Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

{pours a cherry wood brown, clear. Tan Head. Good lacing. Smells of strong bitter hops and a significant amount of apricots. Delightful. Flavor is of bitter, sedimentary hops. Less apricots here, but an intense sweet nut finish. Another nice surprise from Stone Brewing Co. I have yet to be dissappointed by them. No... I have yet to not be amazed.

Bomber->snifter: pours a small, rocky, off-white head that exhibits spare lacing atop a murky, dark orange body. Aroma of roasted grain, herbs, sweat, and cheese. The body is medium, the texture sticky, with a bitter finish. The flavor’s duration is long, being lightly acidic, heavily bitter, very hoppy and a mouthfeel of minerals.

22 oz bottle, early 2007 vintage. Pours a slightly hazy dark copper with a one finger tight bubbled beige head. The nose is heavy resiny and citrusy hops with tons of caramel and toffee malts. Just a slight bit of oxidation creeping in. The flavor is still very harshly bitter with a thick almost syrupy caramel malt base. A little bit of oxidation on the finish, but nothing that I would call beneficial at this point. I’d like to see a bit more actually. The body is thick and viscous with a clingy resiny and sticky finish. Nice soft pinpoint carbonation. Overall, this is just a little bit too brash and bold for my tastes, I guess I’m more of an English Barleywine type of guy and this is about as far from that as possible.

Vintage 2009, bottle from Central Market Plano. Dark gold, thick lingering head & lacing. Fine brandy, alcohol & hops on the nose with caramel & sticky dark fruit. Bold blast of alcohol on the tongue, rum soaked raisins & cedar, nice bitterness. Smells sweeter than it tastes. A very sophisticated representative of barley wine. Gasp...after taste lingers with a nice brandy-like warming sensation. Would order again- a great beer for a special occassion or as a winter-food companion.

Bottle thanks to rallison, I think. Thanks, buddy. Aged about 18 months. Impressive pour--hazy bright orange-copper with one-finger off-white head. Still some citric hops on the nose as well as fruity malts. Not just a caramel bomb, though it’s there along with some vanilla notes. Hops still there, even after 18 months; makes me want to try it fresh, though I bet it might be more harsh/boozy. As it is now, it’s great. Light, smooth, slick carbonation and palate. Quite good American take on a barley wine.

Pours a hazy copper with medium off-white head. Aroma of of malt, caramel, fruit and hops. Similar taste with a boozy, bitter hop finish. Oily on the palate. Great balance of hops and malts.

Just drank the bottle and assumed I had already written a review. Guess not so I’ll have to do a "review light" until I drink again. Aroma: wonderful, full hops. Appearance: slightly cloudy dark golden, off amber. Flavor: Simply wonderful. I would put this close to Behemoth and my dark horse candidate, Big Foot. Palate: nice balance. Overall: Love it will but it again.

Newer bottle 2009 I think. Pours an unclear hazy orange brown with a large dense frothy creamy off-white head, clears up to a clear glowing red, beautiful. Dry piney cotton candy light caramel aroma, not all the impressive 7.5. Flavor is the same, thin creamy milky taste, super piney, no citrus, light caramel, some cotton candy, scorchingly bitter 7.5. Thin body, a bit milky with a medium full mouthful, large but subtle carbonation.