Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Clear burnt orange color with an off white head. Fruity aromas with hints of malts and butterscotch. Sticky to syrupy mouthfeel. Thick and rich. Very malty and very smooth with cherry and toffee characteristics. Nice aftertaste with little alcohol burn present. Really tasty and very smooth once it opens up.

Hazy, golden red body with a creamy, white head. Fruity sweet aroma full of citrus, tart berries, pine sap, caramel, a touch of toffee and a little warming alcohol. The body is fairly moderate in thickness but has small, tight bubbles that stick to the glass. Good flavors that start sweet with the malt before becoming intensely bitter. Hoppy as hell that finishes with a bitterness that really makes the tongue curl. Alcohol makes its way into the finish to warm the ming, body and soul. Another strong Barley Wine from the folks in San Marcos.

Not quite as good as last year’s version but I liked it well enough. Pours golden orange with a thick off-white head. Nice lacing through the entire glass. The aroma is big on malt, along with some hops, butter and alcohol. Rich-bodied and smooth despite the bitter hops and borderline harsh alcohol. There are also malt and grapefuit flavors in the mix. Despite being a little rough this is a good Barley Wine.

On Draft. Very nice orangish amber, aroma has some sweetness but is quite hoppy. Malt levels may be light for the style; has some acidic candied fruit character that you can discern before the hops kicks in and takes over. Hides the abv well, quite drinkable and much much better as it warms.

Beautiful old brass door knob color. A big thick head and thick sheets of lace stick to the sides of the glass like cobwebs. In the nose, huge, rich caramel malts, slight grapefruit rind hop notes, distant baked apples and oak-barrelled alcohol. Bursts of flavor on the tongue and even the sides of my mouth and all the way down. Big doughy, caramel and fancy orange liquor flavors are immediate. Dry burning hops, more soft warming alcohol, and slight woodiness in the finish. caramel and alcohol warm on the way down and in the aftertaste. Side by side with the ’03, this is stronger in firey alcohol but a little lighter in malts and hops.

Winter 04 release. Orange/copper, tiny white head. Big grapefruit and plum aroma. Nicley bitter grapefruit flavor up front, with notes of smoke and pine. finally a resiny, thick finish. Big aftertaste. As good as it now, I wonder how some age will treat it.

A hazy orange color with a foamy head that quickly fades to a small island of bubbles. Thick sweet malts, chewey & rich. A bit of grapefruit & floral hop scent. A sweet front, loads of malt, fruity flavor quickly transitions to a bracing bitter citrus peel middle. A bit of cotton candy at the finish and a lingering bitterness. A bomber to myself, life is good!

(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!