As Reviewed in Ale Evangelism:
“Old Stock Ale by North Coast Brewing is one of life’s great pleasures. I know, I know, BEER is one of life’s great pleasures, but among those pleasures, Old Stock Ale ought to be placed on a high pedestal and enjoyed slowly and thoroughly. But the Cellar Reserve variety? Well, it truly ought to be on a pedestal on top of a pedestal. Why does it deserve this precarious perch? Read on, my ale-loving reader…read on…”
Review of the 2009 Old Stock Cellar Reserve by Chris Steltz of BeerGeekNation:
“I was totally unprepared for the onslaught of rich complexity, intense flavor and stellar balance coming out of my brandy snifter of this incredible stuff. Why am I telling you this now? After a number of delays, a scant fourteen cases of this heady stuff has been bestowed upon Anchorage, and if you want to go on a beery scavenger hunt, you might be lucky enough to score one or two bottles for yourself. I’ve already got my share so I’ll watch the fray from the sidelines. The word’s on the street and this is some truly sought after stuff both for immediate consumption and vintage collecting.
If you’re lucky enough to score some you’ll find that the beer decants a slightly opaque brown in the glass. Minimal head forms and quickly races to the edge of the glass to leave just a tan ring around the sides. I’d suggest using brandy snifters or even wine glasses to showcase this beer. The shape of the glass helps concentrate and feature the aroma of the beer. And this is a beer that should definitely be shared in small doses with your closest of friends….The aroma is about as perfect as it gets for this big style of beer.” Read the whole review by James ‘Dr. Fermento’ Roberts on AnchoragePress.com
From FugglyBrew.com:
“The North Coast Brewing Company Old Stock Cellar Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged edition is a winner! It pours as a full-bodied tawny ale, with a lightly rocky, but more creamy of a tan head. Your initial notes are of cider, but not a spiced cider more of that ripe apple scent you get standing under an apple tree in late October. Your first sip engulfs your pallet in a warm toffee apple with very slight hints of the ale’s fresh form (that Toffee/Vanilla/Coffee vibe) but this early in the aging process you can already see how the ale has matured. The toasty marshmallow has rounded off into the toffee and the initial booziness has turned into that of ripe harvest fruits. It ends with a pleasant if noticeable warmth reminiscent of a bourbon spiked coffee on a foggy Mendocino morning.
“This is a masterpiece of brewing perfection. I have always been a huge fan of Old Stock Ale (personally having been collecting the regular releases of it since 2003). While it tastes beautiful right now I will suggest hanging on to it for another 5 years. I intend to hold on to mine 2 years till I open another one (perhaps with the 2011 special edition?) Open another again in 5 years and then 10. Patience is a virtue and definitely not for the weak so if you plan to age this baby remember out of sight, out of mind. This is a gem, an investment, a beer for when your children graduate.
“This beer is truly the milk bath Cleopatra bathed in regularly—pure, decadent, luxury.
“What would I pair this with? A cold winter evening with rain tapping on the roof and a good book (perhaps a cigar? but nothing too heavy). This is definitely a beer that can be considered a philosophy beer. Sit. Sip. Contemplate.” Read the whole review on FugglyBrew.com