsea right now, 1-0). A very wonderful BW, I think Kolding Vinhandel has another 2005 bottle - I should buy that!

2007 bottle. The pour is a deep brownish amber, with little to no head, but has a few lingering tannish bubbles. The nose has very strong alcohol scents, as well as more subtle dark fruit and licorice hints. The flavor is much the same with a fair amount of licorice, and a nice alcohol warming. I would try again and have stored some in the cellar to mature, can’t wait to try this with some age on it.

2004 bottle. pours murky brown-copper, no head. caramel and fruit aromas. Dry initial flavor (alcohol) followed by mellow, smooth, medium bodied sweetness.

From bottle courtesy Secret Santa, bottle from 2004, consumed 12/30/07 : Pours a dark, cloudy brown color, with some ruby red highlights. Nose is very alcoholic, with some fruit and malt notes. Not much head, and what there is it dies down very quickly. Taste is a smack in the face with alcohol to begin with, but quickly mellows, and smooths out, and is really quite enjoyable, so far my favorite barley wine. Thick mouthfull, and smooth on the palate. Wonderful for sipping and catching a little buzz action.

Pours amber into a snifter. White head recedes to skim surface. Alcohol and raisin aromas. Tingly sweet malt with dried pit fruit from front to back and a sharp, dry, alcohol finish.