Private Stock Ale: 2016 Vintage

Old Ale | Seasonal | United States

By Randy Scorby

Judges Rating: 86
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 34
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 16

The drinker is greeted with a light chocolate aroma, followed by supporting fruitiness of apricots and peaches, a light herbal hop character, light spicy alcohol and a caramel, bready maltiness. The spicy alcohol character increases significantly in the flavor, but does allow a supporting cast of peaches, light chocolate, dried fruit and bready, nutty caramel malt characters to emerge. A low residual sweetness develops mid-palate and dries out in the finish with an assist from the alcohol and moderately high hop bitterness. It pours a nearly brilliant dark brown with ruby highlights with a tan head that seems to last forever. Grab a few to cellar, as the alcohol is a bit edgy right now, but it has all of the hallmarks of a terrific English-style Old Ale — it just needs a little more time to continue developing its complexity.