Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

22 oz. Bomber from 99 Bottles in Federal Way. Pure copper color topped with an active head that dissipates quickly, but leaves copious lace. Sweet on the tip of the tongue, but hits the hops and alcohol toward the back end. Understated hops for a Stone product, but nicely done. I’m hoping this will be on tap at The Parkway in Tacoma for their annual barleywine event. I’m aiming to cellar some of this too.

2008 bottle, consumed 01/31/08. Yes, it’s young, but I’ll probably revisit this vintage several times over the coming years. Coppery pour, off-white one- finger head. Aroma is grapefruit hops with tobacco notes and some kind of fruit (apricot or plum). Thick mouthfeel, almost syrupy. Mild astringency, some alcohol burn. Flavor is a massive dose of bitter hops immediately, with a bit of medicinal cherry cough drop in there, too. The bitterness subsides fairly quickly (or else my palate is just too blasted to taste the enormity of the hops for long) but lingers as the primary note in the background. This will improve with age, to be sure.

On tap at 1702 special Stone event. 06 vintage. Pours a burnt caramel color. Aroma of caramel and slight alcohol. Flavor of sweet caramel and almost a banana flavor (slight ester). Really hides the alcohol well now. With a nice chewy mouth feel. Excellent.

Fruity, yeasty, and a pleasant pepperiness that was immediately noticeable in the amber-colored brew. Low but noticeable hop profile added to the spiciness, complementing the starchy mouthfeel. Smooth and refreshing.

Hazy orange hues with a little white head. Not a very overwhelming hoppy aroma, but instead, heavy malty scents. Good malt flavor with out the sickly sweetness. Light body and balanced carbonation. A lingering soft sour finish. Good barleywine

08 release. pours ruby with a nice off white head. Give the glass a swirl and the head will come back in full force at any time. Nice! Aroma of sweet malt, citrus, and hops. Flavor is brown sugar, grapefruit, raisin, and other dark fruits. Not nearly as much hops as other people are getting in my bottle even when fresh. Finishes slightly carbonated. Medium mouth feel. 11.26%? I didn’t notice. Very nice.

Bottle. Pours a dark ruby/copper color with a medium sized tan colored head. Aroma is grapefruit, sweet malts, raisin, brown sugar. Flavor is grapefruit, butter, caramel, brown sugar, raisin, floral, alcohol. Palate is full bodied, medium carbonation, finishes spicy and prickly on the tongue, warming. Nice. Gotta imagin two years on a bottle would be fantastic.

Pours a nice amber color with white head. Hoppy taste as most Stone beers, but with a strong vanilla flavor as well.