North Coast Brewing Company Old Stock Cellar Reserve: Bourbon Barrel-Aged

Old Stock Cellar Reserve: Bourbon Barrel-Aged

 

North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California, United States 🇺🇸

  Traditional Beer - Old Ale Rotating
Score
8.05
ABV: 13.6% IBU: - Ticks: 86
Old Stock Cellar Reserve is a small batch, limited release that has been aged in bourbon whiskey barrels. The aging process gives this world-class beer added layers of complexity and flavor. Bottled in a 500 ml bottle with a cork and wire finish, it is a memorable drink that should be enjoyed as a unique offering.
 

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7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 5 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 8
2013 bottle. Wasn't expecting this bottle to be so far off from the 2014 Rye Barrel edition, but the bourbon-barrel version is hampered by a unexpectedly rough nose. Aroma is, well, off-putting, bready and dry with hints of bourbon but a somewhat unpleasant yeastiness offsetting the oak and booze. (Might also have a strong dose of cork.) Murky brown pour befits such a massive brew. Taste starts with traditional Old Stock indulgences, caramel and brown sugar and dark fruit notes, then grows a woodsy bitterness with hints of molasses and anise. Bourbon comes in strong on the finish, offering up a whiskey fade touched with vanilla and oak. Texture's as smooth and clean as a 14% beer can be. Would be phenomenal if it weren't for the nose.
Tried from Bottle on 17 Oct 2017 at 19:45

8.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8
Bottle 2013: Poured a murky burgundy brown with tan head. Aroma is huge bourbon and vanilla. Wow, taste is very complex with loads of vanilla, oak, and malty. Alcohol still prevalent in the finish.
Tried from Bottle on 31 Aug 2017 at 19:31

7.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Poured from 500mL bottle (2013 reserve 14.1% abv). Murky brown with very minimal beige head and a tiny bit of sediment. Lots of caramel malt and stone fruit with mild bourbon, hint of vanilla, and a hefty hit of alcohol to finish. Great flavours, but the alcohol finishes a little too hard, taking away from the overall experience.
Tried from Bottle on 30 Aug 2017 at 04:16

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
2013 Bottle at man in the moon. Thanks hirigalzkar. Pours red amber with a small head. Aroma of dried fruits and alcohol. Sweet and warming taste of prune, raisins, bourbon and licorice.
Tried from Bottle on 26 Aug 2017 at 15:17

8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 8
Bottle. Pours brown-orange with no head. Oily. Leather, raisin, soy and fruitcake. Really sweet and buttery taste with notes of vanilla, caramel, english fruitcake, licorice. Really smooth and soft texture.
Tried from Bottle on 26 Aug 2017 at 15:01

8.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 10 Overall 8.5
Bottle share at BitterCreek, 2009 vintage. Mahogany pour,small thin head. Bourbon, boozy aroma, some vanilla and molasses. Taste comes on sweet, rich malts, caramel wooden barrel flavors. Big, bold, boozy classic old ale. 2013 vintage..superb from the opening. What a classic
Tried from Bottle on 27 Mar 2017 at 10:40

8.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 9
(500ml 2013 bottle from Systembolaget web order shared) Pours mahogany with a small loose white ring of bubbles. Aroma heavily burnt sugar, char, moderate bourbon notes, some vanilla, wood. Flavour is very balanced, with a rich caramel, totally burnt sugar, and aged bourbon base profile, toasted wood and some char, subtle dried fruits, light grain. Finish is long rich malt and wood layers, a panoply of ways sugar can be cooked or burnt, and wood can be toasted. Medium-full body with average carbonation. Maybe it’s age but the barrel here was quite subtle and integrated compared to the wheat whiskey version, not so flashy but more to explore and consider. Very nice.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Jan 2017 at 07:17

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottled 375ml (Systembolaget vintage 2013)
Deep ruby color, small beige head. Lots of toffee, vanilla and light alcohol in the nose. Medium-bodied. Mellow bourbon vanilla, maltyness in the flavor. Warming alcohol. Sweet robust vanilla beer. Excellent sippable brew and aged nicely.
Tried from Bottle on 13 Dec 2016 at 10:00