What Is Old Ale?

Old Ale is a traditional beer style with deep roots in English brewing. Historically, these ales were made mild and set aside to mature, developing a rich, layered character over time. Blending of young and old ales was a common practice to achieve a specific flavor or strength in the final product, and pubs and breweries began keeping an aged reserve of “stock ale,” for this purpose. Today, “Old Ale” often refers to brews that are malty, higher in alcohol and without hop aromas, exhibiting nutty, caramel, and dark fruit flavors.

One of the hallmarks of Old Ale is its aging potential. Old Ales are designed to evolve in the cellar: their malty sweetness mellows, dark-fruit notes deepen, and subtle oxidative characters (think sherry or fig) begin to emerge over time.

With a higher ABV that offers a gentle, lingering warmth, Old Ales have the depth of a dark beer without leaning into stout-like roastiness, and they deliver seasonal richness without the spice additions commonly found in modern winter warmers. Old Ale is made for slow sipping and unhurried evenings. It’s a style built to be savored: quiet, contemplative, and full of evolving flavor from the first pour to the last.

The Story of North Coast Old Stock Ale

Old Stock Ale’s story begins decades before the first batch ever filled a North Coast fermenter. While in his twenties, founding brewmaster Mark Ruedrich spent a stretch of his life in England, where he encountered Old Ale for the first time. The style made an impression and the memory stayed with him long after he returned home.

By 1998, North Coast Brewing Company had been thriving for ten years, and Mark found himself thinking often about those English Old Ales. Around that time the last remaining Old Ale produced in the craft beer realm was discontinued. Mark took this as a sign to begin work on his own take on the style, to honor its heritage with a new home in our brewhouse. As Mark puts it, “At one point, we were the only old ale in the world.” That commitment to keeping the style alive is the spirit that shaped Old Stock Ale, and it remains at the heart of every batch brewed today.

How to Taste and Serve Old Stock Ale

Old Stock Ale is driven by a gentle malt sweetness that is never cloying, thanks to a balancing thread of soft, earthy bitterness. The higher ABV brings a warming presence, unfolding gradually as the beer opens up in the glass.

What sets Old Stock Ale apart is its devotion to traditional English ingredients. It’s brewed with Maris Otter malt, a classic British barley. For hops we chose the highly revered Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England, giving it an authentic grounding in the style that first inspired its creation.

For the best experience, serve Old Stock Ale in a tulip or chalice glass at room temperature. The wider bowl and gentle warmth allow its complex flavors to mingle, revealing new layers with every slow sip.

Cellaring & Vertical Tasting

Old Ales are one of the beer world’s greatest candidates for vertical tastings: sampling the same beer across multiple vintages to explore how it evolves with age. Old Stock Ale, with its robust malt profile and higher alcohol content, is especially suited to long, patient maturation. The result is a beer that tells a slightly different story every year you open it.

Cellaring doesn’t require a fancy setup. Simply place a few bottles in a cool, dark spot out of direct sunlight, like a closet, cupboard, or quiet corner of a basement. While 50°F is the ideal cellaring temperature, consistency matters more than perfection. Tuck the bottles away and let time do its work.

Old Stock Ale and Cheese: A Match Made in the Cellar

Pair more recent vintages of Old Stock Ale with bold, savory cheeses that highlight its fresh malt sweetness. We recommend Parmigiano-Reggiano or classic English Cheddars like Lincolnshire Poacher, Montgomery’s Cheddar, or Keen’s Cheddar.

For older vintages deepened by time, richer, more decadent pairings shine. Try English Stilton or a Spanish Valdeón, both of which harmonize beautifully with the beer’s matured fruit and sherry-like tones.

How Long Is Too Long?

We recommend holding your Old Stock Ale for one year to get a sense of how Old Stock Ale changes over time, but you can age your bottles as long as you want. People often ask how to tell if a bottle has gone past its prime. According to Mark, “We haven’t found one yet!”

We first bottled Old Stock Ale in 2000, and while those 25-year-old bottles are still drinking beautifully, just a handful remain in our brewery library. In 2013, we began producing a bit more Old Stock Ale each time we bottled, building a deeper archive for future vertical tastings. If you want to start (or expand) your own collection, check out our Old Stock Ale Vertical Tasting Gift Box, available in our Brewery Shop.

Enjoying Old Stock Ale

Even though Old Stock Ale seems uniquely suited to the holiday season, Mark is quick to point out that its depth, warmth, and slow-sipping character make it a perfect companion to replace spirits throughout the year. Anytime you might pour a whiskey for those reflective, unhurried, settle-in-and-savor occasions, try reaching for an Old Stock Ale instead. You might be surprised how naturally it suits the mood.

This holiday season, when the family is in town and the house feels full of noise, warmth, and good food, Old Stock Ale is the beer that fits right in. It’s perfect for those one-big-pot nights when something hearty is simmering for hours and cooking becomes a cozy ritual of sipping and stirring. It’s the beer that lingers through long, laughter-filled board game nights, sticking around as conversations wander and the games get competitive. And when the evening winds down and you finally settle by the fire, or steal a quiet moment to reflect on the year, Old Stock Ale matches the mood with its gentle warmth and unhurried depth.