Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Draught: Slight hop aroma. Poured amber in color with a medium, creamy, off-white head. Very good lacing. Clear. Flavor was medium sweet and medium bitter. Tastes of hops, malts, caramel, and sugar. A little alcohol flavor as well. Medium body. Average carbonation. Dryish bitter finish. Well balanced. Overall, I prefer a hoppier barley wine.

Bottle. Amber colour with a little but nice head. Aroma of malt, hops and caramel. Very nice flavour of malt, fruitness, caramel and ends up very smooth and nice.

Notes for earlier vintages suggest that earlier versions were better and rated higher; The style of this barleywine is more sweet and fruity and less malty than others, though previous notes indicate it is sweeter now than in past years, and once again quite bitter; The light smokiness of previous years is barely detectable, perhaps only imagined; Moderate bitterness initially becomes progressively more dominant in the finish; Sweet, fruity nose matches the flavor; Palate is moderately thick and syrupy; Orange-amber in color and clear; The off-white head is smallish on the pour, but maintains a thin layer; Small bits of lacing on the glass, but largely is missing

(Bottle, Akkurat, Stockholm 14 Sep 2007) Amber colour with brief off-white head. Fruity nose with peaches, mandarin, orange and generous amounts of rubbery hops. Fruity taste with notes of orange, mandarin and loads of rubbery, floral hops in the finish. Slightly vinous, sweet with hints of marzipan. Massive, chewy beer, but still with balance. Magnificent!

Burnt orange, nearly copper pour with medium lacing - heavy hop aroma, with touches of grapefruit and caramel - flavor is like a wonderful mix of SN Bigfoot and Old Horizontal - bigfoot hoppiness (with corresponding citrus aspects) and the sweat malt profile (with all the caramel and fruity esters) of the Old Ho mix in near perfect harmony - tasty but slightly out of balance - I'm sure aging will work out the kinks.

The aroma is very hoppy with pine and citrus as well as butter and caramel malt. The appearance is deep amber with a large head. The flavor is like the aroma with a very bitter finish. The palate is thick and smooth. Overall a very well made beer that is just too bitter.

Early 2007 Release After its release from the 22-ounce brown silk-screened bottle, it resides in the glass a cloudless burnished copper with a gigantic head that is tan in color, creamy in texture and as it slowly erodes, the lacing provides a glutinous curtain to drape the glass. Nose has a big sweet malt aroma, caramel, with hints of strawberry cotton candy, oh yeah, fusel alcohol, also in the mix a touch of hops. Start is ambrosial, with the alcohol and hops providing a serious bite at the rear, the palates not my derriere? lol Top feels medium to full, with the finish modestly hopped, sweet with malt and the acidity generous, alcohol evident, with the aftertaste sweetly dry, a true tummy warmer, maybe a better term, "Stone Old Guardian Sensation"! Early Spring Release 2006 The beer upon the pour from the 22-ounce brown silk screened bottle is a clear burnished copper with a voluminous creamy light tan head that after erosion leaves a nice coating of lace upon the glass. Nose has a nice malt sweetness, hints of caramel, and oh yes a bit of fusel alcohol, and touch of hops me thinks, start is sweet, and the grain profile perfect and the top medium to full in feel to the palate. Finish has perfect carbonation, the delectable in their spiciness, nice bit of tummy warming, and the aftertaste dry. This beer has been a longtime favorite, and one I look for each year, along with the Imperial Stout, of course any beers from Stone Brewing are always a welcome site. Vintage 2005 Every year I wait for one of my favorite Stone beers to hit the shelf, of course this one hit while I was under the weather, so it got pushed back in a corner of the DBF. The beer as it emerges from the 22 ounce brown bottle a tralucent deep copper color, the head is mastodonic in size and spumescent in texture, after it slowly fades to nothingness, the lace forms a tight girdle to surround the glass. The aroma of sweet malt, over ripe fruit, hops, cotton candy all occupy the nose, what a treat, start is sweet with a thick grain profile and the top middling to full in its feel to the palate. Finish is delectably acidic and the hop potent in their spiciness, and the 11. 26 percent ABV makes itself know in the tummy warming and the alcohol bitterness in the very dry aftertaste, Another splendid vintage that will age nicely. "bonum beer laetificat cor hominis" Vintage 2004 One of my favorite beers that I look for each year, and one I get by the case. The beer as it renounces the 22 ounce bottle in favor of my beer glass is a tralucent deep copper color, the head is behemothic in size and spumous in texture, after it dissolves, the lace forms a thick blanket to cover the glass. The aroma of hops, fusel alcohol, fresh pineapple also sweet cotton candy like tones, a real treat for the schnozzle and the peepers, start is ambrosial, rich in malt, the top middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is controlled in its acidity, the hops unyielding in their spiciness with the aftertaste bone-dry, and long lasting, the 10.6% ABV produces a nice touch of alcohol bitterness and a definite belly warming sensation, a “Hoot” as it is every year, and it only gets better with age just like “Old Gusler”?

A stiff brew. On tap, Ginger Man NYC, Segal trip. Sweet, candied, boozy, cherry initial impression. Mouthy, woody, alcohol bitter, grew on me as it extended its tentacles into my good judgment. Technically very good. Dougy, cherry aftertaste. Volatile fruit extract aroma.