Stone Bourbon Barrel Old Guardian Barley Wine

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

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.

From tap at Stone Bistro. Pours hazy orange with no head. Dense bourbon aroma with mild fruity accents. Smooth caramel malty base flavour and a dense bourbon flavour coming through. Good balance between the malt and bourbon. Slight burning alcohol finish though.

Draft... RBSG ‘08... This beer rocks!... Clear golden ale with not much of a head. Big, hearty bourbon and caramel nose. Full-bodied with a slightly oily mouthfeel and soft carbonation. Tons of bourbon and alcohol. Lots of caramelly sweetness backed up by a fair amount of hop and alcohol bitterness. Finishes boozy and bitter. World class beer!

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!

Tasted on tap at Stone Bistro during the 08 RBSG. This Barley wine pours a deep amber color from the tap. Small sized white foamy head. The aroma is bourbon, malt, oak and sweet. A full bodied barley wine. The malts are fruity, caramel and sweet. Laced with nice touches of vanilla and oak. It’s added some sweetness and a whole lot of bourbon flavors in the barrel. Very smooth tasting. Nice balance. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet with some wood and alcohol.

Stone RBSG luncheon. Pours orange with an off white head. Nose is sweet and amazing with a lot of sweet bourbon. Taste is really good very sweet and very nice.

On tap at Stone. 2006 vintage. Pours a burnt orange copper color with a disappearing head. I get lots of bourbon in the nose along with candy sweet malt, perhaps candy apples. Notes say, "Wow"! Flavor is straight bourbon up front followed by a nice super sweet fruitiness. Some hops do peak through on the backside, but are subdued, but there still is bitterness. Also, I get a little oak in the flavor as well. Full bodied and hot alcohol, but still pleasant. Lingering bourbon flavor. Damn fine nightcap.

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.