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

Old Stock Cellar Reserve (Aged In Bourbon Barrels)Old Stock Cellar Reserve (Aged In Bourbon Barrels)
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From:
North Coast Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
13.16%
Score:
97
Avg:
4.4 | pDev: 7.73%
Reviews:
386
Ratings:
1,144
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 15, 2023
Added:
Jun 03, 2007
Wants:
  283
Gots:
  446
Vintages: 2005, 2009, 2013
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Avagadro:
Photo of Avagadro
Reviewed by Avagadro from New Jersey

4.84/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A: Deep mahogany in color, with garnet highlights when held to the light. Its body is crystal clear topped with a kakhi froth. It doesn't stick around long, but that's not surprising given that this brew is 13.6% abv.

S: I knew from the second that I popped the cork, which was no small feat I might add, that this was going to be an amazing brew. How you ask? I could tell because the second that cork left its bottle I was bombarded with the aroma of dark rum, figs, raisins, creme brulee, cinnamon, and dulce de leche. This brew has a lot going for it in the aroma department.

T: The flavor follows the aroma, with additional notes of Pedro Ximenez, toasted coconut, and molasses. This brew is only slightly sweet, which makes these flavors all the more enjoyable. I am absolutely floored by the breadth and the the depth of the flavors in this brew, all perfectly balanced in a harmonious fashion.

M: Full bodied, with a touch of stickiness. This is quickly remedied, though, by a torrent of bubbles to scrub away only the stickiness, leaving the delicious flavors to linger between sips.

D: This is the most enjoyable beer I have had since Canadian Breakfast Stout has graced my lips. It is delicious through and through, and is truly unique in its flavor profile. As a frequent consumer of Bourbon, I was a touch disappointed that there wasn't a more overt bourbon presence, but what is there is absolutely divine. Regarding the first question everyone asks when they pick up this bottle, "Is it really worth the money?" I can say with the utmost confidence, "It's a bargain; this beer has flavor and balance that rivals any $40 bottle of port."
Feb 06, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by rare_bird from Michigan

Jan 15, 2023
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Rated by Phoodcritic from Michigan

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2017
Sep 24, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Sep 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.66 by beefbucket from Missouri

Jul 13, 2022
Photo of Gipsy_Danger
Reviewed by Gipsy_Danger from Colorado

4.23/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2018 vintage - aged in rye barrels.

Pours a dirty river water brown/caramel color. Some sediment present. Decent head with a hard pour that dissipates as the beer sits.

Lot of sweetness comes through both in taste and smell - lot of caramel present.

I like Old Ales and BA stouts. Not sure I love the combination of the two with this beer. One to experience. Would I get it again? At $25 for 500 mL, probably not.
Jul 10, 2022
Photo of Sandis
Reviewed by Sandis from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2014 version poured from a 500ml bottle into a tulip. Cloudy gold in color. Plenty boozy at 14.44% with light syrup sweet flavor. Glad this one held on nicely in the bottle for 8 years.
Jun 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.11 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.4 by Bunuelian from Minnesota

May 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.45 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Dec 24, 2020
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Old Stock Cellar Reserve pours brown, with no head. Rich aroma, sugary sweet, with lots of bourbon. Flavor is sweet, sugary, sharp malty flavors, and noticeable bourbon flavors, with a warm finish. Good body and feel. Overall, very rich, candy sugary flavors, with bourbon. Great to sip.
Aug 03, 2020
 
Rated: 3.58 by DudeBeerYaBro from California

Jun 17, 2020
Photo of 57md
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2017 Cellar Reserve, so this baby was nearly three years old when I opened it.

Pours a lovely brownish copper color with honey edges and over a finger of head. The nose is malty, bready and biscuity. The flavor follows the nose but it is more muted than I expected. No bourbon flavor was discernible. Perhaps this sat a wee bit too long.

The alcohol has certainly been tamed by the long dormancy.
May 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.43 by shadyside from Georgia

Apr 09, 2020
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.62/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2013 vintage, 14.1% abv

Pours a deep murky mahogany with a small tan head that reduces to a ring quickly, some particulate floating about

Aromas of chewy caramel malts, figs, dates, dark roast coffee, light bourbon punch. Boozy and sweet, highly intriguing

Deeply complex in flavor, this evolves throughout each sip and even in the middle of a sip. The big dark fruit presence starts it off before a huge wave of toffee, brown sugar, and molasses rush over the tongue with a bit of stinging barrel wood to back it up. The finish brings it back to that dark fruit, chewy with a chocolate like sweetness, long and contemplative, amazing

More carbonation than I would've expected, but this is a full bodied babe right here. It's heavy and finishes sweet and robust, just as a beer of this size should

Despite the less than stellar looks, this thing amazed me. So full of flavor and character, I would love for them to brew this again so I can try it fresh, as opposed to having 7 years on it. It is the oldest beer I've ever had up to this point by a long shot, but it's crazy how well this has held up. Absolutely worth the $7 price tag and I would gladly pay more, I wanna pick more up for special ocassions
Mar 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.46 by spark3148857 from Ohio

Mar 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by fossage78 from Massachusetts

Feb 23, 2020
 
Rated: 4.61 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Feb 15, 2020
Photo of StoutElk_92
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2013 vintage -

Pours amber red with a light khaki colored foam head that eventually dissipates. Smells fruity, light and sweet, like dried fruits and bourbon. Tastes sweet upfront and ends fairly dry with notes of dried fruits, apricot, fig, prune, yellow raisin, cherry pit, red plum skin, light red grape, woody oak barrel, smooth bourbon, some marshmallowy vanilla, caramel, fruity molasses, toasty toffee, hints of chocolate, cedar, mild spice, leather, tobacco, cigar box, with earthy leafy hops. Feels medium-fuller bodied, thick, slick and smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a real nice bourbon barrel aged old stock ale.
Feb 05, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by zvanwink from Kentucky

Jan 19, 2020
Old Stock Cellar Reserve (Aged In Bourbon Barrels) from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 1144 ratings