Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barley Wine Ale
North Coast Brewing Co.

Picked up a 2019 500 ml bottle from the NCBC Gift Shop in Fort Bragg on 3-7-26 for $12.95. Consumed 3-8-26. The base beer was born in 2012 as a

Beer open with a gusher as the extra-large cap caused issues. Poured a garnet-brown with a nice off-white head that dissipated quickly.

Nose has notes of caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Taste was a nice caramel base with a touch of toffee and brown sugar. Barrel lends some heat and a touch of vanilla. Finishes balanced in the end.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with viscosity that lacks for the size of the beer.

Overall this is definitely a worthy pickup as the flavors have developed nicely over time. Will have to buy more if we end up back at the brewery this week!

 

Look - Pours an opaque orange/brown color with a nice head that disappears very quickly.

Smell - Has a bit of a bitter bourbon scent, with some raisin and oak.

Taste - Bourbon, oak, raisin. Somewhat bitter and while ok, I didn't find it nearly as good as other barleywines I've had.

Feel - Has a nice carbonation, but is on the bitter side for my liking.

Overall - I feel this is a rather average barleywine, in my opinion.

0.5 L bottle from the brewery.
This dark, reddish brown barleywine has an exquisite, bourbon fueled aroma. The flavor has strong bourbon and bourbon barrel notes. It's rather boozy, even for a barleywine.

500ml bottle. Gold wrap over cap. No dating information found.
Dirty amber brown colored body. Light beige colored head, which retreats to an island and a filmy ring. Scattered lacing spots slide back down into the ring.
Aroma of bourbon, brown sugar, oak, and caramel. Hint of cherry and raisin.
Taste is sweet malt forward, with an envelopment by the bourbon oak barrel. Cascading flavors of caramel, toffee, brown sugar, anise, cherry, and raisin. Long lasting aftertaste that is simmered in bourbon.
More than medium mouth feel, with some nectar texture. High ABV% is present but does not burn nor sting. Good carbonation.
Strong ale for sipping, with lots of bourbon barrel involvement but also has sweet flavors of caramel and dark fruit.

bottle into glass
Little, ivory head. Pretty murky, medium caramel, with a little golden chestnut tint, for the appearance. Lots of bourbon, alcohol, wood and all, for the aroma, with a sweet note, and a tiny bit of spiced, medium dark toasted barley malt. Heavy on bourbon, with medium dark toasted and caramelized malt, in behind, for the taste, with some sharpness and medium toasted wood, on the side. Body is a little light for a barley wine. Bourbon for the finish.