 dchmela (772), Orlando, Florida, USA
Jun 17, 2008
Bottle courtesy polomagnifico. Pours a dark amber brown with a thick tan head. Aroma is thick caramel malt like raw liquid extract. Taste is very thick dark malt balanced by some spicy hop bitterness. Finishes thick and malty with some residual hop bitterness. Maybe I should try this when the weather is cooler, but it seemed unbalanced for something so highly rated and I must have gotten a bad bottle.
conradn (1), Virginia beach, Virginia, USA
does not count  Oct 6, 2008 a very rich, dark ale. My first one from bell’s, recommended by a friend. It begins sweet and rich, with a very smooth, smoky middle finishes a bit harsh out of the bottle, but opened up makes a wonderful ale
taalhiker (111), Dayton, Ohio, USA
Oct 6, 2008 From bottle. Poured deep brown/amber with virtually no head. Complex nose of caramel and malt. Flavors include toffee, roasted malt and hops. Long finish. Alcohol is noticeable - may need some time to mature.
dmtroyer (362), Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA
Oct 2, 2008 12oz. By far the best barleywine I have had to date. Pours a deep, deep amber with red highlights. Nose is loads of caramel apples and sweet breads. Flavors are exquisite butterscotch, toffee, apple cider, overall a fairly sweet experience. The hops are undeniable in this one, bringing some bitter citrus fruit to the profile. Overall, very well balanced sweetness to bitterness. Decent carbonation makes this lively and very interesting. One criticism is that it could be a bit more complex. I am going to put a few of these away.
Trooper11 (448), Suffolk, Virginia, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Beautiful deep copper color with a large tan head. Heavy malty aroma with delicious caramel notes inviting. Malty sweet forenotes followed by solid deep bitterness. Alcohol is apparent but not overwelming. Excellent!
shigadeyo (1388), Southwest Ohio Area, Ohio, USA
Sep 25, 2008
Batch 7236 ~ 2006 Vintage
9/25/2008: Third Coast Old Ale has a deep ruby amber color with a thin beige crown. The nose is greeted by a hearty citrusy hop aroma accompanied by rich caramel, hints of vanilla, and some sweet alcohol. The flavor is very strong and contains a smooth, caramel maltiness, aged alcohol, and a moderate citrus and herbal hoppiness. There is some residual sweetness as well along with notes of prune, dried apricot, and and vanilla. The bitterness lingers on the back of the tongue after each sip. This beer is still quite smooth and easy to drink despite its high alcohol. It is medium-bodied and mildly carbonated. Overall this was a very good barleywine and is well-balanced. However, I would have preferred a bit more sweetness. I’m sure this beer gets even better with another 1 or 2 years on it...
12 fl. oz. bottle (OG 1.098, Alc. by Vol. 10.2%, 335 cal. per 12 oz.). Rating #835 for this beer... Rating: 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 16 = 3.7.
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No Batch # ~ 2002 or Older Vintage (1-piece label and plain gold cap)
9/25/2008: Third Coast Old Ale has a sweet aroma made up of caramel, dates, raisin, complex fruity malt (e.g. Marris Otter) and a hint of vanilla. This beer really smells great. It also looks really nice too. It has a clear, deep honey color with ruby highlights and tight, shimmering carbonation. There is a thin frothy beige veil floating on the surface. The flavor is sweet and still has a decent level of sweet, aged citrus/apricot hop flavor and bitterness. The slightly roasty caramel maltiness is also accompanied by a really smooth whiskey/brandy alcohol tone, prune and other aged fruits. Again, this beer is very smooth and very easy to drink for its high alcohol content. It is medium-bodied and has a mildly syrupy mouthfeel and a sticky quality on the lips. The additional age on this particular bodied has helped the sweetness come through the normally high bitterness level. It has developed a wonderful aroma and the flavor is quite good and balanced, but some complexity may be starting to fade away at this point...
12 fl. oz. bottle from West Side Wine and Liquor Store in West Harrison, Ohio. Rating: 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 17 = 4.1.
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