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

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 edition, purchased from K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, CA. Brought back to Sydney, and shared with @LaitueGonflable comparing it to the 2011 regular Old Stock Ale.

Pours a pleasant deep and slightly hazed red-brown hue, deep like mahogany. Head forms solidly at first, giving a crown of gauzy beige bubbles on the top of the glass, but this settles out to a ring above the thick, toffee-like body. Gelatinously thick in the glass, but very little carbonation, meaning it doesn't effervesce pleasantly when tilted. In all other respects though, it's a very good looking beer.

Nose is spectacularly gorgeous, bringing to bear all the best things about a development in bourbon barrels. Big, smooth, rich sweetness with fragrances of vanilla and toffee. This is balanced by a slight redolent boozy quality, that never gets to sharp or astringent, but adds its potency to the mix, allowing a build up of other complexities. Deep, sweet, luscious. It's a phenomenally good nose.

Taste is similar, with big oaky characters giving vanilla and smoothness, and surprisingly adding very little tannin. The flavours are themselves exceptionally smooth, even though the feel is prickled with a touch of the booziness and a slight fine carbonation. This pleasantly cleans out the palate, without ever compromising the rich sweetness.

Absolutely gorgeous beer, and head and shoulders above the regular edition. This has mellowed, added complexity and integration in equal measures. It leaves it smooth, supple and seductive. This is one sexy fucking beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 09:14:41 | More by lacqueredmouse

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Actually brought this back from my recent trip out to Ft. Bragg. Turns out I needn't have bothered, as the beer seems to be readily available in the DC and Baltimore areas. Oh well, at least it was a bit cheaper at the brewpub.

The beer pours a fairly dark amber color with pretty good head retention and fair lacing. On the nose I get a huge blast of vanilla, brown sugar, prunes and bourbon, with some underlying dry sherry as well. The flavor profile tends to replicate the nose pretty closely in this rich and intensely flavored beer. Mouthfeel is full with a long, sweet finish, though there's enough underlying hoppy bitterness to buoy the sweetness. As a result, drinkability isnt' too bad in this 13% abv. beer, as it's not at all cloying or heavy on the palate. Still, a little bit of this goes a long way, and I was very glad I had two friends to help me with my 500 ml. bottle.

A very nice beer from North Coast, though I'm not sure the $20 plus price tag is justified. Would have to think twice before buying another bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 14:35:28 | More by johnmichaelsen

kojevergas

California

3.18/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

1 pint .9 fl oz/16.9 fl oz brown glass bottle coated in ceramic with hood-and-wire cap over a cork served into an EKU 28 snifter at me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are through the roof; I tried the regular version and was rather impressed. This is the 2009 cellar reserve.

A: Pours a one finger head of slight cream, good thickness, and great retention (~ three minutes maybe) for the ABV. Colour is a solid brown-black. It's generally appealing, but isn't particularly unique or special.

Sm: Bourbon, caramel, oak (up front primarily), almost a peat-like note, and cream. The main note is raisins, which doesn't work as well as it should. The oak resurges right at the finish, providing a sort of musty wood note that is more pleasant than it sounds. A moderate to strong aroma.

T: A nice little delicate blend of oak, light bourbon, some soda on the climax (which is unexpected), a hint of peat, light caramelized malts, and layered wood/oak undertones. The flavours of the regular old stock are but a shadow here, which seems to be to its detriment. The oaky complexity is nice, but the aging vessel tones seem to drown out the complex flavours that made me like the original so much. Some cream is present on the open. Sadly, some alcohol does come through in the early second act, which subtly affects the balance negatively. It remains well-balanced, but the build is far from ideal. I imagined the barrel-aged version of Old Stock would taste considerably better than this.

Mf: Smooth and wet, but coarse in the third act. It's not at all tailored to the flavours, but does manage to complement them in a general fashion. It doesn't get in the way, but it isn't helping all that much either.

Dr: For the high ABV, it's quite drinkable. But I don't know that it's at all an improvement upon the Old Stock ale, which in the Orange County store I purchased these beers at was only $3.99 compared to this version's hefty $22.95 price tag. I don't notice any benefits of aging. While overall it's an enjoyable beer, unfortunately it pales in comparison to the original. Its high price point and disappointing quality should turn off most beer fanatics. I'm regretful I took the plunge for this one, but I enjoyed it for what it was.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 02:11:29 | More by kojevergas

HopHead84

California

4.4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark amber with a one finger off white head. The reddish tinge is highlighted when held to light. The head recedes after a minute. This apparently has more carbonation than its brandy brother. The legs might even be better on this than on the other, despite the lesser ABV.

There's lots of toffee in the nose, with equally strong caramel. The bourbon is unmistakable. Vanilla is noticeable, and oak is in the background. The heat is much more noticeable here than it was in the brandy version. Dried and dark fruits are apparent, with lots of brown sugar.

The taste is brown sugar with boozy toffee and caramel. I'm surprised the heat is so strong on this 2005 beer. I thought it would be pretty mellow with nearly 4 years on it. This is much hotter than the brandy barrel. Some vanilla is noticeable, with some dark fruits and figs. There's a lot of bourbon in the flavor, which is awesome. The finish is strong with toffee and lingering brown sugar.

The beer is medium bodied. The carbonation is low, but it's a little higher than the brandy version. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with some viscosity. This is an excellent beer, though very hot.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2009 17:55:09 | More by HopHead84

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2009 Vintage - sampled 26/10/11.

I was surprised by how loud a 'pop' I got prying out the cork; while the head itself didn't last long, bubbles continue spew atop the surface like it were the Stromboli volcano. It's no shocker that at more than 13% alcohol lacing fails to stick to the glass, although a piano could stand on the legs left. Like its ceramic bottle, the beer's deep chestnut-y coloured body is opaque, revealing nothing to the light.

There's no mistaking the bourbon in the aroma - it's as Ann as the nose on plain's face - but a particularly dark wild honey does come over the senses, with the raisin, brown sugar and resiny, bitter hops of standard Old Stock Ale not far behind. Of course, digging your way through the vanilla - not that you'd want to - requires a drilling rig and there's enough wood spice to make you sneeze. But that's all part of the charm.

Book it boys, this flavour is 5-oh. I'm no sucker for big bourbon flavours - in fact, a regrettable experience involving far too much of it and an 18 hour overnight bus trip without water makes me rather sensitive to the stuff - but even me (and my occasional gag reflex) must concede that North Coast has found the perfect balance of gooey heated butterscotch, vanilla bean, and malty-rich old ale.

Usually a beer with this much alcohol would upset even those with a cast iron stomach but despite the tremendous presence of bourbon flavour, the amount of perceivable alcohol is shockingly low. This is a sipper, to be sure, but less out of necessity than of just not wanting the glass to run empty. A *pint* of near 14% beer sounds ridiculous, but this is a bourbon-barrel aged beer I actually can (and want!) to drink in a 500ml serving.

Old Stock Cellar Reserve has all the flavours and complexity of bourbon but with the drinkability and thick, malty body of beer. It is, for my money ($25 dollars), one of the best bourbon-barrel aged beers I've ever tried, hands down. You get what you pay for; this has definitely been an out-of-the-ordinary experience. It is every bit as good as people say it is. A wonderful testimony to the American craft beer revolution!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 01:49:35 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

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

Figured I'd open this first as it seems to be the easiest to acquire if I ever want more.

Pours a very nice burgundy color with a one-finger head into my glass. Seems to be a lot of carbonation present.

Boozy in the nose with lots of bourbon character present. Not much else comes through. I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

First sip finds a strong hint of bourbon with perhaps caramel, vanilla and toffee lurking within. Rich and chewy with a decent character. Quickly warms the tummy.

The bourbon doesn't seem to linger much at the back of the throat. Lots of warmth.

I think this ale has aged well and I would definitely put away another bottle to see how it holds up after another year. It could have been a booze bomb but luckily, that's not the case. This is a sipping beer so savor every drop!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 05:14:56 | More by Brad007

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours no head. Color is a murky copper.

Aroma: Warming bourbon, vanilla, caramel. Creamy. All malt. Nice oak. Good -bals.

Taste: The taste reminds me of the Bruery's -bal aged beers, which I think are awesome. Bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel, and chocolate. All malty goodness. Very warming.

Mouthfeel: Warming and smooth. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends warming and dry.

Overall, this was a really nice old ale. Very Bruery0like. Good -bals. I like the bourbon flavors a lot. Solid. I definitely dark lorded this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 23:48:27 | More by mothman

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shared this one with the group at the "Evening Wood" tasting graciously hosted by cmrillo! Also have to give a big thanks to womencantsail for shipping this one to after I picked it up while out in Cali early this year for the Bruery Reserve Society Party! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller flute. Poured ruby red with a very minimal off-white head. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wood, caramel, sweet alcohol, and dark chocolate. The flavor was of sweet malt, wood, sweet alcohol, and caramel. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a great brew. It really was a hit with most of the people at the tasting who got to try it. The bourbon barrel definitely is evident and blends really well with the other flavors going on in this one. This one was quite drinkable despite the high ABV. Really glad I got the chance to try and share this one!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 19:19:28 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle shared by jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff!

2009 vintage

The beer is a crimson / brown / ruby color, with just a fleeting glimpse of a head. The aroma is simply fabulous. Delectable bourbon, oak, malt. Perfect blend of flavors. This beer tastes amazing. Incredibly smooth, time has served this old ale very well. The $20+ price tag is a bit steep, but wow, this beer delivers. Alcohol presence is completely unobtrusive. I highly recommend this beer. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 18:20:26 | More by Huhzubendah

RoyalT

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - This is a dirty brown in color with light orange highlights and a head that can't possibly keep up with the booze factor of this ale.

Smell - There's a huge cask nose here that is extremely woody. This is more like a fine aged bourbon than a beer. The whisky-like booze is prominent.

Taste - This really is like sipping bourbon. The rich American oak permeates the entire flavor profile and there is a musty aspect of this booze that reflects long cellaring. The malt is straight Kentucky bourbon and there's a rich cherry condition that begs for attention.

Mouthfeel - This is medium-bodied with a big alcohol presence that is somehow inviting.

Drinkability - I felt like a king sipping this ale. It is so well done and so incredible that you forget how hard it is.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 05:15:35 | More by RoyalT

largadeer

Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2005 edition:

Tawny in color, dense and oily, this beer appears to have a bit more carbonation than the brandy barrel version, though the head still recedes quickly. The nose is surprisingly hot despite having several years of age on it, but beneath the heat there's a lot of complexity; turbinado sugar, leather, spicy oak and boozy, caramelly bourbon. Alcohol and rich caramel hit the palate first, but it dries up a bit, allowing leather, tobacco, vanilla and fruit to come to the forefront before finishing with a resurgence of heat, tannins and caramel. Delicious stuff, though I prefer the brandy barrel version.

2009:

Dark brown, perfectly clear. Has a very pristine, filtered appearance. Pours with two fingers of fleeting tan head. Mellower than the '05, but less complex. Heavy on the oak and bourbon, feels a bit refined, but still quite good. This doesn't touch the 2005 Brandy Barrel Old Stock, but it's a good beer all the same. Probably more of an A- beer; my scores reflect the original 2005 bottling.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 23:38:26 | More by largadeer

gford217

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed this gem in a trade with Solomon420 a few months back. 375mL bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a dark hazy caramel brown with a small cream-colored head that hangs around as a decent collar for a while and doesn't leave much lacing.

The first aroma out of the bottle was the bourbon which remained the dominant smell throughout. There are plenty of other things in the nose with some caramel sweetness, figs, raisins and molasses. On top of all that is the vanilla from the barrel.

The taste followed the aroma but with more of the underlying beer coming out. The sugary sweetness comes out more aggressively and the bourbon plays a more supporting role (which is a positive for me).

The mouthfeel is sticky sweet and medium bodied with minimal carbonation. There is a slight alcohol burn through the finish.

This is a great, great beer and very drinkable given the ABV. A (very) small notch below the Brandy Barrel, but that's pretty good company. Big thanks to Damian for sharing this rarity.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 03:30:15 | More by gford217

dirtylou

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle, Star Liquor - very pricey, so I must have been feeling rich when i purchased this

2009 cellar reserve

appearance: served in my ale asylum chalice, rich garnet-mahogany body, active carbonation that triggers a rush of foamy tan head with no lace

smell: rich malts, smooth bourbon, creamy caramel, dark fruits, brown sugar

taste: bourbon, oak, vanilla, lots of wonderful toffee, creamy caramel, dried dark fruits. This is a lovely beer - if not for the price tag, would certainly be worthy of an additional purchase. CW BB Barleywine makes for a strong alternative.

mouthfeel: rich, full bodied, perfect alcohol warming sensation

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 22:06:40 | More by dirtylou

jrallen34

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Sean(I think) for this one. Drank and compared side by side with the brandy version. The bourbon was clearly superior to me, and I believe that was the consensus among the group as well... The aroma on the bourbon is awesome, dominates the brandy, vanilla, wood, dark brown sugar...The taste is alcoholic bourbon vanilla, but it still works. A little caramel and chocolate too....So smooth and easy to drink.

A great beer, better than the regular and better than the brandy.

Re-review of the new bottle.

Tons of prune graham crackers which are awesome on the aroma and taste. A little sweet right but in time will be unreal.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2010 03:59:43 | More by jrallen34

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this 375ml bottle because I won a raffle contributing to a very worthy cause. The generous and inspiring BA that is behind all this? Tayner. Thanks Dana!

It's caged an corked and has some blue tape wrapped around the C&C.

A light pop when I removed the cork, it pours a realy dark brown, looked a colour of rust when pouring, with a 1 finger head of off white foam.

The smell is really nice. I smell some big notes of bourbon and caramel malt that bring a lot of sweetness but no really alcohol tones. Yeah, this is a *big* brew weighing in at an intimidating 14.6%abv but it doesn't come close to smelling boozy for how strong it is.

The taste is the...Wow! Bourbon and cararmel malt working in perfect unison. Some dark fruitiness follows, some toffee, a bit of chocolate like sweetness in the flavour, some spiciness but it is very light, no bitterness that I can detect....and yeah, quite a bit of warming from the alcohol but mostly after the swallow where it needs to be. The foam has disappeared now except for a ring around the glass but I'm more into tasting and enjoying this sucker than looking at it. What an Old Ale! I know I'll be sad when the last drop hits my gullet.

It has a medium body with light carbonation and it finishes with a nice last hit of bourbon goodness.

Drinkability? The abv will hold it back some but...really...for a beer this strong, I'm very impressed with how easy it goes down. North Coast, what can I say? Other than I love this brew! And to Tayner....thanks so much for the opportunity. If there's a brew you'd like to try, send me a BM and I'll do my best to find it for you.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 17:36:47 | More by Bitterbill

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2009 version, courtesy of AgentZero (thanks Mike!). At $26 I haven't wanted to pull the trigger myself, so I was very happy to have the chance sans charge.

It poured a dark reddish-brown with a thin foam that disappeared immediately to a delicate bubbly ring, then to nothing. Strong nose, earthy and boozy, very old ale-ish. Caramel, toffee, sweet malts and bourbon, oaky vanilla and so forth. I really liked the smell, you can tell it's gonna be a sipper.

Strong barrel components in the flavor, a lot of vanilla and bourbon making themselves known, also a mild stomache burn giving a strong ABV impression. More caramel and toffee than I get even in the standard Old Stock, although that might be because I've only had them fresh. Some dark fruits too, plums and raisins.

This was a serious sipper, a lot going on and not something to pound. Glad for the chance, although ultimately I don't think it's worth quite $26 for the small bottle. Maybe $14-15 is more reasonable based on drinker's enjoyment (not actual brewery cost issues though).

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 19:52:14 | More by TurdFurgison

nickfl

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours with a small head of off-white foam on top of a clear, dark amber-brown body. The head settles rapidly and leaves almost no lace on the glass.

S - A thick, sugary aroma of chocolate, raisins, whiskey, and alcohol.

T - Brown, malty notes of toffee, dark caramel, and unrefined sugar up front. Some fruity notes of raisins, caramel, and almonds come out in the middle with a bit of vanilla. Things finish up with stronger, boozy notes of bourbon, toasted oak, pepper, and a lingering alcoholic warmth the is grounded by moderate bitterness and a subtle note of pine.

M - A moderately thick body, slightly above average carbonation, and a fairly dry finish.

D - Well, this beer certainly wasn't cheap, but it sounded good and now that I finally got around to opening it, I am happy to say that it lives up to my hopes and dreams (more or less). The aroma is quite complex and really shows the benefits of the barrel aging; this beer smells more like strait up bourbon than it does barrel aged beer. In some cases that would be a word of warning (such as the beers that we have all had that just seem like someone poured bourbon in right before it was bottled) but in this case it works magnificently and manages to convey all that is good about bourbon with just a touch of moderating influence from the complex character of the underling beer. The flavor is no less excellent as the fruity notes play with the whiskey and just a touch of the intense, sweaty hop character that I remember from the unaltered base beer. Overall it is a very nice beer, and one of the better uses of whiskey barrels in brewing that I have come across.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 04:23:35 | More by nickfl

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sharing this, John! 2009 edition

Mildly hazy ruddy brown with a dense light brown head that recedes leaving no lacing, this is decent. Unlike the 05 release, I don't pick out impressive legs here. The nose has plenty of brown sugar, vanilla, bourbon and boozy heat. Mildly prune and raisin like, I'm surprised by how sherry/port like this is. Excellent stuff.

Opening with a big raisin and prune character, there's plenty of vanilla and bourbon present with rather excellent balance. Definitely hot, but not on this winter day, this is quite enjoyable. Drying and alcoholic on the finish, this is boozy with brown sugar, vanilla and bourbon. Medium-light in body with rather high carbonation, especially for the style, this aspect is rather disappointing. Almost juicy in its oxidation and fruitiness, this is thoroughly enjoyable, though at its price, a little disappointing.

If this beer was priced at half the going rate, it would have gotten an A-/A, but at the going price, I can not give this a higher grade. Sue me if you will.
3.5/4.5/4/3/3.5

**Edit 04 May 2012**
Drinking my sole bottle of the 2005 vintage (2007 release?) that I received from Solomon420. Thank you, Damian. 14.6% ABV

A rapidly receding brown head caps this ruddy brown beer, with nice legs too. The nose is pretty excellent. Rich, fruity oxidation with prunes, raisins, an outrageously good bourbon character, with vanilla, oak and a nice heat. Wonderful malt character from the base beer carries forward, with leather, tobacco, brown sugar, almond liqueur. Really exceptionally balanced. As it breathes, the nose gains a mildly jammy character (which, at the level present, is thoroughly enjoyable)

The palate opens with a blend of candied dark fruits (raisins and prunes with brown sugar and vanilla), a nice oak presence (bittering tannins), a definite almond-like nuttiness (almond skin). It does bring to mind King Henry but with less prune, and the Bruery 100% Barrel aged anniversary beers (minus the excessive sweetness). Unlike the 09 vintage, this feels fuller on the palate, leaving a nice sticky coating.The alcohol is quite wonderful. It straddles the line of lending a bite, lightening the palate, and lending warmth, in a way I don't see too often in a beer this high in ABV. Medium in body with the alcohol providing the lightening of the palate, this beer is mildly carbonated and really good. Oak tannins, toffee, burnt sugar and dark fruits linger on the finish. Fantastic stuff.
4/5/4.5/4.5/4.5

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 02:40:14 | More by DefenCorps

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500 ml caged and corked bottle, 2009 vintage. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a murky reddish/brown color with about an inch tan cola-like head that fizzled away quickly. Not much lacing at all. Aroma is sweet and malty, it smells like dark fruit, caramel, toffee, bourbon, brown sugar and vanilla. The taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some nuts, molasses and a bit of brandy. There's also a long lasting sweet malty finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit syrupy and coating with moderate carbonation. It's also smooth and goes down easy. I think this is a pretty good overall brew. It's pricey ($23.99 a bottle), but definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 23:01:55 | More by bluejacket74

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.81/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

500ml corked and caged 2009 bottle poured into tulip 16/6/13 thanks alpineclimber for the want

A dark brownish amber with some ruby when held to the light, cola like fizz makes me think my glass is dirty but a second and third pour have the same result, liquid looks like a slow boil and its a little noisy. I don't expect much head or lace from a beer this big but I find it strange how it just fizzles out, some thick legs on the side of the glass

S bourbon and booze with some oak, brown sugar, vanilla, faint molasses and just a hint of spice and rum raisin cake

T reminds me of JD, candied corn with just a hint of smoke, this aged bottles still rather boozy, perhaps a little oxidized and rum keeps coming to mind, maybe some candied dried fruits other then raisins but I can't place it

M not as thick as I was expecting, considering how many bubbles I could see I'm finding it a little flat in the mouth, quite sticky and still fairly hot

O I like it and want to love it but the nose just didn't follow through, solid brew but I was hoping for something amazing

Its a big brew but not as big as its drinking today, considering the age I'd expect it to have mellowed a little more then it has, I've drank bigger beers younger and the had less booze burn. I was loving the nose and perhaps that got my hopes up a little

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 06:43:30 | More by wordemupg

tpd975

Florida

4.4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to the one and only daknole.

A: Pours a dark brown hue with a small tan head. Light retention with some legs.

S: Aromas of sweet malts, bourbon, oak, and vanilla.

T: Lots of dark fruit, and sweet candy malts. The barrel melds perfectly. Light oak, sweet sweet vanilla, and the perfect amount of bourbon.

M: Fairly full in body, smooth, light on the carbonation.

D: Very I am honored to have tried this one Dakine!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2010 17:56:17 | More by tpd975

FosterJM

California

4.23/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

1324th Review on BA
Bottle to Excelsior Tulip
500ml C/C

Purchased at Bevmo Chino Hills for $22.99

App-  A deep deep garnet red mixed with a burgundy color. Around the edges you get a small bit of gold mixed with brown. A two finger head that was khaki in color that receded quickly with only a ring of bubbles.

Smell-  A really aromatic old ale. Huge amounts of bourbon and just a touch prickly on the nose. A lot of creamy vanilla with a lot of barrel on the nose. A bit sweet at times as it warms and even like JW lees and collage a bit of a sherry note.

Taste- A really delicious beer. The old ale is a great base beer which to add onto. The bourbon adds a few layers of flavor with vanilla, oak, cherrys and a slight malt. A good balance without being overly sweet or prickly.

Mouth- A semi medium body with a prickly medium carbonation. Prevelant booze is quite residual. This is my knock on this beer. The body and finish.

Drink- Highly drinkable with a lot of layers going on. Malty, vanilla, oak, bourbon. Glad I finally got one.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 02:23:01 | More by FosterJM

AgentZero

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I dig the ceramic bottle, although it seems to come at a high cost.

A - Dark amber color with a little bit of red in it. Looks brown sometimes. Small head that didn't stay for very long, some moderate lace.

S - Smells great, lots of caramel and dark fruit. Also has notes of leather, vanilla, crystalized brown sugar, molasses, bourbon, and alcohol.

T - Tastes is very good. Quite smooth, no real alcohol burn, nice toffee, vanilla, bourbon, caramel, and brown sugar. Little bit of leather and tobacco comes if you let this warm for a bit. Surpringly good.

M - Full bodied, moderately carbonated.

O - Really great beer, surprsingly good actually. Wish it did not cost so much so I wouldn't feel bad about buying it and drinking it more often.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 19:59:12 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is an intense beer. You could almost mistake this for a port. This is a 2009 bottle.

A: The cork comes out with good gun smoke, and a nice pop. A dark brown/ruby color. At first a two finger bubbly tan head forms, but recedes noisily in a second to nothing. No lace. Looks very still.
S: Just an amazingly complex nose. Up front is light solvent like alcohol that works well, instead of overpowering everything. Chocolate, toffee, vanilla, oak, and toasted malts all intermingle. Dark fruits of plums and dates. Awesome.
T: Follows the nose. Chocolate, toffee, vanilla. Wood/oak from the barrels. Wonderful toasted malt flavors along with dark fruits. Cherries, plums, dates. Even some tobacco. Though that does not overpower at all, instead it compliments everything.
M/D: Surprisingly a medium body with high carbonation. Though that does not ruin anything. There is some solvent like alcohol, but still nothing that overpowers. Warming and enjoyable to sip on.

A monster beer with loads of complexities. With the age, and the typical character of the base, it seems more like port than a bourbon barrel aged beer. I really enjoyed it. A bit over carbonated, but still well done. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 06:08:35 | More by champ103

Brent

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As an initial note, if style points were an option for the bottle, this would get an A+. It calls to mind a vintage port bottle that you would find on a pirate ship (or at least what I would envision one to look like, never actually having been aboard such a ship, myself). But, I digress.

And, to digress a bit more before actually getting around to the review, this beer caused me to reflect on the whole bourbon barrel aging trend that has grown exponentially over the last few years. When the first examples hit the market they were viewed more as a novelty and, for the most part, were pretty heavy-handed. Most had one primary flavor - bourbon - like having a boilermaker. A few less than satisfactory experiences caused me to think that this was just a passing fad.

Had I sampled this beer back then, I would have been blown away. It is testament to how far the level of quality overall has grown in this style so that it now takes a great beer to really stand out from the ever-growing crowd of bourbon barrel aged beers.

Now, at last, to the beer. Smooth, well rounded and mellow, with abundant brown sugar and caramel notes, but not overly sweet. Bourbon note is modest and clean. No boozyness despite the high alchol level, and, while a sipper, surpisingly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 15:19:52 | More by Brent