Old Ales

Kuhnhenn 4D!

 

If you want a hop forward old ale then just get a dipa. Old ales are usually malt forward. Age the curmudgeon if you want the.vanilla flavor to come out a bit more.

 

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale is a favorite of mine. It is one of their winter seasonals so you'll have to wait for it, but it is definitely worth trying.

 

Seems like last year it started popping up as early as September, so hopefully OP won't have to wait too long. It's also much-improved with ~1 year on it, though that's probably not a surprise. Never had it more than 16 months old or so, but I imagine it keeps getting better.

 

I completely agree with your assessment of it aging well. Back in the day when I was still in to collaring I let a few bottles sit for four years, and they were amazing when I finally drank them.

 

You joined this site in 2008 and are just now trying an Old Ale??

Interesting.

 

North Coast Old Stock is amazing.. I highly recommend it..

 

Really good stuff, but it's a barleywine.. it's still definitely worth checking out though..

 

The Bourbon Barrel version is the top rated Old Ale with more than 1 review. Personally, I preferred the non BB one.

 

Old Ales and Barleywines are my favorite two styles , I hunt them down at every chance

 

I love North Coast Old Stock (have yet to try Bells or Founders old ales).....I loved the bottle of Old Stock I tried so I bought a case (2012). After a couple of bottles I thought it was a bit "hot" so I have aged them over 6 months and they are mellow and wonderful now. Highly recommended.

 

Totally. I had one from 2011 a few nights ago. Very, very tasty... especially with some age.

 

Bourbon barreled 4D is amazing. If you can't get a hold of it, you won't regret it.

 

There is nothing literally like Old Curmudgeon (that I've had) but there are lots of ales like Old Curmudgeon
All the stuff mentioned before I either agree with or haven't had.
Scan the site's listing for American and English barleywines and wee heavies/Scotch ales, too. There's a fair amount of overlap between the styles. Barrel-aged versions of these ales are noteworthy.

No hard-and-fast rules here, but there are opinions
I like the notion of drinking fresh because I am willpower-deficient and have no capacity to store , so that's my bias.
That said, common advice here is to buy two bottles - drink one now, store one for the future. Changes occur in the ale over the span of months and can continue for years.

 

Hair of the Dog Adam is a perfect example of the style. Delicious in every way.

 

Old ale and barley wine are effectively two different names for the same thing . In fact ir's not unknown for the same beer to be labelled an old ale in one place but barleywine in another.
It's more involved than that as Martyn writes in https://zythophile.wordpress.com/20...ce-between-barley-wine-and-old-ale/#more-1382

 

Too right! The perfect example is Thomas Hardy Ale and JW Lees Harvest Ale...

 

If you can find it DFH Immort ale reminds me of old curmudgeon. Not an old ale per say, it is listed as an English Strong ale.