Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

2004 bottle. Pours a warm toned orange/light marmalade color. Hint of sediment in there and a good white head. Aroma of dry nutty hops, lightly bitter. Damp forest soil, some very dry toffee. Dough and grainy malt. Flavor is dry, nutty, bitter and thick. Even though I didnt have the patience to age this, it quite clearly needs it as this one is just a bittersweet monster right now which has had no time to let any complexities emerge. This is like a super-amped up version of their pale ale. Good potential, though I must admit, I miss the caramelly sweetness and tons of munich malt dosent a great barleywine make, but that’s just my preference. Rerate 04 draught A bit more lively mouthfeel than I remember and even some light tropical fruits and juicy citrus. Not nearly as malt heavy and purely bitter hops burn, but it still needs a lot more time.
2006 bomber
Way too much for me still. Heavy, heavy bittersweet malt, with a fair amount of acidity and alcohol showing through. No relief in sight, especially as highly bitter hops hit the palate. Pleasant texture, but that’s not going to do much when it’s mountains of sugar, breadiness, bitterness and alcohol on top.

First rating
65 cl bottle thanks to deft. BB March 2010. Hazy copper color, orange head. Milky, alcohol, malty, grainy, fat, sweet scent. Bitter alcohol taste. Smooth mouthfeel, high bitterness. Not good.
6/3/4/4/9=2.6

Rerate
On May 30, 2009
Hazy copper color, tan head. Lactic, alcohol, sweet scent; same goes for taste, though with a good amount of bitterness. Thick mouthfeel. Like it better than last time. Warming alcohol.
6/3/6/4/12=3.1

The only things I didnt like about this beer is that it was not quite as full bodied as I had expected for such a strong beer, the color was a little too light, and the head didnt last as long as I had expected. Otherwise- this is an excellent barleywine. Malt and hops are balanced very well throughout the beer. The alcohol is also hidden nicely. I’ll buy more to save for next winter.

[Bottled] Hazy orange. Sweet and malty aroma with nutty notes and some hoppiness. A lot of dry bitterness. Grassy and vinous.

[Bottled, thanks to Kramer] Dark amber-orange colour, small white head. Heavy almondy nose, along with hops. Oily body, rich hoppy with lots of alcohol. Sugary, toffee-butterscotch notes. Very very concentrated flavour loaded with caramel, alcohol and hops.

Bomber 2008 vintage poured a hazy copper with a small lasting amber head. Aromas of carmel, citrus and light pine. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, grapefruit rind, earthiness and light orange with a smooth lingering bitter finish.
Tastes more like a DIPA to me!

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow, jerc & tupalev -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Vintage 2006. Pours a clear ruby with an average size lasting foamy white head. Nice aroma of caramel malt, fruit, hops, wood and a hint of alcohol. Flavour follows the aroma and is quite good but this is definitely young and needs to be aged for a few years. The alcohol is well hidden in the taste but you sure can feel it. Medium to full bodied. A very good Barley Wine which I predict would be even better in a few years.

22-oz bottle, Early Spring 2006 release. Pours clean copper and ruby with virtually no head. Aroma is caramel and maple malt (cookie), orange citrus and pine hops and an alcohol nose. Moderately sweet sugary malt, moderately bitter hops and medium acidity, piney and lingering hops. Medium bodied and warm, clean palate.