Old Stock Ale - North Coast Brewing Co.

zipper8650

New York

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Good Beer Sunday
2009 poured straight down the middle of my new Savor tulip
A - thin fizzy head, goes away very quick, I see more brown than the expected dark amber, the amber is still there in the lighted edges
S - super bourbon boozy, very strong
T - wow, the smell is a total throw off! I love the balance on this one. lots of vanilla, still boozy but really really well balanced for me. its sweet but not overly. its like a really good tiramasu, your know its sweet and boozy but it all works together really well
M - different but i like it, again surprised with this one. Its not the usual syrupy thick feel (that i like) but it has some lightness to it, but its not carbonation. Its not too light by any means.
O - overall this beer was more than i was expecting. Color and smell didnt have me too confident but taste and mouthfeel really impressed
Skol

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 23:29:27 | More by zipper8650

Why-P-A

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Dark brown and slightly hazy, lower carbonation with minimal head.

S: Huge bouquet of aromas ranging from molasses to toffee to raisins to oak.

T: Very complex, quite alcohol forward which isn't surprising at nearly 12% but the malt and ester flavors come through as well. The flavor changes throughout the glass as your pallet adjusts to the powerful flavors of the beer.

M: Not overly think or syrupy despite the high alcohol and residual sugar.

O: This is a very unique beer and definitely a lost style that very few breweries are making well these days. I have had the 2010, 2011, and 2012 versions and each is subtilely different. This beer can really benefit from cellar aging in the bottle to let the flavors mellow and come together, it only gets better with time.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 19:02:38 | More by Why-P-A

Kuaff

Alaska

4.49/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I poured this bottle of Old Stock Ale into my snifter at cellar temperature. This is the 2011 vintage, so it's had a couple of years to age.

Old Stock pours with an fine, off-white, two-finger head which soon turns into a thin blanket of foam. It's a pretty impressive head for an 11.9% ABV specimen. This ale has a deep, dark ruby hue to it. Kinda murky.

It smells of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, and a hint of chocolate. The aroma also has a fruity side to it that makes me think of raisins and apple cider. A remarkable scent.

The butterscotch, caramel, and fruitiness come back in the taste, and there is also a delightful, buttery breadiness. There is a little alcohol heat, but I can't believe how well-masked the huge 11.9% ABV is. It's just SO SMOOTH. Maybe it has something to do with the aging... I need to try more aged ales, I think.

It's pretty well-carbonated. Definitely didn't lose any carbonation while sitting in the bottle for the last two years. The feel is also slighty sticky and creamy, though not overly thick.

What can I say. This ale is pleasant as hell... if hell were really, really pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 16:45:44 | More by Kuaff

artdob

California

3.49/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

Love this beer - surprised I didn't find it here in my past reviews.

Chilled it a bit - slow start as the head retention is a tad disappointing as the dark ruby color settles in my snifter.

Rich, malty nose. Stewed plums - a compote atoma. Picking up some points here.

Sweetness on the palate, low carbonation in this bottle, but perhaps ok all things considered as this brew packs quite the ABV punch.

Interesting as I disect this beer piece by piece, wouldn't say I'm wowed by the isolated elements. Still, this is one brew for which when all the pieces are put together, the total package offers much to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 03:36:06 | More by artdob

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle served in a snifter glass.

2013 Edition.

A: Pours a dark amber to nutmeg brown forming a small light beige creamy head. Medium to low retention and only very few lacings left. A small layer remains for long time on top

S: Sweet and fruity. Strong notes of caramel, grapes and wood. Quite boozy. Earthy and bready

T: Sweet upfront. Again, strong notes of caramel and dark fruits. Mainly grapes and plums. Notes of nutmeg and oak. Quite molasses with a considerable presence of alcohol. Very malty and sweet, in overall. Smooth and pleasant, Ale. Some grassy hops can be felt and the end is light bitter

M: Heavy and molasses body. Low carbonation. Bittersweet aftertaste

O: Strong but quite drinkable. Very well done. My second North Coast after Old Rasputin. No regret, just pleasure...

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:32:00 | More by eduardolinhalis

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, 2013 vintage, poured into a snifter.

A- Pours a dark red color, topped with an inch of creamy off-white head.

S- Sweet, boozy and fruity, rum and raisin, bready.

T- Sweet, fruity flavors of raisin, booze, and caramel. Also some nice earthy and tobacco flavors. Nicely balanced, not overly sweet.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth feel, some alcohol warmth on the end.

O- A nice old ale, will have to try this again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:32:50 | More by WillCarrera

deeznuts420

Pennsylvania

4.39/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

served into a duvel tulip. small one finger head that dissipated to a small ring. tons of alcohol legs down the glass , deep mahogany red color.
smelled very weet with a little bit of alcohool present. mainly caramel and sweet frdark fruits like raisins and faint cherry.
taste followed the nose well with a big hit of caranel sweetness up front followed by raisins and the dark fruits like figs and cherries; rumlike. then the alcohol comes in and cleanses the palate and gives a warming sensation in the chest.
overall a very good american old ale that i would definetly buy again especially at 2 bucks a piece .

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 11:14:50 | More by deeznuts420

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.56/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: The Old Stock pours a dark, murky, reddish brown. With a careful pour all twelve ounces fit into a 14-ounce tulip glass with a slight crown of head peaking out above the rim. It slowly settles into a thick, foamy cap that pretty much just sits and stays.

SMELL: Dark fruits and figs come out strongly with a sweet brown sugar lurking beneath. A little piney and citrus hop aroma is also noticeable, but faint.

TASTE: Holy crap! The first sip is like a fireworks display in your mouth. This thing is extraordinarily complex...actually, frankly, its all over the place. The front end of the sip is extremely sweet with intense dark fruit flavors and molasses. A wave of bitterness strikes in a big way towards the end of the before a distinct and pleasant orange flavor washes over the palate for the finish.

MOUTHFEEL: Gigantic and sticky with a surprisingly strong carbonation. The finish comes along with a slight mouthcoating feel.

OVERALL: This is a beer designed for aging and I will revisit my 2012 stash in a couple years to see how it is coming along, but for right now there is just too much going on. It's like an untamed and out of control teenager who has an awful lot of potential, but just need to mature for a few more years before it is realized. With that said, after the first few sips it did begin to mellow out and become more drinkable, but at first I was not sure I would be able to finish the whole bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 03:30:17 | More by StoneTSR

bmwats

Louisiana

3.46/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Medium brown. Pours about a half finger, foamy, white head. Dissipates very quickly. Spotty lacing.

S: Maple syrup and molasses.

T: Peaty, bitter malt. Papery with a little licorice.

M: Papery and bitter. Almost, a burning sensation.

D: Sipping experience.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Dark amber, with a fair foamy head, and a little lacing. Nose is sweet combination of maple and molasses. Flavor is peaty, bitter, and burning...no sweet offset as the nose portends. Overall, this is a pretty decent quaff.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 05:44:42 | More by bmwats

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours ruby-tinged copper with a off-white head.
Nose shows golden syrup, bready melanoidin notes, sultanas and soft booze.
Very rich, malty flavours. Bready melanoidin malt, alcohol, sultanas, brandy. A little harsh.
Slick body, carbonation seems a bit high.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 06:37:28 | More by CrazyDavros

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.56/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dated as the 2012 vintage.

Appearance: Deep mahogany and nearly translucent. Thin off-white head.

Aroma: A lot to appreciate here. Sweet plums, apricot, alcohol, and an almost candy-coated apple aroma.

Taste: The palate is immediately overwhelmed with all the flavors mentioned in the aroma plus a huge robustness from the heavy malt bill and generous hopping. Most prominent is the alcohol, and at 11.7% ABV it's no surprise, although this just adds a nice warmth to the entire experience and packs a bit of an added punch to the flavor. The bitterness, which is only moderate, hits its peak in the first half but does linger along with the alcohol in the aftertaste. The sweet plum and vodka soaked apricot flavors are quite nice and are reminiscent of the Scottish Ale style. Also a lovely hint of vanilla that makes me wish for a barrel aged version.

Mouthfeel: Full in body but drinks like something lighter making it very easy to swig down even though it begs to be savored. Average carbonation but I imagine that this beer on cask would be phenomenal.

Final Thoughts: North Coast Old Stock Ale is not for the faint of heart. It's hot and brash and will fight your palate with everything its got but yet somehow leaves you feeling completely calm and satisfied. What a great beer. Highly recommended for enjoyers of Old Ales, American Strong Ales, Barleywines, Scottish Ales, and even DIPAs. Would I drink it again? Hell yes, and if a barrel aged version is available consider me ISO.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 03:33:50 | More by JamesMN

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pretty sure this was a 2012 vintage.

Rusty brown color, slightly hazy, an aggressive pour yielding a relatively small beige head that laced the glass well. Sugary aroma--malts, maple, brown sugar, butterscotch--dark fruits, minor hit of booze. The taste was similar, lots of sweet malts, dark sugars, toffee, some chocolate and hazelnut, rum raisin. Heavier medium body, smooth, some alcohol warmth, as would be expected from the ABV. Very nice overall. I'll have to seek out more of this, and keep some in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:48:24 | More by Rifugium

mnphish

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz 2012 edition bottle poured in a snifter. Upon opening the bottle, I get huge aromas of whiskey. It pours a clear, dark amber body, with a quality head. It smells of booze/whiskey, dark fruits, plums, raisins, caramel, malts, and toffee. This is a pretty heady old ale - lots of complex dark fruits blend with a caramel sweetness. It's followed by a sweet toffee flavor and a warm boozy finish. This seems like a perfect candidate for the cellar although it's drinking fine right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 23:12:18 | More by mnphish

Impfan

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Wonderfully sophisticated English style old ale.

Nose and flavor of apples, grapes, port, sherry, caramel, toffee, and pears in brandy.

Syrupy and yet almost ethereal body which is mouth-coating, and yet paradoxically sprightly.

Incredible execution of an old ale that will, undoubtedly become even more stupendous with age.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 22:16:45 | More by Impfan

BeerlyLegal

California

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured a 2012 into a snifter.

A beautiful ruby, dark red rustic color with little head and lacing.

Smells like whiskey, grapes and other dark fruits.

The taste is very full and bold with lots of caramel, syrups and dark fruits (cherry, plum)

Smooth after taste and mouthfeel with some bitters + vanilla that goes down fast.

Overall: An awesome beer that can do damage. Must be respected and not for a novice. A great beer to begin an epic night with.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 06:34:34 | More by BeerlyLegal

BB1313

Ohio

4.11/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 Vintage. 12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a transparent auburn with a slight haze. There's a huge off-white head and sticky lacing. The aromas are wonderful. It's full of maple, wood, caramel, butterscotch, chocolate, and a blend of different malts. The alcohol is barely noticeable in the nose, but it's there. Pretty complex aromas. The flavors basically match. Very sharp notes of maple, molasses and chocolate. There's a touch of heat, but the alcohol taste goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is somewhat thin, but still full-bodied. Slightly creamy and fluffy with active carbonation. The mouthfeel makes for an easy drinking beer. This beer is dangerously drinkable. It's hard to believe this beer is pushing 12% abv. This gets extra credit for the craftsmanship. This would age amazingly as well.

This beer is a winner. It's been awhile since I've had it and I'm extremely glad I revisited it. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 23:45:05 | More by BB1313

allouez86

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2010 Bottle poured into my La Chouffe tulip. Purchased of the shelf in winter 2011/2012 then straight into my cellar and it's been there until tonight.

Pours a reddish mahogany with a very small off white head. Just the right amount of head for a beer of this caliber and age.

Smell is caramel malts with a hint of cherry and chocolate. Next to no booze on the nose.

First few sips are awesome. The caramel is definitely there with a slight hint of leather and chocolate. Its definitely got the taste of a beer that's been sitting in a cellar for a good while. The The alcohol is stronger on the palate than the nose but it has definitely mellowed out compared to this beer fresh. There's a little hint of oxidation and cardboard, but just the right amount

Has a medium mouthfeel, slightly syrupy, decent amount of carbonation.

Overall I thought this was a really nice beer. To me it's a great example of what a cellared beer should be. With that being said, not sure if I'd let my other bottle go more than another year.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 00:14:32 | More by allouez86

mscudder

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a chalice.

A - Brown hue with a frothy ivory head. Below average lacing with moderate retention.

S - Heavy armoa. Dense caramel, toffee, dark fruits and a touch of vanilla.

T - Sweetness mentioned in the nose, cherry and booze. Lots of booze.

M - Sticky medium body with light carbonation.

O- A solid old ale with smooth flavor. A few of these could leave one striving to remember their evening!

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 06:09:17 | More by mscudder

Darkmagus82

Montana

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served on tap in a snifter glass

Appearance – Served a mahogany colored brew with a one finger cream colored head. The head faded rather fast giving way to a persistent foam and a great level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is sweet with a heavy toffee and caramel smell. Mixed with this aroma are smells of a dark fruit, roasted malt and a bit of nuttiness and vanilla. A bit of a boozy, rum like aroma accompanies all these creating a quite complex and warming smell.

Taste – The taste begins with sweet flavors o toffee and caramel mixed with some roasted malt flavors. A light dark fruit flavor of cherry then enters the taste as well as a little bit of vanilla. Soon after these tastes hit the taste buds so too dose a mild oaky and nutty like flavor. Toward the middle to the end the booziness that was hinted at in the nose becomes known. In the end the now nicely warming and boozy flavor of the brew, when mixed with the sweet and roasted flavors leaves a rather sweet and toasty flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfell – The body of the beer is a little on the thinner side for a 11.9 % brew(but thick if comparing to an average brew) with a carbonation level that is on the medium to slightly higher side. A little less carbonation and more creaminess may have better suited the boozy and sweet flavors of the brew keeping it, as is more appropriate, as a sipping beer.

Overall- A rather tasty and slightly boozy brew. The only thing really holding it back from greatness is the weak body, but otherwise it is quite fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2013 14:59:49 | More by Darkmagus82

ONUMello

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 edition. 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
A: Mahogany colored with a two-finger head that slowly settled
S: Toffee, nutty, bready, roasted grain, whey... smooth, complex and incredibly enjoyable to sit and sniff
T: Not quite as complex as the nose, but still quite nice. I'm getting fig, toffee, roasted grains, a bit of cherry.
M: Rich, full-bodied, but smooth and the nearly 12% alcohol barely shows at all.
O: Complex, tasty and enjoyable. I really like it. My notes are largely similar to the 2011 edition and the scores the same, yet there were interesting, subtle differences. I need to pick up more of this and follow it over time.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:55:08 | More by ONUMello

ESPNman

California

4.19/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage, poured into a Stone IRS Snifter

A - Pours a deep amber, almost reddish. Crystal-clear. A rough pour resulted only in a faint hint of head that disappeared quickly. It was almost ruby on the edges where beer meets glass. No lacing.

S - Rum, raisins, overripe fruit, brandy, sweet malts, and a bit of bread. Very little hop aroma, and a faint bit of yeast.

T - The taste definitely follows the nose. This beer just tastes like sweet sticky overripe fruit that's been sitting in a bottle of brandy for a while. Juicy over-ripe plum and raisin flavors dominate the start. Those flavors fade into a nice blend of malt and brandy-like alcohol. It finishes sweet and with a bit of stickiness to it.

M - This doesn't look like it'd be a particularly carbonated brew, but the mouthfeel is significantly more carbonated than you'd expect. It keeps the beer from weighing too heavily on the palate, but doesn't distract from the flavors. It still manages to coat your mouth and leave some long-lingering flavor.

O - This one will age nicely, but it's some good drinkin' right now, too. It's sweet, without being cloying. It's malty, but surprisingly balanced and mellow. The booze bite is present, but it adds to the beer rather than being a negative. Overall, this is an impressive old ale. I'll gladly age these to see how they mature over time.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 06:16:31 | More by ESPNman

Michael_D

3.96/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Golden amber pour with a medium white head. Smells sweet with caramel booziness; almost smells bourbon aged even though I don’t think it is. smooth taste, wow. Caramel from the nose is heavy up front on taste. Hops are very subdued, but provide some balance. Alcohol is hidden very very well. coats the mouth nicely, overall a pretty well balanced ale, that I would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 02:28:27 | More by Michael_D

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage

A - Dark amber with a thin tan head even with a vigorous pour.

S - Rum raisin, syrupy caramel, molasses, bready, sweet, light brandy notes.

T - Rich sweetness with rum soaked dark fruits (prunes and raisins), molasses, toffee, hint of brandy flavored heat, light leather and tobacco.

M - Medium body with low carbonation and a touch of alcohol. Sweet and just a touch sticky/syrupy.

D - Not the most complex old ale but very nice around 1.5-2 years old.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 00:01:40 | More by brewcrew76

elNopalero

Texas

3.54/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

2011 vintage.

Cellared for approximately 1.5 to 2 years.

This pours a dark cloudy raisin brown color with light foam that dies down quickly. The aroma and flavor have a thick raisiny booziness. There’s an aroma of fig & stone fruit, cranberries, candied cherries and some molasses. It’s very sweet, almost like a Belgian dark ale albeit without the flavors contributed by using Belgian yeast.

Taste sweet. No hop freshness and only a mild bitterness remains after 2 years out. The beer still retains a pleasing effervescence. There’s thick caramel notes on the slightly tannic finish. Warms unevenly with a noticeable alcohol booziness evident after just 15 minutes. Felt like work to finish the rest of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 09:08:57 | More by elNopalero

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Wasn't expecting a big head so I dumped it down the middle of my snifter which built a massive off white head and a orange/amber body.

Big caramel sweet maltiness. There is some fruitiness and alcohol heat.

Caramel and toffee. Little dark fruit like raisins. Some alcohol heat but is otherwise well hidden.

Slightly prickly carbonation and a bigger smooth body.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 23:19:26 | More by MattSweatshirt