Nostradamus Predicted Old Stock Ale

The trusty assistant made a major score recently and the bounty included two bottles of North Coast Brewing Company's Old Stock Ale (2009). She made the score by making nice with the local Whole Foods distributor - read into that what you will. According to said distributor, Old Stock Ale can be aged for up to five years. So, the plan is put together a nice "now and later" theme.  This, obviously, is the "now" piece.  The "later" piece will come in approximately five years.

We'll be honest and say that even assuming we don't outright lose the second bottle it's a long shot that we'll get to the "later" piece.  Five years is a long time to write as a hobby for our four loyal readers. In five years nobody will be blogging; at least that's the Nostradamus prophecy. (Are we the only ones who notice a striking resemblance to Old Rasputin?) Hell, twitter will be wordy and we'll all be part of an entirely new social network that will invariably make us less social. So, our recommendation is that you play it smart and purchase two bottles of Old Stock Ale and run this experiment on your own.  In five years, God willing, we'll all come together and compare notes at the Dumbarton's Beer reunion.

Old Stock Ale is Excellent. The strong whiskey aroma almost scared us off but we make the big bucks to swallow our fear and take a gulp. You don't really gulp Old Stock Ale but when you get around to it you'll notice a chocolate milk flavor with hints of whiskey and espresso.  If you were to drink a cold Irish coffee in beer form it's Old Stock Ale. The color is dark brown with red accents.  The head is big but light and dies quickly.  There's some lingering lace along the trip.  If we have one recommendation, it is to let the beer sit for a few minutes after the pour.  The carbonation starts out somewhat strong but mellows out as you make a run to the bottom of the glass.

Made in America, Named for a Russian

It's taken us a couple of years to get around to Old Rasputin. The North Coast Brewing Company's one off Russian Imperial Stout has caught our eyes since version X. We were tempted but always found a reason to find something else - much to our chagrin. Fortunately, our trusty assistant had enough of our tomfoolery and picked up the 500 ml corked and caged XII anniversary bottle. There's a reason "trusty" is part of her title.

The North Coast Brewing Company ages Old Rasputin in bourbon barrels. Some prefer to pour it into a snifter or fancy after dinner drink glass but we're old school and pour everything into a pint. Old Rasputin pours black - not just dark. The head is rather thick but while it comes down your reminded of a light chocolate mousse. Long term, the head stays thin and chocolate looking - a nice offset against the black of the brew.

This is a somewhat complex beer. We've mentioned chocolate a couple of times for a reason. You will find it in the aroma and in the flavor. However, that's far from the beginning and end of the story. You get a hint of the bourbon in the aroma but it really comes across in the finish of the taste. You might also stumble upon a faint coffee flavor.

Old Rasputin is surprisingly smooth. The carbonation is medium and there is not a lot of bitterness; which is not to say there is no bitterness but there is just enough to offset the sweetness. This is a stout with strong flavor so you would expect it to be heavier but you will go through the 500 ml with surprising ease. At 11.2 percent alcohol it's best served when you're not driving home.

Needless to say we will snap up XIII if our paths cross. We tasted XII after it "aged" at home for about a month. We use the term "aged" loosely but it inspires us to purchase a couple of bottles of XIII - one for immediate consumption and a couple for long-term aging.