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Pre-2009 Old Stock (Not the Cellar Reserve)

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Sunhunters, Jul 3, 2012.

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  1. Sunhunters

    Sunhunters Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2008 California

    Hey there,

    I've been wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the older bits of the North Coast Old Stock series. Old Stock was one of the first old ales I ever stumbled upon, and back before I knew anything about aging beers (other than I wanted to get into it) I figured it would be a good beer to keep around for an eventual vertical tasting due to the high gravity, alcohol content, and the fairly generous clue that the vintage year was stamped all over the stuff.

    That said, I have a decent collection of it now, from the current Otsuchi and regular 2012 batch all the way back to the regular 2009 batch and its BBA cousin the Cellar Reserve. I am excited to get a vertical tasting night put together for some friends and I am trying to decide if I should be ISO the 2005-2008 batches as well.

    So my question is: Has anyone opened up a 2005-2008 Old Stock recently? If so, how was it? If anyone has a lot of in-depth knowledge of aging this brew, at what age do you think it peaks, and how long before it's in serious retrograde?

    Thanks in advance for any advice/insight.

    Cheers!
     
    #1 Sunhunters, Jul 3, 2012
  2. AndrewK

    AndrewK Savant (1,111) Oct 20, 2006 California

    I recently did a tasting at a North Coast event at which they had most of the vintages going back to 2001. the 01 and 03 were starting to thin out and the oxidation was becoming a bit more prominent, but they were both still really good. I enjoyed the mid-2000s vintages the most, there seemed to be the most variation in the newer batches.
     
    #2 AndrewK, Jul 4, 2012
    Sunhunters likes this.
  3. caseyoharaa

    caseyoharaa Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2009 California

    I only have bottles of 2010-2012, but am always on the look out for older vintages.

    Would love to hear others thoughts on how they are developing!

    Sláinte
     
    #3 caseyoharaa, Jul 4, 2012
  4. pest

    pest Savant (1,039) Sep 2, 2007 Ohio
    Trader

    From my experience I will be the dissenting opinion. First, I will say I love old stock. Second, I will say my old vintage experience is n=1. I had either an 05 or 06 old stock last christmass and I thought it wasnt as good as 3-4 year old old stock. The older old stock thinned out more than what I preferred. So in my opininnion (of n=1, and not my bottle) was 3-4 year old stock was better.
     
    #4 pest, Jul 4, 2012
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  5. bushbeer75

    bushbeer75 Maven (1,261) Aug 23, 2006 Michigan

    In June of this year I had a 2006 Old Stock [13.25 abv] that was excellent. It has become smoother and more sherry like over time. I can't imagine it becoming any better, however, I plan to find out over the next few years as I have more to age.
     
    #5 bushbeer75, Jul 4, 2012
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  6. Sunhunters

    Sunhunters Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2008 California

    I appreciate everyone sharing their experience and thoughts!

    I'll probably take a swing at picking up a few of the older editions now (maybe back to '06-'07) and see how they come out. If nothing else it will be an illuminating experience to drink them side by side with younger versions of the beer.

    Cheers
     
    #6 Sunhunters, Jul 5, 2012
  7. daryk77

    daryk77 Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2005 District of Columbia

    The great thing about old stock is that you can sometimes find older vintages at stores and generally it will still hold up well. I have 2007 to 2011 and as soon as I can find a 2012 somewhere I am going to open them all up, will let you know how it goes.
     
    #7 daryk77, Jul 9, 2012
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  8. shuntstout

    shuntstout Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2010 New Mexico

    I recently did a vertical Old stock tasting from 2002 to 2012 and IMO the older the better!!! Amazing tasting, especially the last glass which I poured a sip of each year into! hahaha
     
    #8 shuntstout, Jul 9, 2012
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