North Coast Old Stock Ale Otsuchi 2012

Review Date 1/4/2025 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Barleywine   Brewery: North Coast   Country: USA   State: California   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 11.7%

Welcome, friends, to 2025! Drinking my first beers of the new year, I did what I usually like to do, and broke out something special. In this case, it was something with a bit of age on it. Well, a lot of age on it: North Coast Old Stock Ale Otsuchi 2012. This is a special release of North Coast’s classic Old Stock Ale with proceeds going to benefit victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit Otsuchi, Japan. Otsuchi is the sister city of Fort Bragg, California, where North Coast is located.

I bought this beer when it was released, both because I love Old Stock Ale and because the proceeds help a great cause. I decided to sit on it for a while and age it as North Coast recommends doing with Old Stock Ale. A full 12 years later, I decided it was done. I have no idea what I paid for it, but I can tell you from the label the beer has an alcohol content of 11.7% by volume.

This is the second variant on Old Stock Ale I have enjoyed over the years, 2009 Cellar Reserve being the first.

North Coast Old Stock Ale Otsuchi 2012 pours to a murky brownish red color with a tight cap of foam and a nose of sweet malt and robust dark fruit raisin and prune. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body and glides smoothly over the tongue. It’s lightly carbonated and bursting with raisin, prune, and black cherry. There are strong sherry notes, chocolate, caramel malts, and in the finish a warming alcohol jet fuel burn.

Drinking fine with 12 years of time, I wish I had another bottle. As it is, I’m glad I got to experience this one at least once.

Glad I tried it?  T