Year of New Beer: 2011 Brandy Barrel Aged Old Stock Cellar Reserve, North Coast Brewing (CA)

Written By: Dion on 06/03/2015

Once in a great while, a beer is placed in front of me, and the aroma alone brings a smile to my face. When I can resist the temptation to taste it for 5 or 10 minutes, simply basking in its olfactory excellence, I know I'm in for a treat. This is lush, rich in its depth. Raisins, dates, and figs come to mind, layered atop toffee and candied nuts. Then the waves of sweet alcohols roll in as the brandy becomes present, along with suggestions of sherry and cognac. Equally impressive (and hard to find) is the beer that can transfer the aroma unscathed to the tongue, which this does effortlessly. The fruits are sweet and layered, deepened by caramel and accented by traces of spicy oak and vanilla, finishing with the faintest hints of soy-like saltiness. I would love to have a full bottle of this to share with a few friends and ponder solutions to the troubles of life. Happy Anniversary to The Beer Trappe!