North Coast Old Stock Ale

Way to young to have been cracked, but there you go. Malty nose. Dark brown color with fain head. Rich caramel in the nose and body. Strong spiced body with finish of yeast and dark fruit.

Compared the 2007 and 2008 editions on 4/12/08. The 2007 is much more smooth, and has a graceful pleasant flavor. The 2008 has a bit more hop character, and as a result brings the complexity up. Aging these makes them more smooth, but if fresh they are more interesting. If you’ve ever had Stroh Rum, 2008 is similar in character to that. 2007 is more discreet with its alcohol.

Had on draft at Brews. Poured a very nice ruby color...Smelled like sweet caramel and honey. Taste was the same with a TON of alcohol. I liked this one VERY VERY much!

2006 from notes 12/06. Pours a clear but deep ruby with a tan head. Nose is fairly mild actually. Minute amounts of cherry. Flavor hits with a quick punch of sweetness and then the alcohol takes over. In my opinion it stays way too long as it leaves a aftertaste on the mouth. Just seems a bit too much, though it doesn’t completely overpower. I wonder what age would do to that. Slight cherry tone. Feel is slightly syrupy with minimal carbonation. Even though at first the alcohol is extremely present, this one is highly drinkable. Though I doubt you’d want to go through too many of these at once.

2007 Bottle on 6/14/08. after a bit of time in the cellar, Old Stock has improved with age. intense aromas of dark fruits, alcohol, and malts. pours a deep red with little head and carbonation. very soft on the tongue with a lot of sweetness on the sides.... very strong finish with the alcohol coming through.... a bit of a burn, but nothing disruptive. I feel this one will only get better over time as it continues to mellow out. ------------ bottle ’07. a very strong barley wine that oozes alcohol notes and flavors. not too strong though - very manageable. I have a few more bottles in my cellar and am anxious to see how they change and evolve with age. pours a deep red/slight brown color with minimal head. you can smell this one right after you open the bottle. Aromas of alcohol, malts and something sweet... This beer is very alive on the palate. Nice body with a long finish that carries a slight alcohol bite. Excellent beer.

Pours a caramel color, and has that caramel lacing look to it. Decent white head to go along with it. Scents of caramel and alcohol. Extremly fullbodied and complex flavor with tons of alchohol, sweet caramel, syrup and an underlying chocolate bitterness. Plenty of fruit as well. Warming sweet alchohol finish.

2006 bottle. Aroma of alcohol, oranges, and malt. Not overwhelming at all. Dark reddish brown that is translucent. Poured with a decent sized light tan foamy head that quickly dissipated to leave only a slight ring. Tastes of sweet alcohol with lots of warming. Also I can taste otanges and hops in the finish. Very sweet. Almost too much malt and stickiness, I don’t like the taste that much, but can appreciate some of it’s qualities. Very sticky and sweet on the palate. Not bad, not a style I love, but decent beer.

Pours with the color of a burgandy wine with a head that disipates. Molases, pine, cherry, chocolate on the nose. Sweet on the palate with molasases, cherry, pine, orange, and hops. Finish is dry with a bitterness. Good.