Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Bottle. Heavy malt aroma of caramel, moderate to heavy hops of orange peel, a light yeast smell of broth, and toffee, brown sugar, bourbon, alcohol and a spiciness like vanilla in the background. Head is smell, off white, wispy/bubbly, mostly diminishing and has good lacing. Color is a hazy orange/tan. Flavor starts lightly sweet and acidic, then finishes lightly acidic and moderately bitter. Palate is medium, oily/creamy with a lively carbonation and finishes moderately alcoholic and lightly dry and astringent. A well rounded barleywine with bold aromas and great balance in flavor. Even better when it warms

’07 Bottle: Pours a dark, murky amber color with a medium-sized cream head. Big caramel malt aroma with some slight notes of dark fruit, candy and a mild hop tone. Creamy, full bodied mouth feel. Sweet, caramelly flavor, a bit fruity and has a subtle warming sensation.

2007 Limited 22oz into a snifter. Dark red-orange, very small off-white head. The hops hit you right away like most Stone beers, but has a nice, tart warming finish, unlike the others. An excelent, drinkable barelywine with solid fruit and pine flavors. The alcohol is almost non-existant until the warming finish. Very good.

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter has an orange color with light carbonation and a thick half inch white foamy head that died to a ring in the glass. aroma has brown and candy sugar, caramel malt, vanilla, fruit, light oak, and alcohol. mouth feel is medium with a thickening but creamy. flavor has more alcohol than the nose, hefty sweet malt, brown sugar, some spice, wet herbs, oak again, licorice, and anise. the hops are there but well integrated and as it is drank it becomes smoother with every sip. finish is sweet with some bitterness. some interesting aroma and flavor twists and turns that had me interested to the last sip.

2007. 8 oz on tap @ Rattle n Hum. An awesome barley wine. Pours an hued orange golden. Brutal strength but some sweet bitterness keeps you sipping.

bomber. early 2009 vintage. pours reddish orange with a tan head. aroma of pale and crytal malt and a ton of hops. flavour of huge pale and crystal malt and a ton of hops. like an IIPA with a huge malt bill. not very drinkable at all. a bomber of this stuff is gluttoness but very enjoyable if you like huge american barley wine ales. i like it, i want more.

2007 bottle - Noticeably sweet right off the bat. Probably needs more time to age and mellow out. Great color and aroma. Definitely not for the timid. One of the better barley wines available in high distribution.

Fruit taste with a bit of a sour finish. Nice amount of alchie. Can’t wait to have another