Beer Description
Old Stock Ale is made by the same brewer of some better known beers such as Old Rasputin or Pranqster. This particular beer is designed to be aged before consuming. If you have a cellar, places these bottles there for a year or two and it should have really come to age well. NC Brewing adds this note about Old Stock Ale.
Like a fine port, Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1.100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well-designed to round out and mellow with age. It’s brewed with classic Maris Otter malt and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England.
However, this beer has been in my fridge for week or to so I can try one of them before it’s aged. Next year we will pop the 2nd one open, and then the 3rd and 4th ones in the subsequent years.
The beer, while maybe not well known, has won 3 gold medals at the World Beer Championships, in Chicago (2003, 2005, 2006).
ABV: 12%
Best served: Aged, in a goblet or snifter, and chilled.
Beer Review
Old Stock Ale might not be a beer that everyone has seen in their local stores bit it’s highly recommended. North Coast Brewing rarely disappoints. If this were a catholic saint it would be Hildagard of Bingen. It will take you on an exotic trip that might make you believe the Lord is speaking to you. It’s dark and fruity but sweet and enchanting. Hard to do at 12% ABV.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: The First scent to hit the nose was some raisin and possibly apricot. It’s a sweet malt and fruit scent. Not an incredibly strong aroma but quite pleasant.
Taste: The first note on the tongue is some apricot and hops. In theory, the hops should fade with each year its aged. There is a sweet caramel-like malt at work also which really gets picked up in the middle and end.
Texture: Not super carbonated but fairly well carbonated. It’s got a rather small head when poured. The feeling in the mouth is like a normal amber ale but slightly thicker. It’s certainly not as thick as a stout but still very rich. However, it’s thin enough that it can e enjoyed in the warmer seasons.
Finish: The finish has almost a Christmas ale type of flavor with some light spices and some dark fruits like plum and dates. It’s a strong beer but you don’t get much of that alcohol lingering. It’s very smooth for a strong beer.
Comparisons: Founder’s Curmudgeon or Hibernation Ale.
Old Stock Ale
