Old Stock Ale
North Coast Brewing Co.

Old Stock AleOld Stock Ale
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From:
North Coast Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Old Ale
Ranked #17
ABV:
10.9%
Score:
92
Ranked #5,300
Avg:
4.12 | pDev: 10.44%
Reviews:
1,602
Ratings:
3,459
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 26, 2024
Added:
Oct 26, 2001
Wants:
  203
Gots:
  716
Like a fine port, Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1.100 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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by qthompso:
Photo of qthompso
Reviewed by qthompso from Oregon

3.97/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First of my bottles from 2010. Poured into a snifter. It pours a dark, dark caramel with a minimal head that dissipates very quickly.

The one smells very bready, sweet, malty, with notes of dark fruits. I get some strong raisin fighting against the sweetness and a note of smokiness.

The taste follows the nose. Lots of raisin and candi sugar. I'm also picking up notes of green grapes, almost wine-like, vanilla, and tobacco. The beer finishes with a definite warming sensation from the alcohol content.

A medium bodied sipper with great creaminess and good carbonation.

Overall, definitely a sipper. Lots of complex flavors in this beer that could convert any wine drinker, if you ask me. A bit sweet and certainly boozy so I don't think I could take down more than one of these in a session.
Nov 22, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2019 in 2024
Look - dark reddish mostly brown with a nice off white thick head and thick rimming and lacing
Smell - raisen caramel malt and earthy
Taste - raisin prune caramel malty
Feel - medium full body with a fizzy carb
Feb 26, 2024
Photo of MaddDoGG5150
Reviewed by MaddDoGG5150 from California

4.56/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a deep, mahogany color.

Aroma is of caramel, and cherries.

Taste: caramel directly up front, which fades into cherry, dark fruit, and vanilla. A little bit woody when it warms up. Slightly boozy in the finish.
Feb 19, 2024
Photo of BuxMontBeerLover
Reviewed by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Purchased at Wegmans, Warrington, PA. $14.99/4pk 12oz bottles. Bottle indicates it’s the 2023 edition.

Pours a dark, mahogany brown color. A one-finger beige colored head on the initial pour.

Sweet, caramel like aroma.

Rich and flavorful. Flavors of caramel, raisins, sweet malts, vanilla and prunes. The flavors really explode as the beer warms up. Slightly bitter aftertaste. The ABV lurks but never dominates.

Smooth, viscous mouthfeel. Low carbonation.

Overall, a delicious brew. This is a great example of letting a beer warm up to let the flavors “bloom”. Not my go-to style but one I’m glad I tried. It’s truly a winner…cheers!
Jan 21, 2024
Photo of Spade
Reviewed by Spade from Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. bottle from 2023. Toffee and caramel malt base with minimal hop flavor. Some alcohol heat with some phenols coming through in the finish. Just a terrific beer; I'll be storing a few in the cellar.
Jan 14, 2024
Photo of Bartleby91
Reviewed by Bartleby91 from Wisconsin

4.82/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
From 2014.
This has aged beautifully by maintaining the malty sweetness while smoothing out the alcohol heat with a smooth dry finish that reminds me of a much light beer. It lingers very well and satiated the palate well. Always love aged barleywine and old ales.
Jan 01, 2024
 
Rated: 3 by prisdefer from New York

Dec 31, 2023
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

3.77/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Vintage 2015, poured from 12-ounce bottle into a snifter. Dark reddish brown, with a ruby highlight and a wisp of off-white head that settled to a thin ring in short order. Big aromas of dried fruit, toffee, caramel, and dark bread which carry over to the palate. Surprisingly light in body, lots of alcohol warmth, and some sweetness that lingers through on the bitter and slightly oily finish. I have been hanging on to this for a long time and probably did not cellar it properly. That said, I could see it as a nice counterpoint to a fat-laden meat like a sausage or well-marbled hunk of beef. As always, YMMV. :-)
Dec 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

Sep 10, 2023
Photo of AlvinBunk
Reviewed by AlvinBunk from California

4.62/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark amber with thin head.
Smoky or possibly woody aromas.
Sweet with a touch of acidity, lovely caramel like notes. Really nice tasting and very easy drinking. The tastes changes as it warms up; I believe it improves in tastes as it gets warmer.
Feels very thick in the mouth and smooth drinking.

Overall, just an excellent tasting beer.
Sep 02, 2023
Photo of brureview
Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Light amber brown color with a 2F head in a Stone RIS glass.

Initial smoked wood, later more cherry.

Very smooth, light MF.

The taste changes with warming. Initially, fruity cherrywood, later at higher temps almost like a liqueur.

The brewer suggests 60°. Start at 48° and taste the changes.
Aug 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Jul 23, 2023
Photo of MadMadMike
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce 2022 bottle poured cold into a snifter. It’s an amber color with reddish flecks in the light. Mini foam stays on the edges.
Aroma is earthy, malty.
Flavor is up-front hop, balanced well with cereal grain. Middle opens up the European ingredients very nicely. I appreciate the balance of sweet and bitter. Nice long dry finish and an alcohol kick.
Medium body, low carbonation, probably from it having a year to rest.
Overall, something exotic and different. Good stuff.
Jul 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by MEnoMoney

May 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.59 by rpmello81 from California

Mar 18, 2023
Photo of Griffin2
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter glass.
L - Pours a reddish brown color with a slight white head that dissipates quickly leaving a thin ring around the glass.
S - Smells of caramel and candied sugar, with a little raisin.
T - Taste matches the smell, rain, burnt sugar with a nice booziness. Getting some tobacco on the finish.
F - Medium bodied and lightly carbonated.
O - This beer was really interesting. I feel every time I smelled it, and every sip I took, I experienced a different smell and taste.
Feb 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.48 by Beecham from California

Feb 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by joran from Kansas

Jan 15, 2023
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

4.12/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
After two years it was still booze-forward on the nose and about the same in the tongue. Even so, it was still a great sipping beer. Mouthfeel was solid and it had a nice copper look with light to dark and back to light hues up and down the glass.
Jan 09, 2023
Photo of LucidoMMA
Reviewed by LucidoMMA from California

4.24/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2022 edition
Pours a dark amber color with a thin but retentive

Smells like wheat and grains.

Taste is very hoppy with some roasted notes. Mild bitter finish. Finishes dry.

Very good brew. Been tired of the latest trend and needed something original and strong.
Nov 01, 2022
Old Stock Ale from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 3459 ratings