North Coast Brewing Company Old Stock (2013) Old Ale at 14.1% ABV | 34 IBU (US$24.59 at Specs Main Houston, 500 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 8-Mar-2017, reviewed 29-Dec-2017)
Appearance: muddy ruby brown with lots of sediment, one finger of fizzy beige head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: port, stewed prunes, vinous wood, spices. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slick body, moderate-high carbonation, building warming finish. (4/5)
I was more than a little surprised by the fizziness of the head, and the concomitant prickly sustained carbonation. Although the body is medium-full and slightly slick, this higher carbonation makes it feel and drink like a much lighter beer. In keeping with that, there’s surprisingly little heat on the front end, especially given the high ABV, but it does develop a pleasant warming in the finish. Definitely has potential to be quite dangerous – or it would if anybody were likely to lay down the kind of premium this commands without knowing precisely what they’re getting themselves into! (16/20)
My 252nd from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die, 242nd from the 2013 edition, and 266th combining both editions.
8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
