North Coast Old Stock Ale

Needs at least a couple of years to show its true potential and to land right on the palate. Flavour is sweet of caramell and toffe, raisins, figs and other dark fruit. Some cellar notes will also reveal itself after some age and compliments a otherwise rather simplistic but nice malt foundation very well.

2006 bottle, consumed 10312009 11.6 percent version. Aroma is sweet caramel, some oxidation and cardboard, faded hops. Very nice, English aroma. Taste is sweet caramel, Maris Otter, some faded hops, sugar. Wow. Nice. Very mellow. 848416

2009 vintage Fruity nose with clear hints of alcohol. Murky maroon color with a small khaki head. Flavor is complex with red grape, pear, plum, prune, and some caramel and coffee. And, certainly don’t forget, the alcohol. No attempt to conceal it. A warming alcohol, fine for a winter brew, is obvious. There’s a port wine vibe going on here. Finish is a brandy-like alcohol warmth that runs from the mouth to the belly.

2008 bottling. Rusty chestnut brown with very smooth ecru foam. Plum, pipe tobacco, leather, beeswax, and musty violet nose. Figs? Pecans? Sweet sappy malt, aged leather, toffee, pumpernickel… nuances of pine, brandy and coffee beans. Full bodies yet not sticky.Balanced bittersweet finish produces a clean alcohol burn that endures for minutes. Doubtless the finest example of an English-style barleywine I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Simply amazing.

Phenomenal! This is a 2001 vintage. The last of a six pack 8 years ago. I can’t believe I saved it this long. Definitely mellows and matures as time goes along. Sooo good. Caramel, malty and nutty. I feel privileged to taste it. Super smooth. Very slight coconut ester. Light syrup mouth feel. Yeah Baby!!

2004 vintage from Olbutiken. Dark ruby brown, tiny beige head, mostly disappearing. Nose has molasses, little alcohol, strong figs, syrupiness, faint old apples, spicy dried dates on the fore, hint of old cheese crust when aired. Flavor is pretty hot with coarse molasses, same dried figs, hint of madeira notes, not too diverse actually, slightly rusty and oxidized. Coarse mouthdrying finish. Kinda strong wine-like palate, with very low carbonation and little stickiness. It’s drinkable, but clearly hasn’t been aged properly.

( 12oz bottle 2008 vintage). Pours deep red with a surprisingly frothy head considering the alcohol content. Nose of vanilla, caramel, alcohol, figs, raisins and milk chocolate. Very complex. Taste of alcohol, raisins, lightly toasted malt, and roasted nuts. Finishes with pretty hot alcohol, not hidden on this one. Perfectly sweet balance here and I’m so glad this isn’t a hop laced American barleywine.

2009 Vintage Dark amber colored with a thin head. Smells of dark fruits, caramel, vanilla and alcohol. The taste is dominated by dark fruits, caramel and alcohol.