North Coast Old Stock Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I have a pack of the 2014 batch, and this is January 2015, so the beer is a little on the fresh side (I have some 2012 bottles aging so I'll taste those in a few years, yay) and the ABV is 11.8% according to the label. Aroma is fruity, but not bright like citrus. More of a dried apricot and dates kind of scent. Appea rance-wise, the head isn't powerful on pouring, and dissipates rather fast, leaving a glass of foamless, brown, cloudy liquid. It looks appealing, regardless. Mouthfeel is rather shallow, feeling carbonation on the tip of the tongue at first, and no tail, this one disappears rather fast, but it's a pleasant experience. Flavor is caramel-like, but just slightly sweet, with something like apricot. Overall, this is a nice beer to pair with a meal, maybe pork or chicken with a light gravy. This is a great beer for aging due to its inherent high alcohol volume (5 years or more) and then sharing with friends over a good dinner. I have yet to try it after cellaring for a few years, but I'll get to that in due time :) Recommended :)

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Fresh 2014 bottle, 11.9% abv. Pours dark brown with a reddish hue. Has a small tan head, but does not leave lacing on the glass. Dark fruits and malt with hints of vanilla and oak and oh yeah, alcohol on the nose. This is a boozy one (not necessarily a bad thing). Dark fruit (dates, raisins, prunes) and sweet malts coat my tongue. The alcohol was more prevalent at the beginning, but seems to temper as the beer warms a bit. Full mouthfeel, nicely carbonated. A beer I would usually drink during the winter, but it was recommended to me by my son, who loves his Belgians and malty ales. A solid barleywine/old ale. I will probably cellar a bottle or two for future consumption. I'm confident that this beer will only improve with age. Good stuff.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Caged and corked 750 ml bottle poured into a brandy snifter - dark brown with a soapy, thin white head. Estery alcohol aromas dominate but the complexity of the brew shines as dark fruit undertones are faintly present. While slightly chilled the brew is hot, with the alcohol dominating, but the flavors meld with a caramel nutiness and raisins/plums to make this a superb English barleywine / Old Ale. Certainly a sipper and a wonderful compliment on a chilly fall/winter night.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

pours a deep dark reddish brown color with minimal off-white head and no lace. The aroma is caramel toffee booze and big sweet malts with lingerimg alcohol on the back. Some nice citrus notes round it out. The taste has huge roasted malts, caramel sweetness layered over fresh biscuits and sharp alcohol bite. The mouthfeel has minimal carbonation, and a medium body.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

2011.11.9%.I know i should have waited but after a hard day at work thought I deserved a barleywine.Poured reddish brown with no head.(disappointing).Aroma is of sweet malt,oak,port and very fruity.Slight smoked flavor,plums and vanilla.Very smooth.definitely taste the alcohol.Very tasty but almost not beer.Will try to put the other three away for at least a year.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

2009- 11.5%: I was trying to age this another year, but could not wait any longer, and was curious what this was all about. Got a 2007 John Barleycorn aging, so wanted to see how this compared. If I liked, I would just buy an Old Stock 2010 to age. I will definitely pick up another single or two of this and try aging 3-5 years. Probably should be rated a bit higher than I am, cause the flavor and mouthfeel are 9s, but like most barleywines I guess the aroma and appearance weight the rating down a bit. The flavor quality compares to some of the better Belgians, but without all the fruity flavors....as this is strictly barley and malt. Another solid brew from North Coast.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

2009 vintage, 11.7%. Two barleywines in a week, what was I thinking? The beer pours a 'beerpal' brown with a medium sized tan head, and is somewhat solid in colour. The aroma was sweet malt, floral hops, and alcohol. The flavour was very sweet, with very little hops in the taste....and more alcohol. Not a good beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

------------What has come over me=====I missed the 2012 tasting! So today is Jan 4, 2013. Just finished the third bottle of the 4 pack purchased in 2010. Prominent highlights of caramel and hops. The hops were rather peaky even after 3 years. Absolutely no off flavors, a well built drink and tastes good too. One more bottle to go, see you all in 2014 , Ahhh -- it is May 18 2011, time to check out my purchase from 2010 with a review of the second bottle of this 4 pack. I believe this brew is somewhat smoother after a year of sitting in my laundry room. Or I am more tolerant of higher ABV brews. The flavor is still has some sharpness but is much more slogable than I remember. Rather enjoyable brew, will be interested in seeing how this brew is next year. So if you come across some North Coast old stock I suggest testing it out as a longevity experiment! Bought a 4 pack of the 2010 vintage -- drink one now (march 2010) and hold the rest for the next 3 years drinking one bottle a year for the next 3 about a year. -- will attempt to revisit this review in 2011, 2012 and 2013 -- today this is a sipping beer much too complex to slog down real quick like. Sit back and enjoy this relatively expensive brew with a eye for complex, dry flavors with a dark brown color and the somewhat short lived slightly tan head. Not your everyday drink, but one to sit back and think about from time to time

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

It's a swift kick in the ass, I'll tell you that. I didn't find that it was great to look at, but the flavor more than compensates. Not at all like vinegar, as I find most barleywines. A good drink.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

2009... I feel that this beer is actually ready now. I felt it was mellow and not hot on the end at all

Smells of malt, sugar, plums, oak, vanilla and carmel. Pours a reddish brown with some head. Fantastic balance and carbonation with a very smooth and pleasant finish. Flavor was intense but mellow at the same time. Some stone fruit tone, plum and raisin, brown sugar some oak and vanilla going on here.. Nice Brew.. I had 2008 and 2007 but never rated them....