Old Stock Ale - North Coast Brewing Co.

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2011 vintage 12 oz bottle poured in a Kasteel goblet

Appearance- Dark red with a half finger of white head with tiny bubbles. The head dissipates rather quickly and leaves no real lacing.

Smell- A rising yeast scent with some sweet dark fruit soaked in booze.

Taste- You get a fruity ester with a nice yeasty maltness and a boozy finish.

Mouthfeel- Seems like a little on the watery side but has a nice warming finish.

Overall- I dont have much to compare with in this style but this would definitly be towards the top for what Ive had. It has some barleywine aspects to it and is a nice choice as a winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 21:49:41 | More by BrownAleMale

MarioM

California

4.8/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 oz poured Ito tulip, 2012 release

A: Nice copper red color with a thin tan head that lingered for a few seconds with no lacing.

S: sweet, fruity and dark sugar, and slight molasses like

T: Alcohol, molasses, cherries and fruity candy. For such a high abv beer it's unavoidable that the alcohol is so apparent but other flavors are very upfront. making it very we'll balanced.

M: Sweet fruity and molassis aftertaste that lingers along with the strong alcoholic notes. Slight warmth but not as strong as I would expect for such a high abv. Carbonation is just right, surprisingly smooth and quite drinkable.

O: Every time I try this beer I'm impressed. It's so flavorful, packs a punch and smells great! This beer is visually appealing and even better to drink, or sip, but really great overall. Definitely a must have. Thumbs up for North Coast...

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 07:06:03 | More by MarioM

C20Percent

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark caramel almost amber colored with a slightly dark beige head of foam on top. Hazy brew -- can't see through. There is some bubble action going on in the body. Looks rich, hearty almost. Nice complexity. Good looking brew.

S: Smells of vanilla and rich malts. Smell like oak. Some rich cherry smells in there too. There's some booziness in there too, but I think it works in this case. You've got some toffee aromas too. Nice smelling brew.

T: Such a wonderful brew. Full of spice and vanilla and toffee and richness. Really falling in love with Old Ales. This compares very well to Old Curmudgeon Ale. This may be slightly better. Wonderful tasting beer. These brew taste almost like they've beer aged in bourbon barrels, but they haven't.

M: Wonderful carbonation. Medium to heavy body. Smooth and creamy. Gentle on the mouth. Warm going down with no boozy feeling. Velvety feel. No issues here.

O: Love Old Ales and this brew is no exception. Simply fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 21:47:54 | More by C20Percent

MadScientist

New York

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 2008 bottle with 12.5% ABV

A: A medium copper with a light, haze and an orange hue. The head is head is thin and low and is made of fine bubbles the quickly dissipate to a long lasting ring.

S: Aromas of raisins, prunes and a rich malt sweetness with a smooth alcohol. Moderate caramel with a touch of graininess giving the impression of smelling a bag of crystal malt. There is a moderate fruitiness besides the raisins and prunes that is somewhat orange like and vinous. No hops to speak of.

T: A rich and sweet malt flavor dominates, somewhat checked by a moderately-light hops bitterness and the alcohol. There is no noticeable hops flavor, which isn't a surprise after being cellared for 4 years. The balance is fairly sweet and the finish is slightly sweet with a light Madeira like oxidized flavor. There is a touch of hops bitteress in the after taste.

M: This is a full-bodied beer with a moderately-light carbonation. There is a significant amount of alcohol warmth.

O: A smooth, caramel and malty beer that doesn't get too sweet. This beer has mellowed nicely over the years and is a real treat, I'll have to lay down a few more.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 22:26:58 | More by MadScientist

Lolli1315

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- An amber mahogany color and relatively clear. Light tan colored head that disappears completely fairly fast. Not much lacing at all on the sides of the glass.

S- A lot of sweet malt that bring fruity esters with it. Dark fruits, notably prunes and plums come out strong and mix with a molasses and toffee sweetness. Noticeable alcohol finish, but not overwhelming.

T- Medium high rich malt flavor starts the beer strongly. Dark fruits meld with molasses and toffee well to create a complex taste up front. Slight amounts of caramel intermingles between the malt and dark fruit esters to develop the middle of the beer. Alcohol strength is evident, but not overwhelming.

M- Medium full body, almost chewy but not quite there. Low carbonation and a moderate alcohol warmth finishes the beer.

O- A malt balance and melds together well. Surprisingly, this is the first time I have had this beer and I cannot wait to try the other three that I put away for some aging.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 00:28:33 | More by Lolli1315

ElCommodoro

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

The nose on this is an intensely sweet leather that's been doused in a fig puree and then had vodka poured over it on a hot day. So, obviously, I can't wait to get this stuff into my mouth.

The first sip is like a quarter-stick of caramel and candy sugar dynamite just went off in my mouth. It takes a few more sips for me to recover from that blow. But I do recover. I lick my wounds and I'm on to try to discover what's underneath the candy coating on this intense mahogany beer dessert. And really, there's just more of what was on the nose. There's a lot more emphasis on the figs in the taste than on the nose. The smoky leather is just lurking in the background. It's like if you tried to eat a hot fig off of a cowboy. You want to get as much of the figgy goodness as you can without getting too much of your tongue on his assless chaps. So, obviously, my chief complaint about this is, "Holy cowboys, that's a lot of sugar." And I'm the kind of guy who really sticks to sweet beers. This is bordering on a syrup extract. What I love about it is that bite that bites through all that sugar and keeps it coming, delivering a smoky solution along with it. This is right up my alley. I just really don't see why that much sweetness is really necessary. It's got bite for sure, but it could totally use more. You don't need to cover it up. And honestly, wouldn't a dash of maltiness go better with that bite than just adding more sugar?
So, all in all, I'm intrigued by how interestingly out-there this old ale is, but I would not drop this kind of dough on it again. High ratings for delivering something new that's more up my alley than most beers, but it could have been higher if it had been more practical.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 09:10:17 | More by ElCommodoro

qthompso

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First of my bottles from 2010. Poured into a snifter. It pours a dark, dark caramel with a minimal head that dissipates very quickly.

The one smells very bready, sweet, malty, with notes of dark fruits. I get some strong raisin fighting against the sweetness and a note of smokiness.

The taste follows the nose. Lots of raisin and candi sugar. I'm also picking up notes of green grapes, almost wine-like, vanilla, and tobacco. The beer finishes with a definite warming sensation from the alcohol content.

A medium bodied sipper with great creaminess and good carbonation.

Overall, definitely a sipper. Lots of complex flavors in this beer that could convert any wine drinker, if you ask me. A bit sweet and certainly boozy so I don't think I could take down more than one of these in a session.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 22:57:02 | More by qthompso

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into snifter, 2011 vintage. Pours extremely hazy dark red color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Slight spotty lacing clings to the glass; with a good amount of alcohol legs. Aromas of huge caramel, raisin, apple, prune, toffee, toast, molasses, cherry, and light herbal earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity; very nice fruity profile. Taste of big raisin, cherry, apple, caramel, toast, toffee, light chocolate, bread, and herbal earthiness. No bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of light and dark fruits, caramel, toast, toffee, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance and complexity; with nearly zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a slick and lightly syrupy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice old ale. Good fruity flavor complexity and balance; quite smooth to sip on. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 05:25:33 | More by superspak

Auracom

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Dan for digging a bit into the cellar to pull out a 2010 vintage. 6 oz. poured into a Chimay goblet on October 20th, 2012.

A - Semi dark, murky caramel coloring with a thin layer of bubbles. Slight clarity. Poor retention and lacing.

S - Mellowed honey bread quality, winter fruits, a hint of spice. Does this spend time in oak barrels? It has some of that tannic barrel element.

T - This has blended really well. Caramel, honey, brown sugar, and rye bread meld together in a well balanced and not overly sweet mixture.

M - Medium body, more carbonation than expected, a bit of alcohol warming.

D - Great candidate for aging, though I'm not sure this would stand the test of 5+ years.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 17:13:41 | More by Auracom

giventofly

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Alright. My first review.

2011 Vintage poured into an oversized red wine glass.

A: Pours a deep clear mahogany red with 1/4 finger light caramel head which quickly dissipates. Little fine bubble carbonation. Minimal legs, which is a little unexpected for 12% ABV.

S: Strong smelling beer. Sweet smelling, almost barleywinish quality to it. Dark fruits with a little toffee mixed in.

T: Wow. Fantastic tasting beer. Definitely not as boozy as expected. This has a very bready quality to it, lots of caramel, a little toffee, and a bit fruity (although I can't put my finger on which ones.) Slightly bitter.

M: Tons of body. I mean lots. Carbonation instantly builds as soon as it hits the inside of the mouth. Reminds me of the carbonation that you get when you drink a warm soda (weird, I know). Quickly turns to warm as it goes down, a very gentle warm though.

O: Probably the best beer I've had in a few months. Smooth, thick, warm. Gonna have to try and pick up another 4 pack somewhere.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 03:19:15 | More by giventofly

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2012 Vintage poured in to tulip.

A - Deep amber colour, slightly translucent. Half a finger of tan coloured head that quickly disappeared.

S - Sweet brown sugar and toffee aromas are dominant with raisin, smoke and some dark fruit in the background.

T -Toffee and dark caramel flavours up front with a huge sweetness and a massive kick of alcohol. Lighter notes of raisin and smoke in the background. Very boozy, so much so that this is difficult to drink.

M -Medium body, dry. Moderate carbonation.

O - I was expecting good things from this and was left very disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 23:10:45 | More by TheSevenDuffs

RyanLigeia

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 release.

Pours a dark, clear, ruby color with a small offwhite head that dissipates pretty fast. This is to be expected with such a high abv percentage but it does leave some lacing.

Smells very sweet, a nice brown sugary caramel scent, hints of dark fruits (mostly raisin) . Not a whole lot of booze in the nose which was surprising. Pretty standard scents for an old ale but I wish it was a little stronger.

The flavor is immediately much stronger than the nose. I first picked up the dark fruit, followed by caramel malts, then a pretty assaulting boozyness. I personally like my beers malty and boozy (hence why I spent the $15 on a 4-pack of an 11.9% abv old ale) but I can see how this would be a bit over the top for some.

Mouthfeel...well, its very very warming on the way down. Medium carb level but that could be the high abv burn deceiving me.

Overall- I dont really think its fair to open this beer fresh from the store and automatically start bashing it because it says RIGHT on the packaging that it was brewed with the intention to be layed down for at least a year before drinking. It IS pretty hot but Im really excited to see what this beer turns into after some adequate aging.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 04:36:40 | More by RyanLigeia

Danny1217

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter glass. Dark amber with a quickly dissipating, but large white head. Not too much lacing.
Smells of dark fruits and caramel. Very sweet smelling, and noticeable alcohol presence. Very nice, complex aroma.
Taste is similar to the smell. Wow, this is strong. Definitely a sipper. The alcohol gives a pleasant warmth. Dark fruit and caramel sweetness. A bit of a biscuit like taste. Some oak. Medium body and light carbonation.

At first the boozines was a bit over the top for me, but I started enjoying it more as it went along. It's not my favorite North Coast beer, but it's a good one, and a good representation of its style.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 18:36:10 | More by Danny1217

DannyHartman

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage

As I pour a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass, a 1+ inch head appears atop a beautiful deep amber red/slightly brown brew.... The head vanishes quickly, and leaves little-to-no trails as you drink it.

I take a whiff, and WOW !!.... I can see that this is going to be my kind of brew.... Very complex.... At first, I mostly get deep caramel malts.... Following that, I get lots of dark fruit, sugar, and spice.... There's also slight cocoa and toffee notes in the nose.

To describe the taste is also complex.... It's a sweet, yet bitter beer.... There's deep caramel maltiness with molasses and fruitiness.... There's the slightest coffee note on the palate, as well.... There's no ignoring the warming alcohol taste it also leaves on the palate.

I'd say the mouthfeel of this brew is lightly carbonated and medium-to-full bodied.... It's a thin and velvety beer going down that leaves a very long-lasting and warming aftertaste that sits on the palate.

Overall, I think this is a very enjoyable and complex vintage of North Coast Brewery's "Old Stock Ale".... It's certainly a sipping beer that gives you a little something with every sip.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 20:54:00 | More by DannyHartman

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.1/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for picking up a bottle of this.

Consumed 10/3/12

2012 vintage

Appearance: Light brown/amber with some lighter caramel around the edges - murky and still, with some clarity when held up to the light - little, beige head - fades to a little ring and a wispy cap, leaves some nice streaks of lacing

Smell: Booze and caramelized malts - the boozy sweetness is borderline port-like - caramelized malts, very cooked, with toffee, malt extract, and burnt sugar - some light and dark fruits - interesting, but not really good - kind of smells like an English Barleywine

Taste: Hot booze and sugar - kind of tastes like a mixed drink, kind of tastes like fruity cold medicine - cooked, caramelized, heavy caramel malts - caramel, sugar, toffee, and molasses - way, way too sweet - light and dark fruits, with some port - again, tons of booze - lightly bitter - unapologetically rough and harsh

Mouthfeel: On the light side of full - minimal carbonation - oily, with tons of booze

Overall: Somewhere between unpleasant and amusing

This has so much booze. Too much booze. I understand that this was the intention, but I'm not really a big fan. It's definitely drinkable as a sipper, but it's really harsh. Maybe this needs to sit for years. Or maybe 2012 was just a bad year. Either way... borderline drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 05:39:50 | More by angrybabboon

Altenor

California

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage

A: Dark reddish brown with a nice head that dissipates rather quickly. No traces of lace but when you swirl it a little you see a sticky film not wanting to let go from the glass.

S: Whew, Immediately when I opened it I got the smell of a big beer. Lots of caramel, chocolate, dark fruits, some spicy star anise and maple syrup. Sweet, sweet, sweet, but I also get the booze opening my nasal cavities. Love these kinds of beers.

T: I get all the sweetness in the front of the tongue then the bitterness comes in but the best part has to be the warming feeling it leaves you and the sweet after taste. I also got some coffee and leather. Pretty good tasting beer but definitely a sipper. I wouldn't say it is a very sophisticates taste but very delicious nonetheless.

M: Very sticky and more towards full body. Slight carbonation but enough to make it interesting in the palate.

O: I´ve wanted to try this beer for a while and finally got my chance. If you're craving a full flavored beer with malty, syrupy sweetness this will hit the spot. Now I will enjoy the rest of it all on my own.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 05:16:51 | More by Altenor

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage. Been wanting to try this one for some time, finally getting around to drinking a bottle.

Pours deep brown, a touch of red that gleams with light behind it. Clear, but dark enough that I can't see much beyond it but my hand. One finger of off-white head, but that was gone before I got to the glass.

Smells rich, sweet, woody, and smoky. I'm liking where this is going. Dark fruits, not overly sweet, but delightfully pungent. The alcohol in the back carries some spicy notes to my nose. Great depth and complexity.

Taste is initially more sweet and less deep, but it fills out nicely. The alcohol is definitely present, but covered well given how much of it there is. Woody and fruity, in equal parts, leaving a pleasant solid/sweet flavor on the palate. Quite tasty, though I do want more complexity from such a big beer.

Mouthfeel is pleasantly full and chewy, but not overly heavy. I like it. Medium-low carbonation. Nice and sticky, keeping those sweet flavors on my lips.

A very nice beer. I don't really understand the style guidelines, and why this is an old ale, and not an English barleywine. But regardless, I like it. Very malty, very robust, and dangerously drinkable. I could have several of these, though my body wouldn't thank me for it.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 02:35:03 | More by zeledonia

DRyan

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Old Stock poured in a Jester King Tulip glass

A: Dark mahogany color with light white fluffy head that dissipates quickly and laces little
S: Malty sweetness, some slight fruityness
T: Heavy malt sweetness with a slight alcohol burn. The alcohol is apparent but not overpowering. Has some almost fruity or chocolate taste to it but not roasted at all like a stout or porter, almost has a wine flavor to it
M: Very thin and velvety
D: Would be easy to drink a lot of but would be better to sip one slowly

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 00:35:01 | More by DRyan

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- not much to look at. A murky ruby color with a think khaki head that dissipates quick. No lacing.

S- Let the joy begin. Big, huge, aromatic notes of candy sugar, dark fruits, caramel with a hint of cocoa and coffee.

T- Deep, sugary sweet with notes of dark fruit that just pummel your tongue. Hints of coffee, cocoa, brown sugar, caramel, and maybe some anise. A spicy warming alcohol finishes it off.

M- thick, chewy, with a tight carbonation that cuts the sweetness just a bit.

O- Fantastic. I love old ales, and while Founders Curmudgeon may be the pinnacle for me, this isn't all that far behind.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 01:21:40 | More by JWU

ubenumber2

Arkansas

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Loved the smell , loved the look , loved the feel. Just a little too much alcohol for me , if you like high amounts of alcohol flavor this is for you , I like my high percentage beers to be sneaker not so much of a wine taste to them. Not a bad beer by any means , just the flavor wasnt to my taste , but everything else was great

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 20:52:07 | More by ubenumber2

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy reddish brown with a thin, but normal for the style, tan head. The head quickly recedes to a ring that provides a bit of lacing. Butterscotch and caramel dominate the aroma. Complex flavor from caramel and cocoa to raisins and cherries. Slick mouthfeel from sweet malt, but kept in check by spot on hopping. Great drinkability despite potent ABV. Go easy on this one, it bites back.

I recently found the rest of this six pack... 2002 vintage. There was still the meager carbonation, but none of sweetness or thickness that it had before. I'm quite frankly amazed that this beer is still so good 10 years later. Other, more potent beers have gone bad, but not this one. Well, at least I don't think this one went bad. If I don't return, tell my wife to bury me with all my stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 09:31:12 | More by Sixpack595

cavemanlawyer

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2008 Bottle poured into a snifter. Most generously gifted to me by GRG1313 - thank you.

Poured into a tulip, has a thick 2 inch head with a vigorous pout. Murky brown mahogany appearance with a decent lacing.

Smells of prune and a bit of leather. On the sweet side with some malt coming through at the end.

Taste is pleasant and smooth. After 4 years in the bottle it shows no sign of oxidation. Smooth and supple.

A very enjoyable beer and one that shows what proper cellaring can do for the right beer. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 01:07:13 | More by cavemanlawyer

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage.

Appearance: Deep dark reddish brown. Pushes burgundy. Head is minimal, off-white. Vague wisps of head. Collar remains fluffy and present.

Smell: Caramel toffee booze. Big sweet malts.ingerimg alcohol on the back. Brown sugar and something that reminds me of pineapple. Big sugary sweetness. Some nice citrus notes round it out. Huge malts. Grape jelly and a touch of red wine.

Taste: Huge roasted malts. Caramel sweetness layered over fresh biscuits. Sharp alcohol bite. Almost like sherry. Toffee. Chewy candi sugar. Vanilla and some oak creep out as it warms. Caramel drizzle. Brown bread. Mild toasted edge. Nice depth while cold. As it warms it thins a little.

Mouthfeel: Minimal carbonation. Medium body that pushes full until it warms. Drops to almost thin at times.

Overall: A decent take on the style. Ultimately fell a little short.

This style intrigues me. As I'm slowly learning, almost everything on the Top 100 is good, but not truly great. A very solid intro to the style and somethIng I would give to someone who wants to see what beer can be. It's accessible and worth it.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 00:35:17 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle into a snifter. 2010 vintage.

Pours a deep clear ruby with a near finger of fizzy mocha head. This immediately dissipates, leaving back some very thin foamy ringing out the sides and a spackling of light spotty lace. The aroma smells of ripe dark fruit, cocoa, caramelized sugars, roast and spicy warmth. This is pretty cut and dry with the flavors but they really come together into a delicious blend.

The taste mirrors the nose, with notes of dark fruit, roasty molasses, cocoa and a kiss of brown sugars on the finish. There is just a ton of sticky delicious flavor to this. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied with a sharp carbonation up front that spreads out into a firm creaminess as it works its way over the tongue. The alcohol underneath here will definitely warm you up but doesn’t detract from the other flavors at all. This is a VERY steady sipper for 12% ABV.

This has to be one of the most underrated beers out there. It’s 12% ABV yet drinks like a champ, it’s readily available on shelves, and its tastes and smells awesome! What a great beer! I’d be putting away cases of this if I had the cellar room.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 17:01:02 | More by Kegatron

mjtiernan

New York

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a small tulip. 2010 vintage.

A: Poured like a soda. Cola brown with large fizzy bubbles that disappeared almost immediately leaving nothing but the tiniest of rings around the edge of the glass and a little activity in the center. Huge alcohol legs.

S: Dominated by sweet malt, but with a nice cask woodiness to it. Some vanilla, coconut and cinnamon. Alcohol burn in my nose. Qualities reminiscent of either a wood-aged red wine or bourbon.

T: Heavy alcohol burn but smooth mellow flavor. Wonderful spicy woodiness. Caramel, raisin, vanilla and coconut. Finish has a long slow burn to it that is more like a spirit than a beer.

M: One of the thickest mouthfeels I’ve experienced in awhile. Just wastes your palate. It can be either syrupy or dry at different points.

O: Extremely unique (for me). I want to know more about how this beer is made. A slow sipper that warms your stomach and your brain. I love it.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 03:18:28 | More by mjtiernan