Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Powerfully hoppy aroma, some peppery alcohol, sugary malt and citric fruitiness, with notes of spice, pine, light brown sugar, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and some very faint toasty graininess as it warms. Deep red-orange color, dusted with sediment, the head a slight ring of fine bubbles. Flavor profile is massive and intense, beginning with a large dosage of spicy hop flavor and bitterness, becoming maltier, sweeter and fruitier by midpoint and with a drying finish that sees the hops firmly reestablishing their presence amidst the potent, warming alcohol. The body is quite full, mouthfeel is smooth and seemingly befitting. I must add to the litany of comments suggesting this be laid down for a couple of years, I can definitely see further and better flavor integration down the line, although it is certainly a fine West Coast Barleywine as is.

On tap at Redbones: Orange with no head, brown sugar aroma, with dark fruits, thick body, full mouthfeel, starts very sweet, tastes like oranges and then becomes bitter with a sweet sugar aftertaste, yummy.

Copper/bronze in color, thin head, some lace. Deep malty aroma, alcohol vapors hit sinuses, hop resins and more. Full, thicky chewy body. Caramelly, orange like sweetness, extremley rich malt flavors followed by the hop and alcohol onslaught but the brew is soo smooth, it hides it. Well at least until the end when the bitterness makes the sides of the tounge bleed. Not really cloying considering the body, and the pine resin burps after rock. Stone, nice job.

2005. Pours a reddish orange color. Aroma is a little sweet and fairly malty. Some citric aroma is present. Flavor is quite hoppy. With a maltiness to mellow it out a little. Alcohol seems to be masked quite well as I can’t taste any. Bottle reads 11.26%. Very ready to drink.

re-rate: Had rated this higher. I like the beer, but I think it is too heavy with the hops and light on the malty candy flavors for the style. I prefer a thicker, more contemplative barley wine. This is a style I like a lot. I drink mostly wine, but this is why I like beer. The aroma is "noble." I don’t know what that means, but it’s the best way I can say to describe it. It’s a profound beer. The heavy maltiness is matched by hoppiness. There are no gimmicks. It’s not a game of how much hops can you put in--the more the better. This beer is perfectly balanced. It’s a bit more heavy than complex, but that’s a criticism of the style, not the beer.

Bottled. Clear amber. Caramelly nose. Full bodied. Dominated by it’s powerful rich malt. Butterscotch mixes with sugar and grapefruity hops. Very bitter finish. Packed with flavour.

I’m only about 1/4 through the bottle by now, and it’s starting to kick my ass. Doubtful I could give a totally objective review at this point. :-) This is something like the other Barley Wines I’ve had -- smooth, mellow, and overpowering, like some magic elixir for drunken serenity, without the alcohol burn of hard liquor. It’ll knock me flat, but in the meantime, it should enliven this silly presidential debate. Stone, as usual, knows how to make beer.

(3/2/08, 22oz bottle, vintage 2007) Creamy off-white head that leaves nice lacing atop hazy amber body. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, raisin/plum, grapefruit/pine/earthy, some alcohol. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, grapefruit, pine/earthy, some raisin, orange, alcohol, light vinous. Very smooth medium-full body with light chewiness. (7/4/8/4/16)

(12/6/05, draft) Never had this in draft before, and the biggest difference appears in the intensity of the nose. Clear deep amber body with off-white head. Aroma is moderately sweet, candied orange, prune, caramel, grapefruit, cherry, butterscotch, some alcohol. Taste is sweet, caramel, orange, grapefruit, pine, dark fruit, some alcohol. Smooth full body, great for sipping on a cold night. (9/4/8/4/16)

(4/5/04, bottle) Hazy amber body with large beige head. Aroma is relatively mild -- grapefruit, light caramel. Taste is sweet, grapefruit, caramel, pine, light vinous. Finishes with medium alcohol burn. Full body, some syrup and chewiness. (6/4/8/4/15)