Old Stock Ale - North Coast Brewing Co.

blakesell

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

2006 bottle obtained from cellar number 1. Alc./Vol. listed on the bottle from this year 13.25%

Poured from the 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- Beer pours a cloudy red brown with a thin quarter finger of head that quickly subsides to nothing. Hardly a ring around the sides of the glass but when swirled I can come up with some lacing. Lacing is still surprisingly thin considering how high the ABV is.

Smell- Boozy and malty. Light Sherrylike oxidation. The booziness is very high here and is somewhat detracting and hurting the point score here. Outside of this the smell is very pleasing but that estery alcohol isn't doing it any favors and is probably why they came down on it in future batches.

Taste- Sherry nutty oxidation coming through again. Ripe dates, a bit of raisin, some brandy chocolate covered cherry flavor poking through. I'm getting some chipotle spices as well but it may just be the food pairing or the alcohol warmth that is shining in.

Mouthfeel- Warming, prickly on the tongue, lightly sticky on the lips. Medium low in carbonation, as full bodied as a beer of this color could possibly get.

Drinkability- I don't see drinking a lot of these in the future due to sheer inaccessibility, I would however like to try another in a year if I still have any lying around (and I think I do). North Coast ages just fine and I will be enjoying them again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 01:49:50 | More by blakesell

linnymtu

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -9%

05-23-2013 02:04:28 | More by linnymtu

artdob

California

3.49/5  rDev -15.3%
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

pin

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -15%

05-21-2013 21:58:07 | More by pin

Steve_Oldrati

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9%

05-21-2013 00:51:10 | More by Steve_Oldrati

NJB145

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

05-20-2013 00:56:42 | More by NJB145

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
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

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-18-2013 22:19:01 | More by Photekut

EROCK75

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-17-2013 17:00:09 | More by EROCK75

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

05-17-2013 02:04:10 | More by ElizabethEleanor

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-16-2013 02:48:50 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-15-2013 16:45:01 | More by twenty5

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -15%

05-15-2013 14:18:55 | More by touchmeimsac

Snellgg5

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -9%

05-13-2013 22:58:57 | More by Snellgg5

whallgren

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-12-2013 19:19:52 | More by whallgren

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev -0.2%
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

piconaut

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

05-11-2013 11:57:53 | More by piconaut

2beerdogs

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-10-2013 03:47:48 | More by 2beerdogs

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-10-2013 00:15:00 | More by jkane101

OC_Beer_Fan

California

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-08-2013 06:12:13 | More by OC_Beer_Fan

deadliest

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

05-08-2013 00:03:51 | More by deadliest

diehl07

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-06-2013 19:46:29 | More by diehl07

deeznuts420

Pennsylvania

4.39/5  rDev +6.6%
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

Hoppy_McMalt

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-04-2013 04:53:37 | More by Hoppy_McMalt

RyanTheLion13

Iowa

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-03-2013 01:19:19 | More by RyanTheLion13