Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

On tap at Stone RBSG, 2004 vintage. Cloudy butterscotch with no head. Exceedingly smooth with background alcohol and aged malt. Very caramel-like. So strong and thick... Age did a great deal of good to this. Very tasty!! I could drink this often!! I think this might have been the highlight of the afternoon.

Early 2008 Release. Nice color and piney / sweet aroma. Flavor is not as malty and smooth as thought but has a bite of hops that seem to grow in flavor on your tongue. This beer will taste much better with a little age. As with all Stone Barley Wines I have tried, they are much better in a year or two.

Bottle from early 08 release. Pours a hazy orange/bronze colour with a foamy off-white head. Nice lacing. Aroma of piney hops, sugar and pineapples. Big flavours of both malt and hops with an alcohol bite in the finish. Tastes pretty hot. Decent barley wine, maybe it will better with age.

Early 2006 release, aged over 2 years. Pours a dark, reddish-copper color with a lightly hazy appearance. A spongy, cream colored head leaves nice rings of foamy lace on the glass. Aromatics are that of a classic American barleywine, with sweet caramel and toffee notes being countered by a faded citrus hoppiness and earthy spices. Toffee flavors are joined by a buttery nuttiness, its sweetness balanced out by orangey hops and mildly peppery spicing. Nearly full bodied, smooth, and viscous, the easy going palate makes up for a slight alcohol burn. Overall, this is a very good barleywine that clearly handles aging quite well. I’m a fan.

Bomber - Poured a slightly cloudy reddish-amber in color with a small off-white head that quickly faded entirely. Aroma is strong of citrus hops and sweet malts. Flavor is quite hoppy with an small malt structure behind it. Alcohol well hidden for over 11%, but it does KICK!. A bit unusual... a bit too hoppy for a BW, needs more malt. An excellent beer, but I agree with other raters.. should probably be called an IIPA.

22 0z. bottle of the early limited release 2008. pours a medium body orange /amber, with a small off white head. Aroma is faint subltle malt and sugar. Starts balanced and spicey. Malt sweetness is subtle. hops are slightly citrus and spicey. has a nice warming feel and has a bitter finish. Lacks the body/malt bill , and complexity I expect in a barleywine. Still a nice beer, but seems more of IIPA

22 oz bottle. Pours amber with the head vanishing so quickly I was amazed. Tastes like alcohol and barley. Pretty good chilled, just don’t let this baby get warm or you will be sorry.

Aroma is sweet fruity hops but was not very strong. This beer pours a very nice golden amber color with nice medium head that dissipates to small thin head relatively quickly. Flavor took some getting use to. Small amounts of citrus are present but the taste is mostly of spices and hops. Somehow the combination seemed bland mid drink. Alcohol is present throughout. Finish is bitter. Overall the beer reminds me more of an IPA.