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

acceptmj

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: a nice maroon caramel color very small head from pour.

S: smell a slight maple.

T: had a strong maple flavor a little malty as well. you can taste the alcohol but its not overbearing and dissipates quickly.

M: light to medium body

O: had this with a friend both liked it very much worth the $23 i paid. almost reminds me of a Samuel Adams Utopias except a little watered down in flavor. def pick this up

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 00:06:37 | More by acceptmj

draheim

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500mL bottle (2009) into a snifter. Pours a rich mahogany w/ a crackling 1-finger head that dissipates almost immediately. Looks almost still but there's some pretty good carbonation rising from the bottom.

Aroma is buttery rich vanilla, molasses, toffee, caramel malt, dark fermented fruit, warm booze. Just about every ooey gooey sticky substance you can think of is in here. A nice oak presence as well.

Taste is also rich, smooth, thick, chewy. Dark fruit, molasses, vanilla, brown sugar, sticky caramel, bourbon, oak. Alcohol numbs the tongue, warms the throat. This is a sipper if I've ever had one.

Mouthfeel of course is thick, coating, sticky. Just right for a beer this concentrated and intense.

Overall, this is about what I was expecting/hoping for. Layers of richness and complexity, hopefully only enhanced by 3 years in the bottle. Not an everyday beer by any stretch but a tasty, decadent treat.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 04:06:21 | More by draheim

Gmann

New York

4.23/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2009 vintage, with a side by side of the 2009 standard old stock.

Pours a flat honey brown color, with a chocolate hue. Not much to say since it is very flat looking but it is a couple of shades darker than the standard, which is also flat.

The aroma is of a mellow sweet bourbon, vanilla and caramel. Some real nice toasted toffee notes, excellent. Quite smooth on the nose. Velvety. A much richer aroma than the standard, which pretty much just highlights the caramel and toffee.

Nice mellow bourbon flavor, with vanilla and caramel providing some dessert flavors. Raisin pound cake with rum drizzle. The carbonation is actually still prickly and distracts the flavors. The ABV is still a bit noticable. The standard is much more one dimensional with caramel and toffee but no noticable ABV notes and the carbonation is soft.

The feel is moderate and quite prickly. Sweet dominates the palate and again some ABV burn. The standard is not as thick but much smoother. I wonder if the cork helped preserve the carbonation???? Overall a tad rough.

A very good old ale, perfect for bourbon aging. Still a little hot and carbonated after the past 3 years. The flavors are top notch. Seems that this bad boy can age a little longer.

#1500

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 00:43:27 | More by Gmann

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

[edit] Last week I opened a 2005 version of this. Holy hell. My original review was: 4.5, 4.5, 4.5, 4.5, 4.0. This batch was one of the highlights of the day at a bit "rare" beer tasting. I enjoyed this immensely. I am ISO of another.

Kevin (kzoobrew) has been egging me on to try this for the past few weeks. I gave in tonight.

Just like to say I was on "facetime" with my brother-in-law and fellow beer geek while I was trying to open this and looked like a fool. The cork was freaking hard to get out, haha.

Appearance - Pours into my badass Surly Darkness tulip with a dark mahogany color. When held up to the light there is just a hint of light that gets through. About half a finger of tan head is achieved with a moderate pour, and dissipates relatively fast leaving slight lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell - Wow. Bourbon, oak, heavy vanilla, toffee, molasses. This thing smells great.

Taste - Even better than the aroma. As I sit outside, out of the rain in Southern California, and in 40 degree weather, I can't help but think this beer was meant to be drank tonight. Just loads of vanilla up front which melds with the oak and bourbon. A thick sweetness comes through, tasting of caramel, slight bittersweet chocolate, and toffee. This beer tastes freaking great.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, creamy mouthfeel, medium to lower carbonation. Appropriate.

Drinkability - Well damn, for how high ABV it is, and how "fresh" I opened this bottle, I could drink this all night. I am very impressed by this. Yes it cost a freaking ton, but I am glad I have another. Surprisingly easy to drink, surprisingly worth the cost. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 02:37:59 | More by SpdKilz

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml corked & caged bottle served in a snifter.
2009 vintage.

FWIW, review #250.

pours a translucent chestnut/mahogany tone with ruby red highlights; yields a rapidly lapsing 1" foamy tan head. a bit of patchy lacing but really nothing to write home about on that front. nose though is fantastic; a no holds barred bourbon bomb - clearly the centerpiece here, with everything else being almost complementary. secondary notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses.

mmm, taste follows the nose well, imparting huge flavors of the bourbon, brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla, and a touch of molasses. wow, pretty amazing stuff... dare i say exceptional. the finish is a bit boozy but at north of 13% ABV i think that's got to be expected. medium plus bodied mouthfeel with carbonation that is slightly above average for the style.

overall this is a truly outstanding beer. fairly cost prohibitive at ~$24 for the 500ml bottle, but if you're looking for a special occasion brew, this one will not disappoint.

originally reviewed: 04-05-2011

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 21:32:53 | More by BostonHops

Cremba

3.98/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As an underaged college student, with such a pricey beer, I had to steal this bottle from safeway. It was well worth the swoop! I really enjoyed the savory bourbon flavors. Everyone wanted a sip from this bottle but it wasn't available for sharing. I would definitely take this bottle from Safeway again.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 23:13:51 | More by Cremba

megahurts4

Louisiana

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Old Stock Ale Cellar Reserve 2009

Appearance: orange-red, little lacing, and small head.

Smell: bourbon, vanilla, and malt.

Taste: vanilla, bourbon, and an odd malt.

Mouthfeel: medium-light.

Overall:
This is an odd brew. The bourbon and vanilla are plentiful, but the other flavors are subtle. It has an earthy dark taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 01:16:48 | More by megahurts4

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

300 reviews – perfect excuse to buy a beer that’s more than a dollar an ounce. I’m hoping to cap off this wonderful experience with a beautiful beer, and I’m sure North Coast is up to the challenge.

Brewed three years before the date of this tasting – this is the 2009 vintage, emblazoned right on the front of the bottle.

A: The body pours muddy-water-brown, with that old ale cloudiness I know all too well. The head is all fizz, a collection of bubbles that fizzle and pop, dropping dramatically from one inch to nothing at all. No lacing; this beer is, very expectedly, wet and oily.

S: Everything you want from an old ale, and more – a profile that enthusiastically bellows toffee, maple, raisin, and dark, peaty malts. The barrel, though, adds a fundamental vanilla aroma, with a thick, musky oak backdrop. Touch of smooth, intensely woody booze, too.

T: A velvety smooth, dark ale – a palate that stands heavily on pedestals of thick brown sugar, cinnamon-raisin, maple syrup, chocolate malts, and toasted wheat. Sweetness lingers throughout, confirming residual sugars as this brew’s main mode of operation. Still, there are a ton of barrel tastes that come through with vanilla and smoky wood flavors, filling out a decadent bourbon profile. Spiced and astringent with its alcohol. Aftertaste consists of coffee bitters and a slightly tannic malt base.

M: Creamy and smooth, though a little thin. It hits all the right spots with its subtle creaminess, but lacks the thick, full-bodied nature to make this unquestionably satisfying at every sip.

O: I thoroughly enjoyed this beer, hands down. I love every little bit of complexity it evoked as it delved into my new favorite style, especially its emphasis on barrel flavors. But man, that price tag is killing my wallet. I think the next 300 beers need a spending limit…

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 04:21:53 | More by BarryMFBurton

mjpolzin

Wisconsin

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

My guess would be this is the only time I will have this beer because even if North Coast makes it again, the barrel aging process will be different than it was in '09. The price tag was pretty hefty but I finally bought it after seeing it sit on the shelves for almost a year. I saved it for the night I got home from coaching my athletes at the State Track meet.

The beer was a nice dark brown color but the carbonation was a bit too much for me. I am not sure why but I don't like my beer looking like a soda.

The smell and the corresponding taste was awesome. It smelled and tasted very similar to Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine but it wasn't quite as good. The scent and taste was of bourbon, vanilla and some fruit but there was "hard to put my finger on" sharpness that downgraded the beer for me a little bit.

This was a great beer but with the price tag, its hard to say it was worth it. Knowing that it tastes similar to the barleywine I referenced and knowing I can get that for a little bit cheaper price and can get it once a year, I may remember this old ale fondly but it won't quite go to the top of my list.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 04:24:32 | More by mjpolzin

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

Hophead717

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle, poured into a CBS snifter.

A: Dark, murky brown--caramel colored sort of. No real head, what's there quickly fizzes away.

S: Alcohol and vanilla dominate. Somewhat nice. Molasses also provides sweetness.

T: Vanilla, bourbon, some dark fruitiness (more as the beer warms), and wood. Meh.

M: Super carbonated. Distractingly so. Bubbles up into creaminess mid-sip, but by that point, things are ruined mouth-wise.

O: Okay, but not very special. Definitely not worth the high price.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 02:22:07 | More by Hophead717

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

From 500mL ceramic bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 5/22/12
*From notes

Vintage 2009

A: Murky apple butter brown in hue. As you'd assume, it's not what Charlie Sheen would call, "winning". A hard pour yields an extremely loose one finger head that fades almost immediately, and leaves no collar or lacing or lacing behind.

S: Holy Jesus, does this smell good. Kill me now and I'll bet you heaven smells just like this. Over a year in my cellar has done nothing but wonderful things for this beer, as it's overflowing with creamy vanilla, melted caramel, a bit of residual sugar, coconut shavings and some really top shelf bourbon. I can't think of a single thing I would change about this magnificent bouquet.

T: Luckily this beer tastes a whole hell of a lot like it smells. Sweet and boozy, yet it's in no way cloying. Toasty bramble, a touch of medium malt and plenty of wood and dark spirits. As it warms, I get a lot of high end apple brandy, and even some 20 to 30 year old tawny porto. Seeing how sturdy this is now, I guaran-damn-tee you this will continue to hold up for years to come.

M: Just not doing it for me. The bubbles are annoying, and it gets in the way of the beautiful flavor profile here. It just feels...I don't know...cheap, maybe? Swirling this with force in my glass really does help to alleviate some of this, but it's first impression was really weak.

O: Delicious. What a spectacular beer. Sure this was a bit pricey when I purchased it - I think around $18-20. But I'll be damned if I didn't have to pick my jaw up off the floor. A superlative achievement that reaches the lofty heights of the style. A round of applause for North Coast and this mammoth creation.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 22:16:41 | More by Rhettroactive

AgentMunky

Alabama

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

Poured from a gorgeous half-litre bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice. 2009 vintage.

A: Dark blood-red. The perfect mixture of translucent and opaque.

S: Deep sugars and stale yeast (which I've come to associate with old ales). Sweet vanilla, touch of bourbon, basic (boring?) beer.

T: Hm. Good beer. It reminds me of the Rasputin XIV. Soft-sweet bourbon vanilla and not much else...This has perhaps added complexity and a sharp alcohol dimension.

M: Thick-sweet and pleasant. Dry and almost roasted aftertaste.

O: An exceptionally good beer. Highly recommended. Worthwhile, but not worthmoney. Would drink again.

Notes:
I was reviewing this beer more vigorously until I saw the BA description and realised the Old Ale write-up was a spot-on review of this beer...
"Rich dark amber in color to a very dark brown; near black. Tamed aromatics. Although bittering levels can greatly vary, expect common fruity, vinous, intense malts, and sharp alcohol characteristics. The often racy but mellow attitude of the beer may also include acidic notes, raisins, and black currants. Vintage varieties may have a low level of oxidation. Stronger versions may have similarities to a port wine."

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 07:58:01 | More by AgentMunky

billab914

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage poured from a 500ml bottle into my CBS snifter. It poured a dark caramel brown color with a thin tan head mostly sticking to the sides of the glass. A steady stream of carbonation bubbles rises from the bottom of the glass.

The aroma really brings together the bourbon barrel and Old Stock flavors well. I get the bourbon, brown sugar and oak at first but as it warmed more of the caramel and dark fruits of Old Stock started to come out. It really comes together well and has a great range of flavors to it.

The taste also really brings all the flavors together very nicely. Bourbon, brown sugar, oak, dark fruits, caramel all compliment each other perfectly. A little bit of a bitter, balancing hoppiness is in the finish along with some brown sugar and bourbon lingering. It feels very well balanced for the style.

The mouthfeel is is on the heavy side and a little chewy. Carbonation is high for the style and gives it a bit of a silky, bubbly feel. I prefer much lower carbonation in the style, but it didn't detract from it that much.

Overall, it was a great beer. The barrel aging was really well done, it stands out but doesn't completely dominate. The bourbon was very flavorful and smooth and was the perfect compliment to the base beer. It had some great flavors to it and I really enjoyed sipping on it this evening. I'd say it deserves to be mentioned with the best of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 02:03:05 | More by billab914

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 Vintage

Pours a dark brown color, huge big bubbled fizzy tan head, the bubbles pop quickly with quite the sound, leaves no cap or lacing but not surprised.

Smell has a strong amount of vanilla, good oak bourbon aroma, lots of dark fruit like plum.

Taste starts out with a boozy warmth, vanilla and dark fruit hit first followed by a subtle oak woodiness, bourbon has a large presence throughout, tad on the sweeter side but the strong booziness masks it, carbonation is a bit on the high side but at least this isn't Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 23:12:18 | More by deltatauhobbit

homebrew311

Illinois

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

A: pours a deep auburn, minimal head and a small amount of lacing nice clarity

S: ripe oak up front with notes of maple and molasses, some leather and earthiness comes in next, highlights of vanilla come in towards the end, some cherry fruitiness as well. The aroma is very complex and different notes come to the forefront each time I smell.

T: the taste starts with mellow coconut and vanilla with bourbon oozing at the seems, quite a bit of sweetness which is nicely countered by a bit of earthiness. This is delicious.

MF: thick body, mild carbonation

O: this is a delicious and well balanced behemoth of a brew. The price tag is definitely hefty but it is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 07:01:04 | More by homebrew311

Drinkerofales

California

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

2009 Vintage

Thanks to Johnny for talking me into this purchase, ouch, my wallet, good thing I bought two.

Dark brown, beautiful clear garnet in the light. A dirty tan hand quickly dissipated to a ring constantly supplied by lively bubbles up the side of the snifter.

Smells of bourbon-y goodness, oak, vanilla, candied plums, booze, and malts.

A nice bourbon flavor leads off the tastes, and moves towards some candied malt sweetness. Pungent dark fruits are present, and a smooth bourbon finish lingers for some time.

Feels medium bodied, leaning a hair toward light. Bubbly carbonation makes it feel a little lighter. Incredibly smooth, yet leaves a nice coating on the tongue.

I was hoping for a little more viscosity, but other than that, a stellar beer. I could have smelled this all day, but gave into the temptation to actually drink this, and was not disappointed.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 19:46:48 | More by Drinkerofales

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Looks pretty much as it should. dark mahogany, with a tan colored head, started at a finger and dissipated quickly to a bubbly ring.

Bourbon, oak, toasted malts, vanilla, fruity esters, caramel and molasses comprise the aroma. While there's a lot of good things going on, the aroma comes off as a bit disjointed.

Nothing disjointed about the taste! Rich toasted woodiness, caramel, bourbon, dark fruits, hints of maple, chocolate and vanilla. The alcohol is nicely tame, merely warming the back of the throat.

The feel is thick, with good substance and a slightly sticky body.

I don't think this is quite as good as the regular, but it's still quite the treat!

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 23:56:08 | More by EgadBananas

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to ChefBergo for this bottle in a trade! Thanks Shawn!

2009 vintage beer in cork and cage format 500ml bottle poured into oversized snifter. Really nice "pop" when the cork was removed.

Appearance: dark brown to light black bodied beer that has a red hue when held up to light. Surprisingly the beer has a nice clarity to it and you can see through the beer when the beer is held up to light. A large 2 fingers of whispy and eppervescent head that reminds me of a cola resulting from an aggressive pour. It drops down immediately to a thin white ring around the outside of the glass.

Smell: First thing your nose detects is a spicy bourbon and cinnamin mixture. The malts add a slight sweetness, but its buried in the spicy bourbon of this beers nose. I also get mild vanilla, brown sugar, and maple notes.

Taste: Bourbon forward old ale right here! Starts of with a really smooth bourbon then you get the malts. Its loaded with caramel, toffee, vanilla, butterscotch, and brown sugar. I also get the cinnamin that I could smell in the nose of the beer. Then some oak sneaks in and blends nicely with the bourbon and malts to break up the sweetness of this brew. The beer finishes with some sherry notes and raisins. Great complexity and depth in this beer!

Mouthfeel: Full bodied beer with low carbonation. Alcohol is only noticed as warming and mildly spicy. The carbonation is fairly dead in the glass, but has a nice tingle when it hits you toungue. Its like the beers carbonation comes alive with each sip you take. The beer has aged and held up very well!

Overall: Great malt profile on this beer that is perfectly complimented with near perfect barrel aging! This is hands down the best bourbon barrel aged Old Ale that I have drank. North Coast really does barrel aging well. Old Raspy Anniversary beers are top notch just like this beer. I only wish that North Coast would drop the price a little bit on these beers because they are quite expensive!

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 01:57:48 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Sampling a cellar temp bottle provided to me by my bro-in-law.
Poured into a snifter the beer pours a deep mahogany hue with fizzy, frothy beige head of 1 cm that recedes rapidly to the thinnest of edge layers. Aroma is deep bourbon and vanilla notes with molasses and some maple syrup sweetness. All big malt with no real hop presence to speak of on this brew.
First sip reveals gentle spacious carbonation, almost like a cask with very little fizz on each sip.
Flavor is what the nose advertised with all sweet malt from start to finish. Brown sugar and molasses start this off but bourbon and vanilla pick up the middle and the finish is the flavor of doing a shot of Jack without the heat. This beer is 13%??? I dont get any booziness on the nose or flavor which could make this beer a little dangerously drinkable.

This is a big malty beer that I am enjoying a lot as I empty my glass. Definitely worth a shot if you see a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 04:07:12 | More by sulldaddy

SummitVA

Maryland

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

A - Bottle opens with a loud pop. Beautiful auburn pour. Carbonation puts up a 1/2" head that falls away quickly.

S - Sweet caramel backed by burnt sugar; fig and molasses; vanilla, coconut, and harsher oak character; a little cellar mustiness initially; bourbon lingers.

T - Sweet vanilla and coconut opens to plum and dates; caramel, oak, and a pleasant heat in the finish. Smallest hint of sherry sweetness from oxidation. Booze is well integrated into other flavors.

M - High end of medium bodied, but remains nicely drinkable.

O - Fantastic barrel aged old ale. Flavors really well integrated with barrel character. It's hard to get past the unfortunate price tag, I know, but if you've seen this lingering on the shelf for the past year and a half and have been tempted, pick one up--you won't be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 00:25:50 | More by SummitVA

Sunhunters

California

4.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving type: 500mL 2009 Reserve Bottle (corked w/cage) into Bordeaux-style stemware.

Appearance (3.0) - Deep amber, translucent. A dirty gold at the very edge when held at a steep angle in the glass. Thin, unimpressive head that dissipated immediately.

Smell (5.0) - The initial gasses that escaped as the cork came loose were yeasty and hot with alcohol. In the glass the aroma is still very boozy and warm, with an aggressive and unmistakable bourbon-ness. On the back side of the nose are subtler notes: sassafras, sugar cookie, plump golden raisin, cola... perhaps a tiny hint of very ripe banana bread.

Taste (5.0) - Semi-sweet, strong sweeps of raisin, molasses, Madagascar vanilla. Subtler notes of cola and sassafras (as in the aroma). The beer leaves the tongue bathed in a musty, sugary goodness that is forcefully reminiscent of dried Medjool dates. The boozy heat that held sway over the aroma is very diminished on the palate. The bourbon and oak influences are detectable, but only to a lesser degree, lending a good dollop of sweet grain and mild spice to the tail end of the flavor.

Mouthfeel (3.5) - The viscosity of the alcohol does little to augment the medium-thin body of this beer. Though big enough to satisfy, the body falls short of my expectations for such a deep, rich, and flavorful composition. The carbonation that was conspicuously absent in the pour is unpleasantly willing to show its face in the mouth. With mild agitation the beer becomes champagne-like on the tongue.

Overall (4.5) - The 2009 Old Stock Cellar Reserve loses points in my book due to its absent head in the glass, as well as its bizarre willingness to carbonate to excess in the mouth. Beyond that, this is one of the finest tasting and overall best strong (old) ales that I have ever enjoyed, and is certainly a world-class offering. My hat is off to North Coast for improving upon their already top-shelf Old Stock Ale. If you have a taste for strong ales, barrel aged ales, bourbon, or barley wines, then you are doing yourself a disservice if you haven't tried this magnificent beer. It is certainly worth the sticker price here in Cali (only $15.99 at my local booze-of-all-kinds-bazaar).

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 07:57:35 | More by Sunhunters

thedoubler55

New Jersey

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

Bottle poured into Tulip.

A: A weird brown, almost purple hues are seen in this one, a very wild color. Almost no lacing or head at all.

S: Bourbon right away, sweet fruit, dark fruit, vanilla, wine, lots of stuff in this one.

T: Just like the nose, a mixture of bourbon, wine, chocolate, very crazy tasting but bourbon is most present.

M: Smooth but high amount of carbonation like white wine.

O: Took me a while to finish the bottle of this stuff, a very unique taste and special brew. I aged my bottle for two years was well worth it.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 19:59:07 | More by thedoubler55

Holland

Pennsylvania

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

A: pours a deep brown/orange and slight reddish color with a decent khaki head.

S: a bit boozy, but the balance of character is amazing. I can smell the dark fruits and excellent bourbon smells of vanilla, oak, and sweet caramel.

T: taste is much the same as the smell, with more focus on the bourbon, especially in the aftertaste. A bit alcoholic when it warms, but that's where the flavor really comes out.

M: medium carbonation and medium-heavy body makes this excellent tasting, adding to the burn of the bourbon and alcohol on the back end.

O: can't believe I let this sit on shelves for as long as I did. Excellent beer overall, even at $21 for a 330ml bottle or so.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 01:59:52 | More by Holland

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2009 vintage

Caramel color and legs instead of lace. Some slight foam that subsides quickly.

Thick bourbony nose.

Magnificent richness, full of bourbon, vanilla, oak, and everything I might ever ask for. Super warming.

Nice and smooth, supports the powerful flavor.

This is fantastic, probably not worth the price, but pretty great. Excellent pairing with aged gouda.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 01:28:21 | More by zaphodchak