Third Coast Old Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

2.95/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I didn't know what to make of this. Noticable flavour, spicy hops, caramel, some nectary kinda peachy notes, quite bitter. I think these flavours could have worked well in moderation, and it could have done without the raw alcohol that pops out right at the end. If anything it lacked balance and texture, definitely not boring, lots of flavour. Another gift from Feloniousmonk.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2003 06:06:09 | More by rastaman

Loki

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampled in a 12 oz bottle.

Poured a dark, amber brown with a small head that was easily revived with a few swirls. Very good lacing through the beer.

Smelled unlike any beer I've had before. Amoras of malt, pine, and molasses maybe with hints of hops.

Tasted of sweet malts, bitter hops, and biscuits. Very thick and almost chewy. Medium-high body with minimal carbonation. Good, unique, but good. I will definately revisit.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2003 16:39:56 | More by Loki

bditty187

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Muddy, murky, brown hue, thick beige head (impressive), healthy retention, some unorganized lace. Hugely nutty, malty, alcoholic, crisp biscuit nose… the enticement is hypnotizing! Incredibly enjoyable palate that pleads to be sipped slowly… malty, alcoholic, vaguely sweet, a hint of spicy bitterness, caramel notes… complex. Medium-full bodied, fairly hearty… the finish is a perfect blend of bitterness & sweet chewy malty goodness… awesome. The aftertaste is largely alcoholic… belly warming and brain numbing. This is a tremendous brew… seek one out, I highly recommend it! Sip away…

Thank you feloniousmonk for this sample!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2003 11:17:04 | More by bditty187

JohnnyDuvel

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been fortunate to have tried the best two barley wines I've ever had this past week. First, it was North Coast Old Ale, now this (thanks, Monk - you truly are THE MAN!). Just about a perfect balance of hops and malt. Some fruity notes sneak through the bitterness, Warming and potent, but goes down suprisingly easy. I was feeling a little under the weather tonight, and this was good medicine! I hope I can get more!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2003 21:52:17 | More by JohnnyDuvel

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours out an absolutely amazing dark caramel brown turning nearly black creating a beautiful tannish head of even, creamy thick foam about a finger high. Floaty things dancing along the glass like specks of glitter or snow. Lace so finely stitched together it would make any embroidery connoisseur gleam of envy as it sticks in small curtains and has the staying power of a champ The perfect sight of creamy richness.
The aroma is soooo nice, all dark of caramel malt, deep and earthy, very rich with notes of maple, wheat, plum, raisin, dark chocolate, nuts, cookies, and a ever so faint trace of hops. Even the hint of alcohol seems darkened. I could smell this all day, if there was a way I could strap a glass of this to my face just under my nose I'd do it!
Hello flavor city! Deep, dark, rich, creamy, everything a growing boy needs. Mostly darkly sweetened caramel malt with rich packed flavors of robust, medium earthy tones throughout rendering burntness. Notes touching on plum and raisin, some maple syrup, dark wheat, and a bit of chocolate in there as well. Absolutely fabulous! Ohh, then there's the beautiful finish of altogether sweetly earthed, perfectly bittering dry of hops just noticeable enough to make your eyebrows raise right off your forehead, so damn nice and perrr....fect! Mustn't forget to throw in the nice little warming quality this has showing up ever so daintily as it gets sucked into your system and every pore in your body screams for more.
Super nice surprisingly light feel, smooth and creamy, lightly dancing mixture of bitterness, sweetness, and dryness. The feel is so surprising for something that seems to come across with so much robustness and heaviness making this unbelievably drinkable beyond comprehension. I'd like to try and think of one word to describe this beer, but can't. So really all I can think of is Larry, in a word "Thanks!"

Note: must'nt forget that this was a 18 month aged bottle.

Revisited Nov. 8th from same batch now 24 months aged, mellowed out some with more burntness coming through. Otherwise its still awesome as ever. I'd still strap it to my face, just love the smell. Oh yea...

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2003 17:17:49 | More by tavernjef

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz brown bottle, capped, no date.

This ale poured a clear, red-amber color with towering, tan foam that left good lacing down the glass. The smell was sweetish malt, with biscuit, citrus, grapefruit, and pine (hops) aromas. There was a hint of caramel in the smell, also. The taste was very sweet, almost shocking in the initial sweetness. The flavors included malt, some floral hops, and a slight hop bitterness. The mouthfeel was smooth and creamy, with medium body and medium carbonation. The hops were also present in the mouthfeel. The drinkability was good, but I found this ale a bit too sweet, and thought it could use more balance.

Thanks to feloniousmonk for this bottle!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2003 12:44:59 | More by UncleJimbo

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My goodness! This be exceptional ale. Strong flavor is almost overwhelming to the palate. The nose is so heavily malted as to make the strong flavor seem slightly weak by comparison. It is as if the beer is giving off the aroma of baking bread. You can almost sense heat. The thick, rich feel is creamy and smooth to the hilt. The high alcohol level is masked by the very strong flavor, but you can catch it in the back of the throat if you rush a gulp. The malty taste is buttery bready and ends in a bitter finish. There is also caramel and toffee mixed in there to make things interesting. The murky bronze brew is topped by one finger of tan froth that gives way to a light film. There is minimal lace, but this seems trivial in light of the tasty goodness.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2003 20:46:04 | More by AtLagerHeads

clvand0

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a dark orange/brown color with a medium tan head. The aroma reminds me a lot of grapefruit for some reason. The taste was very good - I usually do not enjoy Bell's beers, but I have to give this one a thumbs up. The 9.0% alcohol is very well masked and it is quite easy to drink. I will have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2003 13:44:43 | More by clvand0

elmocoso

Nebraska

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a pretty good BW. It poured a cloudy light chocolate color with a nice, finger-thick head. The head receded but there was a constant, tight-knit doily laced across the top of the beer.

There is a very malty aroma to it. Sweet, berry-ish, a very intrigrated smell of alcohol (not suprising) and caramel/molasas?.

The taste is flavor packed. Very sweet and tangy? and the beverage gives me a slight warming in the stomach.

This is a great BW, as i said before. Difinatly a sipper, though. There is a lot going on here and you have to savor it in order to get it all.

Thanks FM

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2003 20:54:17 | More by elmocoso

garymuchow

Minnesota

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

Aroma is mostly malt, some caramel and roast qualities and some fruitiness. Medium to thinning tan/brown head that thins to almost nothing. Dark amber and mildly cloudy. Pretty intensely fruity for taste (dark berry, currant) and dark malt each pushing limits but backing off before becoming too biting, thereby allowing an enjoyable smoothness to appear. Just a touch of flavor of alcohol, but warmth more evident. Pushes texture too, but again before too much. Rich, chewy like almost sticky. Mild carbonation but became more evident as warmed and toward bottom of glass.
This is not my favorite style, but I liked this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2003 14:50:53 | More by garymuchow

marburg

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good beer! I dig this one, definitely one of Bell's better offerings. In a lot of ways, it's like Two-Hearted's big brother. Light, amber color. Little head. Big hoppy flavor but, compared to some others, is very drinkable. Definitely some fruit in there -- too powerfully bitter for that citrus grapefruit flavor you get from IPAs, but more of an old fruit taste that gets cleansed by the huge bitter backend that just rolls over the tongue as you swallow this guy. Quite drinkable as far as barleywines/old ales/beers of that ilk go.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 10:01:59 | More by marburg

proc

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shoo-ee momma.

Man, what a beer. Pours out to a cross between a cloudy apple cider and what could pass for liquid caramel. Very slight, light brown head. Taste is very complex. Fruit-like taste, with plums and raisins present and caramel as well. I am not a huge fan of barleywines as their drinkability is tough due to being such big beers, but this one is an exception. You could have several if you wanted to. This is a unique offering from the rest of the Bell's line. The yeast profile is different. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2003 18:02:16 | More by proc

Stubbie1

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice amber color. A thick off white head comes to the top. A small lace was left at the top to the bottom.

Aroma. Carmel, Hops and malt come to mind. Also noted a hint of fruit.

Taste. It is a wonderful taste. The sweet caramel comes front with the hint of fruit and finished with a slight touch of bitterness from the hops. A full-bodied beer. The alcohol is well hidden and warms the beer gut when it hits. Another fine brew from Kalamanzoo

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2003 17:34:59 | More by Stubbie1

Scooter77

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is such a great barley wine. Pours a deep, amber color with a small off-white bubbly head that doesn’t seem to linger around for too long; minimal lace is left on the glass. Aromas are of sweet caramel, hops, raisins, and hints of chocolate. Taste seems to be quite similar to the smell. Mouthfeel is somewhat syrupy, leaving a thin film on my tongue, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I could drink this exceptional beer any day of the week. Thanks to fellow BA, Senior for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2003 08:48:38 | More by Scooter77

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orangish-brown color with minimal head. The aroma is caramel malty, spicy, with a bit of graininess and a hint of raisin. There is a definite alcoholic aroma as well. The flavor is of sweet caramel malt, fruit, and a spicy bitterness throughout. It finishes very dry, alcoholic and bitter. The bitterness is one that sticks with you. It is a full-bodied beer, with a thick mouthfeel. I enjoyed this beer; I would definitely sample this one again.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2003 05:23:54 | More by BeerBuilder

Gusler

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A deep bemired brown color, lots of dross, the head behemothic in size, frothy in texture and as it decays leaves a nice lace to cover the glass. The aroma of raisins and plums, sweet malt, black strap molasses, hints of fusel alcohol, a real “Big” nose. Start is like drinking maple syrup, thick and chewy, and the alcohol bitterness hits you immediately. Finish has a pleasant hop spiciness with the acidity moderate and the aftertaste dry as a bone, also alcohol bitter, a real “Belly Warmer”. Robust as any barley wine I’ve tasted, and one not meant for the weak of palate, or those not into alcohol, I love it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2003 12:58:13 | More by Gusler

TXHops

Texas

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

-Original Gravity: 1.094
-Final Gravity: 1.018
-ABV: 10.2%
-ABW: 8%
-Attenuation: 80%
-Real Extract: 7.7 P
-Calories: 307
-IBU’s:
-Malts:
-Hops:
-Color:

Third Coast Old Ale is Bell’s (Kalamazoo’s) September-May seasonal. It pours a translucent orangey-reddish brown color with a really foamy head of miniscule bubbles that last well (this is all decanted off the trub). A huge waft of Belgian aromatic malts (I’m guessing here) greets my nose before I even get close enough to sniff. It smells like Chips Ahoy cookies…

The taste is big, though not exactly like the nose. The large aromatic, cookie-like maltiness is there, but so is a big shot of hops that were lying hidden under the beautiful aromatics, offsetting the potentially saccharine sweetness suggested by the aroma. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light, considering the OG and the ABV! This beer is WAY more drinkable than it ought to be for a beer its size. It’s like Bo Jackson if he were fermented: way too agile for that frame. I think that the relatively high degree of carbonation on this beer helps to belie its strength somewhat. The bottle conditioning softens what would be prickly carbonation, if this beer were force-carbonated. Adding the yeast trub to the glass turned this beer downright murky, but made the head invincible and took the fresh cookie aromatics to a whole new level. Interestingly, this beer has just a touch (ever so subtle) of the coriander taste that overwhelmed my first sample of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. I can barely pick up a touch of something unusual in the nose—just enough to get me wondering. The aroma is confirmed, if ever so briefly, in a very quick sensation between the initial taste of the beer and the finish. During that half a second between my swallow and the aftertaste, there’s a hint of something vegetal and coriander-like, instantly reminiscent of a Belgian Wit. Then it’s gone and everything’s awesome again. Other than that glimpse into what I now believe to be a peculiarity of Larry Bell’s yeast strain, this is an amazing beer. The taste will take a slight hit for that little bit of “nuance” that comes back in my burps to remind me that all’s not well in Kalamazoo land. Otherwise, this is an excellent beer and one I’ll search out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2003 20:05:17 | More by TXHops

jackndan

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bell’s Third Coast Ale: On cask. This is a great example how a well-poured cask beer can bring out a complexity, and a refreshing taste that might otherwise not have been in the bottle. Golden/hazy color, with (as my notes indicate) Guinness rings around every sip. This beer has a wonderful hops taste, but is not at all dominated by the hops. In fact, it has a sweetness that helps to balance out the hops. Cool and refreshing, very nice.

Serving type: cask

02-23-2003 19:37:55 | More by jackndan

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to trbeer for this wonderful beer.

Pours a cloudy amber-brown with a small head that doesn't seem to last. The smell is mostly hops with a hint of sweet malt. Very complex in flavor. Sweet, sherry, port, malt and hops are all flavors that stick out to me. My favorite part is the aftertaste, nice bitterness. It does have a nice warming feeling in the end. Don't have too many of these, they will bite you.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2003 17:54:57 | More by CharlesRiver

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Perfect dark violet/burgundy color, with an impressive, thick cocoa/tan head. Aroma is majestic, and rich with flavorful connotations: sweet, sharp, and fruity, suggesting cherries, grapes, port wine, brandy, with a hint of anise, and chocolate. Mouthfeel is dazzling in complexity, full, rewarding , and greatly alcoholic, taste is magnificent, dark, sweet, profound, and strong, accompanied by a lively hop ride on the tongue, awash in sweet, liquory flavors. Alcohol content is not given on the label, but it has to be formidable, for a burnt quality lingers in the finish, and hangs around the mouth. Wonderfully warming, expertly crafted, another prodigious acheivement from Larry Bell & Co.
All larger praises must be rescinded, as we hail the king of American barleywines!.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2003 11:48:42 | More by feloniousmonk

cretemixer

Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a deep murky auburn with a ton of yeast sediment suspended thoughout . A thick ivory head finally settles to about 1/4 inch leaving a thick clingy lace.

An earthy malt aroma with a sharp fruity bite is foremost. Alcohol and prunes too.

Taste is smooth, fruity and malty. A hop bite thrown in makes for a nicely balanced barley wine. Caramel and grapefruit flavors take over as the beer warms a little.

Smooth and creamy thick, but not overly sticky. A subdued carbonation is there too.

Way too drinkable for 11.5%abv, but we all have our crosses to bear.

I'd put this right behind Bell's Expedition Stout as my favorite Kalamazoo product and consider myself very fortunate to have these fine beers available to me.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2003 16:03:55 | More by cretemixer

maxpower

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle 2001 vintage, pours a cloudy dark red color with chunks of yeast floating around. Small creamy off-white head that doesn't last. Sweet candy like citrus aroma, sweet roasty caramel-grapefruit flavors, nice balanced and complex, full bodied with a slick thick creamy mouthfeel, resin coats the tongue, nice smooth lasting finish, this is a very drinkable barleywine I have to be careful.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2003 13:54:11 | More by maxpower

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Much smoother than other examples of the type I have tried. Cloudy orange with thick off white head. I was surprised at how much carbonation there was. The beer was thick, not as syrupy as Old Crustacion, but thick none the less. Flavor was slightly hoppy, with a taste of toffee settling down at the back of your tongue. I really enjoyed this beer, and the nice ABV sure helped.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2003 00:30:47 | More by Sixpack595

BitteBier

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy amber brown pour with two fingers of creamy head that stays around for a while and shows some nice lacing too. Clean, hoppy notes dominate the smell, complemented by floral scents, fruit esters, and a bit of sweetness. Malty, caramely taste plays off against the strong hops quite nicely. A warm, astringent finish--no suprrise given the alcohol content. Good mouthfeel and drinkability as well; the best beer I have had of this type.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2003 18:07:19 | More by BitteBier

mjohn27603

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle believed to be 2001. Into the glass with caramel color that can't be seen through. Wonderful aroma with butterscotch, apricot, and caramel smells. Not much of a head retention. Amazing caramel, creamy, buttery, butterscotch flavor. Tastes like the old ale equivalent of Expedition Stout. Silky smooth but rich with flavors that make you want to sip slowly. I grabbed the last one in the cooler at the store and I'm happy I did. $2.59/bottle. I'd put this in upper class of Kalamazoo's offerings. I'd say that this would make a nice beer to sip while reading at the fireplace except the taste would take your attention away from the book.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2002 20:45:17 | More by mjohn27603