Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Copper pour with a moderate frothy white head. Grass, citrus fruit, caramel and sugar aroma. Taste of dark fruits, citrus and floral hops, brown sugar, and a touch of alcohol. This brew is well balanced with a syrupy mouthfeel.

Orange brown in color... Fruity aroma... Flavor is dates, citrus, alcohol content prevalent initially, finish more bitter than you’d expect from a barleywine... I like it.

2007 bottle. Pours copper with a nice white head. Smells of caramel, hay, some citrus, dark fruit. Tastes of brown sugar, floral hops, some dryness on the finish. Definitely one to drink on the fresh side.

22oz bottle from 2008. Pours copper with a foamy beige head. Nice carbonation. Aroma is of alcohol, caramel, grass, barley, and hops. Taste has lots of bitter, earthy hops. It was way hoppier than I had expected it to be. Lots of grass, caramel, sugar, grain, and spice. Mouthfeel is sticky and gritty. Body is medium and heavily carbonated, making it very easy to drink. Lingering grassy taste with lots of alcohol. The alcohol is well masked except for the lingering feeling. I didn’t feel that it needed more time, as it wasn’t too harsh and tasted good.

On draft at Rattle n Hum. I dug this one. Pours a dark amber orange colour. Aroma of honey, floral hops, citrus, malts, with a hint of grass and bread notes. The flavor is pretty much the same. Watch out with this one-high abv which is not noticeable.

Big Strong Bold Assertive. All words that could be adequately used to describe this sum business from Stone. Smells of alcoholic vanilla mint mouthwash and ripe bananas. Flavor is a burning alcoholic rush with bitter piney hops and a softer toffee malt sweetness on the side of the tongue that salvages this beast from being in the cellar on flavor. Palate is substantial throughout temp range with a sugary fullness that leaves the lips smack-a-lackin. I don’t know why, but I like this bruiser. The bottle is best shared in my opinion due to the severe alcohol punchiness. Thanks Stone. 2009 22 oz.

06 bottle. Pours a hazy brown with a thin tan head. Spicy hop aroma with a nice caramel malt, toffee balance. Three years seems to be the right time to start balancing this a bit. Taste is smooth malt with lots of spicy grapefruit earthy hops and touches of toffee. Really nice.

On tap at Rattle N Hum (NYC): Strong caramel and pine notes slowly leave the palate with a lingering, earthy feel. This barley wine is one of my solid favorites. #005 on 14062009, DG.