Third Coast Old Ale | Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Michigan, United States
bellsbeer.com
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.20%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
From Bell's website:
"Third Coast Old Ale is a cellerable American-style barleywine that has notes of dried fruit and caramel embedded in a rich malt background that will grow more complex over time."
Added by BeerAdvocate on 02-28-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 2,684 | Reviews: 1,098
4.85/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Gadzooks! This was good.
Bottle was ten months old. I know you're supposed to age this, but I'm moving house and, well, it spoke to me.
Look - color of an English black tea. Amber, copper on the edges, dark and mysterious in the full pour.
Smell - Inviting! English dessert pudding, treacle, currant.
Taste - I don't think this could be improved for its style. Like drinking a nice Spotted Dick, which is, as everyone knows, the finest dessert in the Western World. Slightly sweet but full-bodied. Treacle, dark bread, honeybutter.
Memorable beer worth acquiring even at an unfair price. Perhaps it improves with perpetual aging as the label suggests, but at 10 months this was outstanding.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Gadzooks! This was good.
Bottle was ten months old. I know you're supposed to age this, but I'm moving house and, well, it spoke to me.
Look - color of an English black tea. Amber, copper on the edges, dark and mysterious in the full pour.
Smell - Inviting! English dessert pudding, treacle, currant.
Taste - I don't think this could be improved for its style. Like drinking a nice Spotted Dick, which is, as everyone knows, the finest dessert in the Western World. Slightly sweet but full-bodied. Treacle, dark bread, honeybutter.
Memorable beer worth acquiring even at an unfair price. Perhaps it improves with perpetual aging as the label suggests, but at 10 months this was outstanding.
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4.17/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.77/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.27/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Comes in a dark brown color with faint ruby red edges. Topped by a creamy beige head that dies down after a bit, but leaves a nice tan ring and there's some chunky lacing.
Smells like dark fruits as hell. There's dates, figs, raisin, prunes, and black cherry. Also caramel, brown sugar, molasses, toasted pumpernickel bread, and vanilla.
On the palate, big amounts of the sweeter dark fruits upfront. Both black and sweet cherry, then red and white raisins. In the middle, a huge malt character of toasted pumpernickel bread, molasses, black licorice, and caramel. Then you get more dark fruits on the back end, the darker and drier ones like dates, figs, and prunes. There's an overall brandy and sherry character character, with suggestions of dark chocolate, light roast coffee, and vanilla. Finishes with a touch of alcohol warmth and a lingering molasses sweetness that coats the mouth.
The feel the heavier side of medium, pretty well carbonated, leaning towards full-bodied. It's not quite creamy or velvety, but there is a substantial chewiness that makes it a sipper.
Overall, this is a solid barleywine/old ale. If you're looking for dark fruits for days, here is where you'll find it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Comes in a dark brown color with faint ruby red edges. Topped by a creamy beige head that dies down after a bit, but leaves a nice tan ring and there's some chunky lacing.
Smells like dark fruits as hell. There's dates, figs, raisin, prunes, and black cherry. Also caramel, brown sugar, molasses, toasted pumpernickel bread, and vanilla.
On the palate, big amounts of the sweeter dark fruits upfront. Both black and sweet cherry, then red and white raisins. In the middle, a huge malt character of toasted pumpernickel bread, molasses, black licorice, and caramel. Then you get more dark fruits on the back end, the darker and drier ones like dates, figs, and prunes. There's an overall brandy and sherry character character, with suggestions of dark chocolate, light roast coffee, and vanilla. Finishes with a touch of alcohol warmth and a lingering molasses sweetness that coats the mouth.
The feel the heavier side of medium, pretty well carbonated, leaning towards full-bodied. It's not quite creamy or velvety, but there is a substantial chewiness that makes it a sipper.
Overall, this is a solid barleywine/old ale. If you're looking for dark fruits for days, here is where you'll find it.
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4.25/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
-Packaged 10.30.24. Consumed 4/29.17.
A: Dark ice tea pour produces a milky and frothy sandy colored head. Lace stickage on the vessel is rather weak, but the covering has lasting potential. Love the dark coloring here.
S: Bourbon scented malt, spicy dark fruit, plums, with some honey-pine. Yeastiness of honey-fruit, melon and some cola.
T: The flavor is spicy dark fruit, with some bourbon influence. Dry pear, creamy spicy malts with some caramelized toast. Hints of sugary dry rum soaked fruit and alcohol, melon with a spiciness of caradmon.
M: Mouthful is big as expected, near full body, syrupy in texture, smooth, with hardly any carbonation texture. Warming booziness hits the inner cheeks, dry and spicy cola rum.
O: Reminds me a bit of an arrogant bastard, same style, just a bit more polished and not as brassy in the hops, made more true to olde world style with a lingering alcohol of 10.2% that is very complimentry to the drink. Aged 3 years seems to have smoothed and rounded out the flavor maybe, definitely a malt forward beer by style, very good to style, with a lingering bourbon flair. Old world appeal.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
-Packaged 10.30.24. Consumed 4/29.17.
A: Dark ice tea pour produces a milky and frothy sandy colored head. Lace stickage on the vessel is rather weak, but the covering has lasting potential. Love the dark coloring here.
S: Bourbon scented malt, spicy dark fruit, plums, with some honey-pine. Yeastiness of honey-fruit, melon and some cola.
T: The flavor is spicy dark fruit, with some bourbon influence. Dry pear, creamy spicy malts with some caramelized toast. Hints of sugary dry rum soaked fruit and alcohol, melon with a spiciness of caradmon.
M: Mouthful is big as expected, near full body, syrupy in texture, smooth, with hardly any carbonation texture. Warming booziness hits the inner cheeks, dry and spicy cola rum.
O: Reminds me a bit of an arrogant bastard, same style, just a bit more polished and not as brassy in the hops, made more true to olde world style with a lingering alcohol of 10.2% that is very complimentry to the drink. Aged 3 years seems to have smoothed and rounded out the flavor maybe, definitely a malt forward beer by style, very good to style, with a lingering bourbon flair. Old world appeal.
1,136 characters
4.15/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark amber with an off white head. Aroma is sweet and fruity with prunes, dates, deep caramel, toffee, vanilla hints, milk chocolate. Body is big. Carbonation is balanced to provide freshness. Taste of prunes, raisins, caramel, milk chocolate. Finish is quite dry with earthy notes, grape, chocolate and assertive bitterness.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark amber with an off white head. Aroma is sweet and fruity with prunes, dates, deep caramel, toffee, vanilla hints, milk chocolate. Body is big. Carbonation is balanced to provide freshness. Taste of prunes, raisins, caramel, milk chocolate. Finish is quite dry with earthy notes, grape, chocolate and assertive bitterness.
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3.26/5 rDev -20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Was not one of my favorite beers. When first poured the beer has a deep caramel color with a tan head. When drinking the beer there is a strong barley taste, kind of similar to the taste of bread.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Was not one of my favorite beers. When first poured the beer has a deep caramel color with a tan head. When drinking the beer there is a strong barley taste, kind of similar to the taste of bread.
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2.88/5 rDev -29.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
I personally was not a fan for the Third Coast Old Ale. The appearance was very appealing caramel color. The aroma had hints of hazelnuts and burnt caramel. The beer was very smooth, but also had a bitter and toasty taste. The aftertaste was very dry and bitter. Overall, it is considered a very poor beer to me.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
I personally was not a fan for the Third Coast Old Ale. The appearance was very appealing caramel color. The aroma had hints of hazelnuts and burnt caramel. The beer was very smooth, but also had a bitter and toasty taste. The aftertaste was very dry and bitter. Overall, it is considered a very poor beer to me.
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4.62/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Third Coast Old Ale. At 10.2% this beer can sneak up on you. Has a solid brown color. When tasting it you can taste the barley and it is also like baking bread. Would have another.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Third Coast Old Ale. At 10.2% this beer can sneak up on you. Has a solid brown color. When tasting it you can taste the barley and it is also like baking bread. Would have another.
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3.83/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2016 batch (8 months old) poured into a mason jar. A clear copper brown color with a modest tan head. Tons of caramel on the nose with a bit of plum and cherry. The taste had the caramel and sweet malt, balanced with a firm bitterness. Stone fruit was there with faint tobacco and ash. A bit warm on the finish. Great beer that should continue to improve with age.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2016 batch (8 months old) poured into a mason jar. A clear copper brown color with a modest tan head. Tons of caramel on the nose with a bit of plum and cherry. The taste had the caramel and sweet malt, balanced with a firm bitterness. Stone fruit was there with faint tobacco and ash. A bit warm on the finish. Great beer that should continue to improve with age.
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4.18/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.48/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.19/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.51/5 rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sep 2016 vintage. Pours light brown with a good head. Not a lot of lacing but solid pour. Decent nose with fruit, caramel and some alcohol. Tastes similar with caramel base, malt, hints of dried fruits very smooth and full feel. Not watery but not overpowering. Definite bitterness at the finish with alcohol taste present but at the right level.
As others have, I can't wait to try some bottles I have aging. This is one of my favorite beers and seems to get better every time I try it.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sep 2016 vintage. Pours light brown with a good head. Not a lot of lacing but solid pour. Decent nose with fruit, caramel and some alcohol. Tastes similar with caramel base, malt, hints of dried fruits very smooth and full feel. Not watery but not overpowering. Definite bitterness at the finish with alcohol taste present but at the right level.
As others have, I can't wait to try some bottles I have aging. This is one of my favorite beers and seems to get better every time I try it.
488 characters
4.25/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.47/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Third Coast Old Ale from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
4.1
out of 5
based on 2,684 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a ruddy burnt dark amber color with a two finger white foamy head that dissipated at a fair pace. Sticky speckled lace. The aroma glistens with caramel and toffee malt, some ash and vanilla. Dark fruits. Grassiness. Sweet side of licorice. Earthiness. The flavor definitely leans towards the sweet side touching the earthiness nicely. Dark fruits again. Some grassiness in the taste. Tobacco/earthy to vanilla and malty aftertaste. Wet vanilla sort of lenient tobacco dry finish. On the palate, this one sat roughly at a a medium on the body keeping some sipping quality sliding over my tongue with a nice becoming smoothness. Barely any carbonation felt right now. ABV seems just a touch under than projected by the brewer. Overall, cellared beer review for this one and it came out on top.
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