Bell's Third Coast Old Ale

BeerAdvocate classifies Third Coast Old Ale as an American Barleywine. I am not convinced that it is not an Old Ale.

Brewer's Notes

Third Coast Old Ale starts with a rich, caramel base, and finishes with heavy hop bitterness. Sharply intense at first, it will age gracefully, adding complexity and subtlety to your cellar. Go ahead, test your patience.

Flavor Profile: Complex, Warm Malt Character, Huge Body, Rich Caramel Malt Aromas

Beer Info: A mixture of burnt caramel and other earthy malt flavors, with enough hop presence to prevent a sense of sweetness. Sharply bitter when first packaged, this hop aspect will fold into the malt character over time and find balance.

Shelf Life: Unlimited

Ingredients: Water, Malt, Hops, House Ale Yeast

Nutritional Information (per 12 oz. serving): Calories: 318, Carbs: 26.7

IBUs: 65

Original Gravity: 1.101

Tasting Notes

2311: A five-year old bottle. Tastes very Old Ale-ish. Musty sourness dominates the flavor. I wonder if the beer is past its prime. 

Rating = 5.5 glasses

Nov. 14, 2022: Another bottle with about 6 years of age. A delightful combination of brown sugary malt, hop bitterness, and a tiche of sour from somewhere. 

Rating = 6 glasses (and thought about 6.5).

Previous ratings: 3, 5, 6

Aug 25, 2019: With second dessert I drank a Bell's Third Coast Ale, an American barleywine. The bottle was relatively fresh. Brown sugar flavor but not sweet. The aftertaste was sort of sour. I think this beer gets better with age. Ratings based on beers aged about 4 years = 6 glasses. Today,

Rating = 5 glasses.

1210:  Bells bottled this 6-pack on 4 Dec 2008, making it about 4 years old. The taste was all brown sugar and malt. I want to buy and age more. Yummy. It continues to earn its 6-glass rating. 

1009: A 2-yr. old bottle. Burnt caramal, dark fruits, and hop bite @ finish. A solid 6. Ages well. 

1009: A bottle purchased from the cooler section @ Elwood Thompson. Burnt malt, deep bitter hop bite, a tiche of sour. A complex beer. May rate 5 glasses but I left it at six pending further review. Complexity and the impression it made on my memory prevented the downgrade. 

Rating = 6 glasses

1004: A 2 yr 7 mn old bottle brewed 0709. A tiche thnner than I remembered and a little lactic acid, a la Vintage Ale, peeping out. Thought about a downgrade to 5. 

1002: A 2 yr 5 mn old bottle brewed 0709. Malty burnt caramel with some hops and a tiche of old ale sour. 

0909: A 2-year old bottle. Toffee. An English barleywine. Ages fantastically. Thought about 7 glasses. 

0809: A 1-yr. old bottle. Wonderful. Big caramel malt with sour, bretty bite at end. Upgraded from 5. 

0801: A bottle dated 0709. Delightful. Cream brule, a hint of chocolate, dates, a touch of alcohol, and a little leather. 

0801: A little cream brule, some bitter hops w/ a touch of sour, and a blast of alcohol. Quaffable and flavorful. May rate 6. 

0712: Sweet malt followed by a sour (Brett?) bite. Sourness becomes predominate as it warms. An interesting sipper. Ages nicely and would pair well with game. 

0710: Caramel, dark fruit, alcohol, deep bitterness, and a touch of stout/smoke when cold. Port (?) wine, figs, and sour bitterness as it warms. An non-sweet English BW? A good sipper for a cold night. Upgraded from 3. 

0611: 1st of a 6. Burnt crème brule when cold. As it warms the malt fades a little and a sour hop bite at end becomes more predominate - sort of a subdued Arrogant Bastard. Alcohol present in every sip. I suspect it will improve with age. I could see pairing it with game cooked with sweet fruits. May rate 4/8.