Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Early 2007 Release After its release from the 22-ounce brown silk-screened bottle, it resides in the glass a cloudless burnished copper with a gigantic head that is tan in color, creamy in texture and as it slowly erodes, the lacing provides a glutinous curtain to drape the glass. Nose has a big sweet malt aroma, caramel, with hints of strawberry cotton candy, oh yeah, fusel alcohol, also in the mix a touch of hops. Start is ambrosial, with the alcohol and hops providing a serious bite at the rear, the palates not my derriere? lol Top feels medium to full, with the finish modestly hopped, sweet with malt and the acidity generous, alcohol evident, with the aftertaste sweetly dry, a true tummy warmer, maybe a better term, "Stone Old Guardian Sensation"! Early Spring Release 2006 The beer upon the pour from the 22-ounce brown silk screened bottle is a clear burnished copper with a voluminous creamy light tan head that after erosion leaves a nice coating of lace upon the glass. Nose has a nice malt sweetness, hints of caramel, and oh yes a bit of fusel alcohol, and touch of hops me thinks, start is sweet, and the grain profile perfect and the top medium to full in feel to the palate. Finish has perfect carbonation, the delectable in their spiciness, nice bit of tummy warming, and the aftertaste dry. This beer has been a longtime favorite, and one I look for each year, along with the Imperial Stout, of course any beers from Stone Brewing are always a welcome site. Vintage 2005 Every year I wait for one of my favorite Stone beers to hit the shelf, of course this one hit while I was under the weather, so it got pushed back in a corner of the DBF. The beer as it emerges from the 22 ounce brown bottle a tralucent deep copper color, the head is mastodonic in size and spumescent in texture, after it slowly fades to nothingness, the lace forms a tight girdle to surround the glass. The aroma of sweet malt, over ripe fruit, hops, cotton candy all occupy the nose, what a treat, start is sweet with a thick grain profile and the top middling to full in its feel to the palate. Finish is delectably acidic and the hop potent in their spiciness, and the 11. 26 percent ABV makes itself know in the tummy warming and the alcohol bitterness in the very dry aftertaste, Another splendid vintage that will age nicely. "bonum beer laetificat cor hominis" Vintage 2004 One of my favorite beers that I look for each year, and one I get by the case. The beer as it renounces the 22 ounce bottle in favor of my beer glass is a tralucent deep copper color, the head is behemothic in size and spumous in texture, after it dissolves, the lace forms a thick blanket to cover the glass. The aroma of hops, fusel alcohol, fresh pineapple also sweet cotton candy like tones, a real treat for the schnozzle and the peepers, start is ambrosial, rich in malt, the top middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is controlled in its acidity, the hops unyielding in their spiciness with the aftertaste bone-dry, and long lasting, the 10.6% ABV produces a nice touch of alcohol bitterness and a definite belly warming sensation, a “Hoot” as it is every year, and it only gets better with age just like “Old Gusler”?

Beautiful glowing orange color with a creamy medium sized off-white head. Sweet candy grape, brown sugar, light floral hops and alcohol aroma. Sweet malt, brown sugar, floral hops, citrus and alcohol flavors. Thick but crisp feel. Very good!

Pours an absolutely beautiful dark clear ruby red amber with a thick off-white head. Aroma is is malty with a hint of whiskey and bourbon. Taste is extremely malty with a ton of hops and notes of caramel, butterscotch, honey, dark fruit, plums and vanilla. Sticky, sweet and syrupy - just glorious on the palate. Bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is very full, round and creamy. Has a prominent, yet, not overpowering presence of alcohol. Great lacing and head retention. A world class barleywine. Highly recommended!

22 oz bottle marked early 2006. Poured reddish copper wtih a medium but long lasting head A powerful fruity aroma of vanilla, maple, an maybe grapes greets you. Tons of flavor. Does not taste like it is 11.26 % alcohol. Which is a danger, because you could drink a lot of this...it is that good. If fact this is so wonderful I am going go back to my local COOP where I purchased this and lay in a supply. Like a fine wine you discover, you want to have this on hand to impress friends on just how good a brewed drink can get. Update 1/31/07. : I bought a bunch back in March and put them in my wine cellar. No one has ever told me how to store beer, so I kept the bottles upright amd at 55 degrees just as it says on the bottle... I decided to do a comparison of the aged bottles and a brand new bottle dated Early 2007 puchased today. I could barelly tell them apart though the aged one was slightly smoother. As I had already given this a five for palate it did not change the overall score. . Aging might be a good idea but it appeared nine months did not make that much difference. I have a few more bottles left, and will check back in another nine months and see if I can tell if 18 monthis improves it any more.

I’ve just sampled this so far. Really powerful aroma which is similar to the Old Numbskull in my opinion. The pour is very creamy and has a nice amber color. The flavor is really great. Very fruity with a lot of malts and hops. I found this to be similar to an English Style Barley Wine. It is like the Old Numbskull but less powerful. The alcohol is hidden well which is quite impressive. Great so far. I will re-rate when I have had more of this. 2005- What is this beer number 199.5? Had this on draft at the Gingerman. Poured a surprisingly light brown color. It is much lighter then the Victory Old Horizontal in color. Great aroma of gin and tonic, pinapple, caramel and various dark fruits. The hops are quite present as well in the aroma along with the alcohol. The alcohol hits hard during the first sip of the beer. The taste is very good with some similarities to the Double Bastard. It is not as smooth as the Double Bastard in that the alcohol is not as well hidden. Still very good stuff though. I’ll give this a 4.3 as well.

this was second barley wine i had .it was ok i have had better .the only other BW i ever had was FFF behemoth so i really have nothing to compare it to Still overall it was a good beer and everybody likes stone beer so you can not go wrong

Tastes of molasses. Better with age as time has mellowed the alcohol flavor. Robust in texture, full in complexity. This beer could definitely use more time. Fruity aftertaste as it goes down. This is a great year for O.G. I could not contemplate why Greg would possibly write an essay on the back of the bottle though. Non the less this is a great beer with an awesome taste on its own of a stone beer. Cheers!

on tap. good barleywine fruity as well as a good amout of hoppiness a pleasure to drink alcohol was easily hidden. very nice i wish i could have picked up a bottle