Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Bottle. There are few beers I have gone through as much trouble to get as this one. I called multiple Bevmo locations from my home state of MN prior to my trip out the SF Bay Area to find out who had this brew. San Mateo said they were going to get it, but their shipment didn’t come in. Finally the Geary St. SF store said they had a few bottles, and since I was driving up to the City it worked out well. I’ll have to say I was a little disappointed. This is at least a notch below the SN Big Foot. Rich, smoky aroma, not overly strong, with molasses notes. Clear body, deep amber, no visible carbonation, no head, but very nice lace. Very strong flavor. There is no question this is a barley wine. Peppery. Not sweet enough, however. Good, but I found myself wondering why I went through such an effort. I bought 3 bottles, so perhaps I’ll cellar one and see what its like in a couple of years.

Draft @ The Front Door: Pours a bright copper color with a large creamy sand colored head. Aroma is faint at first, but gathered strength as it warmed. Sweet, yet seemingly packed with lots of citrus hops. Taste reflects the quantity of hops and adds a litle caramel maltiness. As this was the ’08 version, it was still quite hot, but still drinkable and likeable.

Lets just say I have been anticipating this one for quite some time, and while I did not drink my 2004 bottle, I settled for a more recently found 2006 one. Pours out almost red in color with a head that goes away really quick. Upon opening the hops come out of the bottle but it is not as bitter as first smell lets you think it would be. Taste is sweet, malty, and just really good. I drank this before dinner, and I really don’t even feel like having any other beers. This is a really good one to drink if you want to just relax. Acutally it took me about 2 hours to drink a 22 of this. Damn good, seriously.

"You know how when you go to a restaurant, they call out your name? Like "Dufrain, party of two... Dufrain, party of two." And if no one answers, they’ll say it again "Dufrain, party of two, Dufrain, party of two." But then if no one answers, they’ll just move on the next name: "Bush, party of three." What happened to the Dufrains? They’re missing, and no one cares. Right now, they’re tied up in the trunk of someone’s car, with duct tape over their mouths, and they’re hungry. That’s a triple whammy! "Bush, search party of three. You can eat once you’ve found the Dufrains." 2008

Pours an orange body with a small off-white head. Aroma of caramel and citrus with a touch of spice and alcohol. Flavour is full of malt and darker fruits with a sweetness to it. Finishes with the citrus and hops coming in for the finale.

Pours a golden amber color with a fluffy white head. Aroma is of caramel and of bitter hops. Flavor is nice caramel malts with a bitter grassy hop finish.

22 oz bottle shared by Gregis, early 2007 Vintage. Pour is golden orange with a smallish off white head. Nice lacing left on the glass. Aroma of soft perfumey toasted caramel with decent orange citrus bitterness. Taste is malty caramel, apple fruit sweetness with pine hop and honey orange bitterness. Nice mineral grainy earthiness to the finish. There is a hint of the Stone yeast, more of the earthy mineral flavor. Palate is medium, mouth coating, alcohol present in the long finish. Nice one, thanks for sharing this one with me Greg.

22oz Bottle Pours out a Clear amber topped with a nice white head. A Very nice aroma to go with a Great BW Tast. Another fine brew from Stone.