Otsuchi Old Stock Ale 2012 - North Coast Brewing Co.

sjones5045

New Jersey

3.96/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Very nice malty smell up front and as the bottle sits some hoppy smell starts to come through. Pours sort of ruby red with nice head. Taste is decent but not as malty as I was expecting or hoping for. The back half of the taste is very boozy it seems to take over and burn out the taste. The more i drank the less taste of malt and hopes but it just became more and more bland. Overall not bad but its not completely balanced and the more I drank the rating for this beer went down. An OK old ale, there is better out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:16:49 | More by sjones5045

pkalix

California

4.24/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

dark, reddish-brown. almost close to the purple spectrum(?). no head to speak of.
smell was very weak, but i was getting a thick malty, syrup-y kind of aroma.
definitely syrup-y taste. sweet, fruity malts. sticky sweet. a little warming and notes of alcohol, but for the abv it is relatively hidden.
had an Underberg to help alleve the earlier brunch, so that may have played in some of the tasting, but it is relatively mild in taste and not what i was expecting. an enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 00:00:36 | More by pkalix

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.11/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage. Pours with a three-finger khaki head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving traces of lace. Hazy amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is dark fruit and alcohol and flavor is raisins with some alcohol. Clearly warming. $10.49 for a caged and corked 750ml bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 23:53:56 | More by jdhilt

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by me (from Sammy originally), 750ml into a tulip.

Reddish brown, with a beige head and a ring of retention. Nose of raisins, sugars, dark breads, toffee and sweet complex malt notes. Taste has raisin, caramel, toffee, sweet brown sugar, grape juice, and more complex malt character. Medium feel, moderately syrupy/stickiness. Complex and very flavourful, lovely and almost quad-like at times.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 15:47:04 | More by liamt07

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.86/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Definately worthy of a separate rating, bottle from Whole Foods, Santa Rosa. Big soapy head on mid brown coloured body. Inviting aroma. Good drinkability of caramel and yeast, sweetish, hop presence there, carbonation right there.Everything nicely integrated. Wonder how a bottle will taste in 5 years.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 04:03:27 | More by northyorksammy

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a kind of murky reddish brown. Stunted, bubbly, head.

Big dark malt on the nose. Dark sugars and red fruits.

Fruit up front, desserty cherry flavour turns to dates turns to toffee, dark bread, and just a bit of wood. Touch of booze.

There's nothing wrong with this beer, but I was expecting something more refined. I'd still pick it up again though.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 01:12:56 | More by CanuckRover

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

North Coast Old Stock Ale Otsuchi 2012. 11.7 % ABV.

Murky maroon-ish, deep magenta hue, with a smallish off-white head.

Aroma: vast and malty ,rich, vinous, dark fruits aplenty.

Taste: cherry, grape, a little brandy-like. Medium to full-bodied. Maltastic. Delicerous. (I'm making up words now. That happens.)

Growing heat. Building flavors, increasing immensity.

Oddly, I don't love this, though I like it just enough. Maybe it needs some time, but I think all beers ought to be judged once they're released. Lovely enough, but didn't "wow" me.

Maybe it was the mood I was in, exhausted from bartending another New Year's Eve. I'll look at giving this one another shot.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 01:59:51 | More by feloniousmonk

adamette

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Live Review. Poured from the 12 oz. bottle that I bought at Save-On Tobacco & Beverage in Mentor, Ohio a few weeks ago for $3.50 into a clean, clear glass. No observed "best by" date but it is still 2012 so I am quite sure that it is fine.

A Dark butterscotch translucent body under a brief but creamy head. Typical look for the style. The one inch head lasted 45 seconds after a moderate to vigorous pour. 3.0

S A sweet malt with whiskey notes and even a dark butterscotch sense to it. Smells delicious. 4.0

T Whoa..the taste carries right from the smell. Big sweet syrupy malt with those whiskey like notes of oak barrel aging or something very much like it. Old Ale is not among my favorite styles but this is a pretty good version of it. I am not surprised from North Coast, home of some of my favorite beers in their respective styles. 4.0

M Thick, syrupy goodness with all of that sweet malt. Just like an Old Ale should be, really. 3.5

D/O Drinkability is not high for me. Huge ABV, big, demanding beer means that I will be having only one. Frankly, I think that it is the intention of the beer to be savored and not slammed. Overall a fine representative of the style 4.0

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 05:59:33 | More by adamette

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I opened this bottle while out of power from hurricane Sandy. I had to drink in the dark and review by headlamp.

I served this beer at roomtemp in a snifter. You make do with what you can going without power.

The coloring was ruby-reddish with a touch of borwn. I got lots of foam that died down really quickly.

The nose offered lots of dark fruit with a little tobacco on the back end.

The flavoring is very rich with some decently strong venous qualities. It works out to be a very nice sipper. It worked out to be very good in front of the fire.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 00:42:32 | More by ummswimmin

metter98

New York

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger and a half high dense beige head that died down every so slowly, leaving wispy patterns of bubbles on the surface and a thick collar around the edge of the glass.
S: If you were blindfolded, you would think that you were smelling a port wine that has a bit of sweetness.
T: Like the smell, the taste of this beer resembles a port wine and has sweet flavors of black currants and grapes.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation. No stickiness is detectable. A moderate amount of warming from the alcohol is present in the mouthfeel and finish.
O: Although this beer is one to be sipped, this beer is remarkably drinkable considering its strength because the alcohol is relatively well masked from the taste. This makes for a good dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 03:38:13 | More by metter98

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I don't get it. Is this a different production than the standard old stock? Or is this just a new label on the same beer? It's good and all, but for the coin, I would hope for something with a little more punch, or a little more clearly different than the standard Old Stock.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 16:50:14 | More by RblWthACoz

SHODriver

California

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: pours a deep brown with a slight red hue and a small tan head that fades to a small collar. beer was served in a snifter
S: smells instensely malty with notes of caramel and a slight hint of chocolate
T: taste is kind of lacking. muted notes of caramel and overall sweet toasted maltyness with slight hints of fruity alcohol. alcohol is a bit apparent. swallow brings a bit of boozyness to the beer and a faint hint of chocolate
M: medium to heavy with soft carbonation that builds and maintains to a near prickly level
O: from what I read in the description this beer is very to style but I just can't dig it. It's decent and packs a punch but I'm not a fan of poorly masked alcohol and the flavor is pretty weak for the ABV in my opinion even if it is an old ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 01:04:48 | More by SHODriver

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

75 cl

Pours a deep burgundy with a yellowish head, half an inch, which dissipates slowly to a lacing.

Smells of caramel, apples, figs, buttered bread and candi sugar.

Tests like buttered bread and molasses with some apple sweetness and mild cinnamon spice. Also some light hop bitterness and rich bready malts. Some yeast esters as well.

Full, thick body with sharp stings of carbonation on the roof of the mouth and a bit of booze numbness and warmth going down.

An interesting and potent ale, doesn't make any bones about its strength. This will sit you down and you know it from the first sip. Nice flavor and nose and enjoyable body. Would probably be a little more appealing if it contained its alcohol a little better in the mouthfeel, but otherwise a nice sipper. Would love to have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 22:41:51 | More by Cylinsier

RickS95

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks warm and inviting as the dark, hazy chestnut liquid fills the glass. Thick and rich with an slightly yellowish head early on that eventually stands a finger thick with a creamy looking cap of bubbles. Average retention, finally succumbing and leaving a nice ring of bubbles around the edge.

Has a full malty nose, filled with dark ripe fruits. Not quite wine-like, just just an Earthy dark fruit (red apples, red grapes, raisins) scent.

Amazing taste, everything your nose picks up is there, along with some ABV. Very fruity, with a some caramel malts, and just the right amount of hops and alcohol (despite the high ABV) to keep everything in check. I'm not really sure how to make this taste any better.

A little bit sweet, full-bodied, only a skosh of bitter, but good heat from the alcohol in the throat. Nothing is too much, everything is just right.

Really a great beer for a great cause. This isn't something I could drink every night (I'm having it in a 750 ml bottle), but I could drink it every weekend. Not sure I've had many beers better than this.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:08:55 | More by RickS95

Pencible

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured a hazy dark copper with some light tan head.
S: It smelled like sweet biscuit and honey, with some raisin and butterscotch and copper and roasted barley.
T: It tasted like raisin and toffee and honey drizzled biscuit, with some butterscotch and copper and roasted barley. It had a clean and sweet aftertaste that was a little earthy.
M: It was thick with lots of carbonation. Full and lively body.
D: This was a great old ale with complex and classic scent and taste. It had a delicious character that, as well as the body, was meant for aging. The alcohol was well hidden, so it was easy to drink, but worth sipping. Nice now, but will definitely improve with age.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 20:02:28 | More by Pencible

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from the 12 fl. oz. bottle on June 18, 2012. The pour is mahogany brown with sparkling ruby red hues all over the glass. The head is beige and moderate. The aroma is alive with sweet barley malts and wood but it does not have the alcohol punchy aroma as many other young Barleywines that I have tried. The body falls into the medium range with a bit of astringent carbonation tickling the tongue. Whereas the aroma is on the subtle side the taste explodes with barley malts and dry hops and more alcohol than I would have liked. It ends dry. It would probably taste extraordinary a year from now but for now it is still very good.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 23:55:00 | More by puboflyons

oberon

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First off I love what the beer stands for and the proceeds.Poured the corked 750 into an imperial nonic a deep rich amber with a thinner off white head atop.Deeply fruity in the nose,it really stuck out during the pour,more sweet alcohol and cakiness as the beer warms.It's a big sweet alcoholic beer that needs to rest,Iam drinking one now but I'll buy one and let it sit a year,alot of fruit,sweet caramel, and sweet alcohol with no hop profile.The body is thick and non carbonated.It's a big hot, young malt bomb,as it ages I think it will get better,it's still pretty good now.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 22:10:30 | More by oberon

kojevergas

California

3.6/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1 pint 9.4 fl oz brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork acquired at Wades Wines in Westlake Village, California, and served into an EKU 28 snifter in me gaff in Los Angeles, California. Cost was $10.99 plus tax. Reviewed live. Expectations are rather high; I quite enjoyed the regular Old Stock Ale (and to a lesser extent, the barrel-aged version). North Coast is a brewery that's increasing gaining my interest.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with olives.

A: Pours a one finger head of off-white colour, quite thin, with slight cream, but of below average retention - though in fairness the ABV is rather high. Colour is a semitransparent chestnut amber. No yeast particles are visible, though the semitransparency doesn't help. No bubble show.

Sm: Vinegar, cream, cherry fruit esters, raisin, biscuity yeast, dried plums, and clean bright malts. Rich and inviting. A light aroma, but a pleasant one.

T: Cream, cherry fruit esters, marvelous biscuity yeast and lees, dried plum and perhaps fig, hints of raisin, very well layered malts, and touches of must. The ABV isn't noticeable in the flavour profile but does manifest as a warming sensation in the stomach. Very nicely balanced and built, with subtlety and enough complexity to make for a very enjoyable old ale. I do wish the yeast were more pronounced. Very pleasant to drink. The fruit notes are wonderful.

Mf: Perfect coarseness to coax out enough of the flavour without inhibiting drinkability. Wet and palatable. Of perfect thickness. Nicely carbonated. Complements the flavour profile well.

Dr: Very drinkable for the ABV, which is concealed impressively well. I'd certainly get this again if it wasn't so damned expensive. It's a wonderful little old ale and warrants a purchase for anyone interested in the style. Another good beer from North Coast. I look forward to sampling more of their beers.

Age would do this one well, but I quite enjoyed it mere weeks after purchasing it.

Drinks marvelously out of a snifter. I think a snifter is likely the ideal serving vessel for this beer.

B

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 22:33:31 | More by kojevergas

DavoleBomb

Ohio

1.93/5  rDev -51.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a snifter. Always willing to give a charity beer a try.

2.5 A: Clear deep amber color. Two fingers of tan, fizzy-frothy head. Retention is a touch below average, even for the ABV, and no lacing is left.

2.0 S: This is really unexciting. Light toasty malts. Some toffee and caramel. Light "industrial" aroma. Booze is well hidden though.

2.0 T: Toasty, overly dry and with just the slightest hints of toffee and caramel. Quite astringent as if NC took a piece of wood, purified out the tannins, and through that in without the wood. Good bit of raisin that follows well into the aftertaste.

2.0 M: Lighter medium body. A bit too much carbonation and the carbonation itself is overly fizzy. Astringent aftertaste.

1.5 D: This beer is awful. Not sure how anyone would think otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 04:14:34 | More by DavoleBomb

mactrail

California

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear amber brown in the Leffe chalice with pleasant foam. Smooth blending of many flavors into a complex experience. Raisiny but not overly sweet. Eventually the hops become more assertive. Alcohol is not so hot on the tongue, but it heats the brain up fast enough.

Interesting variety of dark flavors. Bitter chocolate comes to mind. Cocoa, dark caramel, burnt sugar, candied pineapple. Nose of canned peaches. Rather boozy after some sippiing and a bitter finish. Some hints of sherry and buttered fruitcake toast. Crazy stuff and hard to take much at one sitting with the intense flavors as well as the alcohol.

Quite well-balanced strong ale. Belgian-style 750 ml corked bottle. $11 at a store in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 05:44:32 | More by mactrail

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Woo, this will be a big beer, so let's see how it goes down. Looks like a really interesting beer.

Pours a decent looking fizzy head of almost 1 finger, decent for the abv at least, fades at a med pace with no real lacing, over surprisingly clear cranberry ruby darker red colored beer.

Nose has plenty of reddish malts, toasty red malts, lots of sweeteners, caramel, toffee, molasses, and that reddish candy from candy apples, a little bit of darker fruit like hint of fig and apricot, a touch of sweetness and booze gets expressed in the aroma.

Taste comes strong and sweet, syrupy again with plenty of malts. Lots of reddish malts again, light toasty, plenty of caramel, toffee, and a bit of molasses, candied apricots, light fig and syrupy date juice. It gets somewhat smooth and creamy fluffy, with nice carb to help it through. The sweetness and big malts bring a bit of esters, and some booze, booze warmth and slight tingle but still doesn't seem like 11.7%. A slight bitterness comes through towards the finish with a light earthy hop, syrupy malts although a bit drier, slight caramel and candied stone fruit lingering.

Mouth is med to heavier bodied, slightly syrupy and smooth, with good carb for the size of the beer.

overall interesting, not bad, fairly tasty with lots of nice malts, syrups, esters and fruits, nice carbonation and overall profile, hops are a bit on the light side but I guess that's how it supposed to be. The booze is definitely there but blended in well for the actual abv feel.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 23:37:39 | More by jlindros

largadeer

California

3.63/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks, Will. Clear caramel colored body with a thin head that settles to a collar after a moment. Smells decent, but young. Stonefruit, toffee, a little coconut and dried dark fruit. Sweet and a bit boozy. Palate is quite boozy and somewhat astrigent, definitely young. Has some nice coconut and peach flavors, toffee, brown sugar. The fruit esters are pretty interesting and enjoyable here, but the booziness detracts. Body is medium, could use a bit more heft but it's certainly not bad. Overall this is fairly enjoyable but could really use some age. Can see this being excellent in 3-4 years.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 01:54:09 | More by largadeer

srandycarter

California

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep clear copper, off white head leaves to ring pretty quick. Small amount of sudsy lace.

S - Deep somewhat burnt caramel with spices.

T - Taste makes smell only in larger degree and a booze note.

M - Med to heavy body, good carb, balance harsh a bit with hops and booze.

D - Another fun one from NC!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 03:06:42 | More by srandycarter

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type - 22oz caged and corked bottle

Apppearance - Dark tan/brown, 1/2 inch white foamy head and some lacing.

Smell - Malts, mix of sweet and dark fruits. Bready, biscuit yeast aroma. Some kiwi and coconut tropical smells also.

Taste - Much like the smell, hops are sweet, tropical and sweet. Yeast gives it the grassy biscuit flavor. Alcohol is very present in each sip. Im getting a pina colada taste, makes it very tropical and flavorful. Theres some malts in teh finish but theres pretty masked under the hops and booze.

Mouthfeel - The hops and yeast smack the tounge along with the wallop of the booze. Palette gets more hops and alot of the tropcial flavors. Finish is sweet, dry and alcoholish.

Overall - Really big beer, love the flavors it offers, but the alcohol is present in each sip and really warm. Id love to age this brew but fear the great hop flavor would die, but the plus is the alcohol flavor would die down too. Worth a shot to try fresh for sure. Its a nice big beer, glad i got it. I will age and try a few years down the road.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 23:08:08 | More by wvsabbath

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The first time I've ever seen Old Stock Ale with Japanese writing on the label with a note about the Otsuchi recovery fund dated March 2012. There's even a link to ostuchi.org I guess this is a recovery charity beer release from the tsunami in northern Japan. I've never seen Old Stock Ale in a 750 ml bottle, well it has arrived. Pours a deep copper crimson brown color with a light khaki cream head, filling my chalice. Aroma has toasted almonds, sweet sugar coated hops, dark fruits including raisins, plum, and tropical fruit (mango, pineapple, asian lychee (banana/pear). Arising tart quality and flowing malt qualities cover up the alcohol, mild earthy hop content. Flavor brings out the alcohol, this beer is young, it's April and I could lay this beer down for 5 years...did I mention that I'm going to buy a few more bottles. As the beer warms the alcohol level becomes more apparrent, flowing forth with a bit of tree bark resinous bitterness and sweet caramelized malt sugars, earthy/herbal bitterness units prolong each sip letting the palate and senses adjust to such a strong beer. The fruit noted in the initial smells is still evident yet it's competing with fresh big beer in this case old ale characteristics...caramel, alcohol, and English hop accents. Mouthfeel is big a bit cloying upon entry to the palate, with even carbonation and big malt characterisitics. Overall impression is decent beer that has great potential with age, enjoyed fresh but will be extraordinary with some age.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 17:11:37 | More by WVbeergeek