North Coast Brewing 2008 Old Stock Ale
Was just set on writing up a review tonight. Figures the first bottle (a Baltic porter) I cracked was horribly flawed with some medicinal, metallic shit going on. Reminded me of another highly frustrating ordeal. You know, the one where you’re spankin to the free video clip that cuts off in the middle before a money shot or anything? If at first you do not succeed…
My second choice, North Coast Brewing 2008 Old Stock Ale at 12.5% abv, treated me right nice. From the cardboard four-pack:
Like a fine port, North Coast’s Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well designed to round out and mellow with age. It’s brewed with classic Maris Otter malt and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England.
Poured a deep mahogany color with a quickly fading head. This beer looks viscous/syrupy. Reminds me of pouring maple syrup in a glass as far as viscosity and color. You could probably mistake it for an aged rum or brandy too. Smells like rum too–with its spicy, caramelly and raisiny sweetness. Sticking with the rum analogy, Old Stock has distinct layers of flavor. The first is a syrupy sweet impression, which is overtaken by the second impression of light carbonation (OK, I know, rum isn’t carbonated) that keeps the beer from becoming heavy or cloying. Finally, the beer finishes with a little bitterness from both hops and alcohol. The drinkability of this beer is very high relative to its high abv. Can’t say I would ever drink more than one in a sitting though. In fact, drinking two, three, or four would probably lead to lying down.
Definitely a beer for rum or port drinkers (Juanote?). I am tempted to play the vintage game, and see if I can’t find a couple of older bottles. Apparently there is also a barrel aged version that would be fun to try.
93.1 points tonight.
93.8 points the first time I drank it while manning the BBQ in cold, rainy weather.
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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I hate when the video cuts out, or even worse, the mouse freezes and you have to shut down and start all over. I imagine the brandy aged version would be a bit like Angels Share with carbonation.