North Coast Old Stock Ale

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

2004 Bottle. Pours a dark red like brandy with minimal off white head. Little to no nose, some nuttiness, small amount of alcohol. Small hints of caramel, brandy with a warm alcohol feel. Possibly needs alot more aging.

2003 vintage. Deep brown color with tons of bubbles and a thin head. Very rich aroma. Flavor is smooth and well rounded. Tastes like it has aged and mellowed quite nicely. I really liked this.

RERATE: 2004 bottle. 2 years old. Deep brown/red color. The head of tight white bubbles only appears briefly with a vigorous pour. Aroma is huge; dark fruit, alcohol, sweet candi, a little sour. I love to smell this beer. The flavor is intense and mellow at the same time. The body is just about right. This is definitely an english style barleywine and a delicious one at that.

2004 bottle consumed in 2008 aged. The pour reveals that there is minimal carbonation left. The head consists of only one or two clumps of tiny bubbles. Aroma is incredibly rich and carmelly. There is some alcohol, but its not aggressive or offensive. Really sophisticated beer. 8/3/8/5/18

2004 Bottle consumed 2/12/09 over 4 years old. The beautiful malts of the 2004 vintage have held up fantastically. I really loved this year. It’s smooth and easy to drink compared to the newer hotter brewings. Bring back to 2004 recipe!!!! 6/4/8/5/17

2006 vintage consumed 11/06: Brown color with a ring and spotty drabs of head. Aroma is malty and actually whiskeyish. Flavor is alcoholic and much like whisky. This needs time. A lot of time. 6/3/7/4/17.

12 oz bottle. 2004. Clear burgundy brown with a whisper of a tan head. Cedar, caramel, butterscotch and rubbing alcohol. Only a bit of sweetness that succumbs to the alcohol with a bitter aftertaste. Medium body with a little carb. I think I liked the 2005 better.

Red color with a decent head. Aroma is of brown sugar, caramel, and maple. Strong in alcoholic content. Complex flavor with notes of caramel.

2002 bottle. Perfect appearance. deep mahogany with huge thick tan head, and clear. Aroma of maple, raisin, and alcohol. Super rich malty flavor, where the alcohol bite is kept in the background. Flavors include Maple and raisin, with a slight alcohol bite finish. This is one well made and impressive brew.

2005 Just a small head that quickly vanishes. Looks like iced tea. Smells like dates and flowers. Very smooth for the ABV with just a hint of heat, a well crafted beer. One fine Barley Wine. My only complaint is the not entirely pleasant aftertaste.

2003 - Bright mahogany color with a finger high firm head of pumpkin insides hue, lots of good lacing in sheets and thick webbings. Aroma is a whole lotta caramelized malt action which ensues with a pretty juicy and strong waft with a bit of alcoholic heat enriched within the malts. Its coming across more like a dopplebock. Malty rich with caramel for sure. Semi sweet, ripe and dark fruit notes of raisins soaked in cherry sauce and drizzled in toffee. Flavors repeat the nose perfectly I think,....lots of caramel; smooth, dark, rich, thick, chewy caramelized malty goodness. Very round and full of malts. Chewy dark breads and dark fruits of cherry, fig, and raisin make for some slight mixing and are noticeable more closer to the finish. Hops still seem pretty juicy too with a slight fruity sense and oily resin but extremely tame on bitterness. The malts dominate here and by a good measure. Some slight alcoholic singes interweave within the caramel and help keep a slight burning or toasty warming aspect among the bigger gulps. And gulping is what will happen with this tasty, full bugger, as it is quite laxed, full, creamy, and smooth with just the right warmth of alcohol. Upon first sipping this massively yummy concoction there is now way this has 11.4%, ahhh...but it does, so watch out. Nearly as good as my fav Bell’s Third Coast...this stuff is great when fresher, aging this stuff I’ve found it mellows to much so... it changes by quite a bit.

2006 vintage, dark amber color big tan foam that goes away quick, nose is uhhm some molasses and caremel, flavor is definate caremel, some alcohol, dried fruits, brown sugar nice mouthfeel, maybe a little thin but still fantastic, complex and just really nice