Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

Bottle. Trade with Baggio. Pours unclear orange amber with a small creamy lasting white head. Vinous, strong, sweet, matured, fruity, complex, smooth. Fine balance. Very nice and sippable.

Early 2009 vintage. Poured a clear, dark amber color. The head was tan and thick with small flecks of lacing. The aroma was malts, brown sugars and plenty of hops and alcohol heat. The flavor was hoppy too. Pine hops rolled over the softer citrus and caramel malts. Some alcohol. Not quite medium bodied. Almost hot at times. Young.

Aroma is always huge. Ages well for a few years. Hops mellow as this seems to be a pretty hoppy barleywine when fresh. Aroma of molasses, caramel, pine hops and sweetness. Flavor is big, thick and rich with hops over the smooth caramel malts and sugar. Lots of alcohol on the finish, very hot, I prefer older bottles.

sample: RNH: really nice brew, haven’t had too many of this style, but I need to get some more! Light blood in color, thin head. Immediate esters but in the "wine" sense, oily and subdued heat. I feel as though this beer should be left to warm, the sugars and malts I tasted were great, but immature if that makes any sense. Some minor notes of light sugars, slight bitters. Great brew.

The beer is the color of a light blush. White finger of foamy head. Tony upswimming bubbles. Very hazy. Pungent, smoky barley aroma. Heavy deep grape with notes of bitter cherry. Barley and alcohol are dominant. A bit too grainy an aroma for me. The barley taste is big and grainy, with sweet and bitter cherry and grape flavors. Very harsh with alcohol and thick barley. Less brutal as it warms up. Feels fizzy like a Belgian ale, but thicker and more chewy. Not my favorite of the Stone brews (although to be fair, barleywines are not my forte). Drinkable, though.

Clear burnt orange color with an off white head. Fruity aromas with hints of malts and butterscotch. Sticky to syrupy mouthfeel. Thick and rich. Very malty and very smooth with cherry and toffee characteristics. Nice aftertaste with little alcohol burn present. Really tasty and very smooth once it opens up.

bottle, pours deep gold lots of tan head. Aroma is malty sweet popsickel goodness. Nice sweet malty body light bitter hop and pepper finish. This is such a good barley wine and I’m so happy that the hops are not over powering the malt. This is an A+ bw.

Early 2009 Vintage, Bottle from Frugal Mac’s. Leave it to Stone to make a hoppy Barley Wine. Pours a beautiful, dark gold with a long-lasting head. Smell is part caramel, part hops. Taste is something else. When it’s cold, hop flavors dominate to the point where it reminds me of Three Floyds’ Apocalypse Cow. However, as it warms up, the barley, caramel flavors start to open up. Very good.