I first tasted a Stock Ale years ago, in London. After a long day of pretending to be The Beatles with my buddies (there was a lot of crosswalk posing), we sank down in a pub and asked for a local favorite.

In minutes, we were sipping away on dark brown pints, happily lost in caramel and toffee notes backed with hints of woody spice. 

If you asked me where you could find this kind of Barleywine-meets-Sherry goodness here in the states, I’d normally say you’d have to swim to England. But not today! 

‘Cause today, I’ve managed to get 215 bottles of Whiskey Barrel-Aged Old Stock Ale from North Coast. 

You’ll have to jump on this one quick. The supply is low because it’s from the brewery’s highly-limited 2018 Cellar Reserve series!

Manage to grab it, and you’ll bask in its warmth long after the bottle’s empty. The Whiskey Barrels make this behemoth even mellower than the Stock Ale I tried in England! Touches of oaky vanilla add complexity, and with a massive 13.5% ABV, it’s boozier too.

Rated 92/100 on BeerAdvocate

*The Dark Beer gods at North Coast are 14x GABF Medalists!

Tavour strictly supports independent beer. North Coast Brewing Co is certified independent by the Brewers Association