Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Early 2006 Release Rated June 2006. Brown body with a small beige head. (3+) Boozey sweet caramel malt in the aroma. Alcohol is prominent in the flavour but not harshly so. Light malt, hop bitterness is blended with the moderately hot alcohol. Quite drinkable really considering, simplistic but nice. Average to medium palate. (3+) 7/3+/7-8/3+/15 - 3.7 <P>RBSG 2005. Vintage 2004 Orange amber with a small creamy off white head. Moderate hoppy aroma, surprisingly muted. Pleasant malt and a moderate hoppy bitterness. Quite drinkable for the octane. Average palate. Nice but not exceptional. Well balanced and quaffable but lacks the gravitas for the next level. Thanks to Crockett for the heads up, I have been waiting to try this one. 6/4/7/3/14 - 3.4

This limited release 2006 bottled brew from a bottle shop poured a medium sized head of foamy tan colored bubbles that were long lasting and left behind a transparent typically carbonated dark orange brown colored body and a fair lacing. The mild aroma was barley wine like and malt hop. The smooth mouth feel was weakly tingly at the start and strongly tingly at the finish. The flavor contained notes of malt hops and well covered up vinousness. A decent one that I would consider buying again.

Limited early 2007 release poured form the 22 0z bomber. It has a warm rosy visual appeal, lightly carbonated with a stoic rocky head. The aroma is sweet and sugary, making me think of some rich dessert. As expected, it carries a big stick to the palate ... syrup, oak, cooked caramel, and resin. Would love to do a vertical comparison of this one; me thinks it will age grandly. (#2729, 3/1/2007)

Bottle (2006) - First newbie tasting club - Lars brought it. Dark red/brown - offwhite head. Bread, berries, high/high hoppy, raisins plums, malty, fantastic - shut up - I Love It !! - Now you must shut up guys - I make no mistakes !!!

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.

Bottle and draft. Pours an amber body with an off white head. Amber body with an off white head. Sweet and malty allt he way with a light fruit character but more like liquid caramel and a strong earthy hoppiness, evervescnet and strong like white. I see why people love this but its not for me. This is one brutal bastard on bitterness.

Poured a dark copper color with a yellowish, off white head and nice lacing. Sweet citrusy fruit, watermelon, berries? and bubblegum aroma. Bitter fruit taste with a lingering aftertaste. Citrus and hops all over this one, though balanced nicely with malt, burning alcohol feeling on the way down.

2007 Vintage; tasted March 23, 2007. Copper color with no head. Slight malt aroma. Dry citrus taste with a little malt. Kind of a plain barley wine with some heavy hops. Meh.