Old Stock Cellar Reserve (Aged In Bourbon Barrels) - North Coast Brewing Co.

mjn5036

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

375ml corked and caged bottle. The cork was a real pain to get out, eventually requiring a cork screw. This one was poured into a White Birch glass. The pour reveals the beer to be a translucent, burnt sienna with burgundy highlights. It looks fairly thin and innocent enough. No real head emerges from the pour, although it seems to be carbonated. A small ring of foam is mustered up and rests on the meniscus. No lacing from this bad boy.

The nose is very heavy on bourbon which is extremely pleasant, not in the least bit jarring. Rich caramel and vanilla toil together while chocolate, oak and brown sugars are in attendance in the background. Sweet, dark fruits, raisin and fig all come out as this warms.

The taste is just as inviting as the nose tempted me with. Sweetness comes through with caramel, toffee, chocolate, vanilla and brown sugar. A heavy oaky bourbon flavor encompasses all but never seems to get out of control. Again, raisin and fig are at hand.

While this is a beer to be sipped for sure, it is extremely smooth. The low carbonation makes the beer feel a bit boozier on the palate which is unfortunate but by no means a deal-breaker. It is thicker than I imagined, medium bodied and totes a pretty hefty abv. The alcohol heat is noticeable but doesn't seem to negatively influence the overall presentation of the beer; although even after splitting a bottle I am not sure I could stomach much more.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 06:13:23 | More by mjn5036

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-16-2013 01:25:16 | More by calcnerd

jkane101

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-10-2013 00:12:25 | More by jkane101

kevwcamp

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-17-2013 04:53:25 | More by kevwcamp

Jspriest

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -15.2%

04-13-2013 03:02:15 | More by Jspriest

straightlambic

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-07-2013 06:09:36 | More by straightlambic

pmarlowe

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-07-2013 04:31:19 | More by pmarlowe

abriggs1

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the epitome of what a high end beer should taste like. Way back in 2009, I had some Old Stock Ale and thought it was one of the best beers I have ever tasted. I kicked myself for not buying a case. Now we have a barrel-aged offering that has everything I've ever wanted in a beer. The dry esters are both decadent and gritty; producing a beer that has an old world vibe with a modern intensity. The obvious vanilla and tobacco flavors are immediately there, with hints of coconut, cola, dates, figs, and hazelnuts.

It takes a lot for me to give a beer a perfect rating, but this beer is one of the best ever produced by human hands. Is it the best beer I've ever tasted? It comes close. It's not cheap, but I'm most likely going to go back and buy the other two bottle in stock at my local swill merchant tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 02:33:52 | More by abriggs1

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

04-03-2013 00:54:12 | More by ShemRahBoo

JRod1969

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-02-2013 03:02:31 | More by JRod1969

meatyard

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

04-01-2013 13:05:26 | More by meatyard

bennetj17

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dull, semi cloudy brown. Some soap-like bubbles arise immediately but dissipate within seconds, leaving a rather flat looking beer in the glass. The smell is at first very bourbon heavy but after a few whiffs I notice a nice balance of wood and some toffee like malt character. There isn't much potency from the alcohol fume either so I'd guess it's mellowed considerably since 2009.

There is some nice vanilla sweetness up front with a raisiny, brown sugar malt backbone. Strong bourbon character without the alcohol burn. The back end lacks a good contrast however, and is a bit cloying. For appearing flat, the carbonation is actually pretty decent. The mouthfeel seems thin though, with a light syrupy feel. It could stand to be a bit more robust, but with this much alcohol content it's expected.

This beer has a nice flavor profile up front and alot of potential, but ultimately isn't excellent all around. Perhaps I would prefer some more bitterness for balance, and the carbonation and mouthfeel also need some work. Overall a nice brew but not worth $20+ for a small bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 04:05:56 | More by bennetj17

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500mL bottle. kept in my cellar since its release in early 2011. poured into taster.

A: slight haze. brown body, not dark or light brown. vivacious carb ripping to the surface.

S: a lot of bourbon, booze is there, but not insane. a slight dry cocoa powder. chocolate. residual sugar is strong. caramel. molasses.

T: starts hot, lots of chocolate. booze is greater on the drink than the nose. a lot of oak. maple syrup. finishes sweet. some fruitiness as well. pretty well balanced between sweet, fruity old ale and boozy bourbon oak flavors.

M: moderate amount of carb. full bodied. carb is high, a little different for the style.

D: good, super mellow. highly drinkable. plenty of complexity without being too big. which is impressive considering this big time abv. ready to be taken out of the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 14:58:14 | More by Jimmys

Tschnab

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-25-2013 01:16:24 | More by Tschnab

UCLABrewN84

California

4.19/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bottle pour for Best Damn Night Of The Barrels held at The Beer Company in San Diego, CA.

2009 vintage.

Pours a clear brown with a foamy beige head that fades to nothing. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon, and wood. Taste is much the same with an alcohol kick on the finish. There is a mild amount of woody bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some great barrel aged aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 05:34:45 | More by UCLABrewN84

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-04-2013 05:14:32 | More by Kelp

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-04-2013 05:10:54 | More by yourefragile

madnismo

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

02-24-2013 14:45:03 | More by madnismo

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

02-20-2013 21:01:55 | More by drummermattie02

PhatAtUT

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

02-04-2013 22:04:56 | More by PhatAtUT

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

01-31-2013 17:25:33 | More by JohnK17

DmanGTR

New York

5/5  rDev +13.1%

01-29-2013 18:30:37 | More by DmanGTR

AxesandAnchors

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

01-20-2013 07:22:02 | More by AxesandAnchors

SadMachine

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

01-20-2013 04:02:11 | More by SadMachine

BierJager89

California

4.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Poured from the sexiest bottle I've ever seen into probably a snifter or a tulip or a goblet.

A: Dark brown, almost black with a very light brown head.

S: Excellent bourbon character, oak, vanilla, caramel, some raisin, rum, and dark fruit in the nose as well. Also that old ale smell. Whatever that is. It smells old. Odd that the nose of a beer can be the very definition of a smell, but old ales do it somehow. They all smell old.

T: Dark fruit with more great bourbon character. Oak, vanilla and caramel, my three favorite things in a beer. MASSIVE bourbon after taste which is more than delightful.

M: Medium-full bodied with decent amounts of carbonation.

O: If you can still find it, buy a bottle. The bottle itself is so damn sexy, and the beer is extremely tasty. Number 15 for me, as of writing this review, out of more than 600. By the way, I am starting at the top of my list and working my way down, so I keep saying how many beers I've had. That's not to brag, that's just to say how damn good these beers are to me. Sorry if it comes off braggy. I know there are people who have had WAAAAY more beers than me.

Quick edit: I don't like the beeradvocate system for rating, because the beer, right now, has an average of 98, I gave it a 97 on my blog, but my rating here says I gave it roughly 7% higher than the average rating. BA inflates. That's stupid, but then again their rating system isn't very precise. At least they don't inflate as much as Ratebeer. Dear lord.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 19:41:10 | More by BierJager89