Stone Bourbon Barrel Old Guardian Barley Wine

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Escondido, California USA

2nd best beer of the AZ Strong Beer Festival. Noticeable bourbon, oak, vanilla and smoke marry well with this hoppy barleywine. Much better than expected. This 2006 version had mellowed considerably and showed caramel, brown sugar, and even a little maple syrup. Not as sticky sweet as some and not at all cloying. Tasty!!!

On tap at the AZ Strong Beer fest. Pours a cloudy amber with a thin tan head. The nose is bourbon, floral hops and caramel malt. The taste is burnt malt, tart citrus, molasses and a oaky bourbon finish. Medium semi-creamy body. Good stuff.

WOW! One beer only at the malt house and amazing at that. Barleywines are the cream of the crop for my palate- love ’em when i can get ’em. Pours a thick, close to syrupy but not quite cloudy orange amber colour. Head was huge, definately had to wait for the froth to settle down. Instant- in yo face alcohol fumes- which were suprising but ended up being delightful. Aroma of pine, syrup, hops and alcohol as i mentioned. Taste was chewy initially, well balanced but fucking strong. ecspecially more noticeable in the sniffer it was served in. Again, glad I tried it, and hope i can find in bottles soon!

On tap, RBSG. Tasted in an amazing outdoor setting at the Bistro. Warm and syrupy. Fruity and caramelly. I really love the regular version and this was so well done with the aging that I knew I was still drinking the same beer just with a few added extras. Yeah, it was a bit sweet but sweet with many wonderful flavors. What a nice treat from Greg and Stone.

On tap at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens on 08/03/2008 on day three of RBSG 2008. 2006 Vintage. Clear caramel body with a small white head. Big caramel and molassas aroma. Light boubon notes. Sweet caramel and vanilla bourbon flavor. Medium full body with low carbonation.

To celebrate my rating number 11,100 I enter this much sought after top-50 beer. Draft at The Bistro during RBSG 2008. An unclear amber beer wtih a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet amtly with notes of caramel, alcohol, and bourbon. The flavor is very sweet - almost cloying with lots of alcohol burning the palate and top of throat, but also strong notes of caramel and a subtly bourbon note.

RBSG ’08: Tap @ The Bistro. 2006 vintage for the Old Guardian. Poured a hazy copper color with a thin off-white head. Forward but smooth bourbon with notes of vanilla and brown sugar. Very nice. The flavor is of bourbon, wood and perfectly aged malt. Woody dry finish. Silky smooth mouthfeel with a full body. This was awesome stuff!

On tap @ RBSG. Dark amber color with very little head. Rich caramel and background oak aroma, rich malts and alcohol, smells damn good. I expected a quite hot alcoholic taste, but it’s well integrated into the beer. The bourbon is there but doesn’t dominate, and accents the rich dark fruits of the OG well. Another tasty one.