Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

22oz bomber. Pours a very deep orange with hints of cloudiness and haze. It pours with a very thick, light tan head that slowly fades to nearly nothing and leaves a lovely web of lace all over the glass. The aroma is nice and very strong: lots of alcohol, but also lots of fruit and sugar: sweet malts, vinous and plump fruits, and a nice touch of citrus. The flavor starts sweet and strong with alcohol. It has a nice touch of fruity bitterness along with big, sweet chunks of caramel cake. The middle of the tongue picks up the burning sensation of alcohol, more caramel malt and a nice touch of bitter hops. The finish burns the back of the throat with alcohol, but is awesomely balanced - firm malt presence balanced by just the right touch of bitterness. The mouthfeel is thick and is decently carbonated (not too much, not too little). The alcohol provides some sting all over the tongue. Overall, this is one of my favorite American Barley Wines - probably even better than Avery’s Hog Heaven (which may have been my favorite ABW before tasting this one). Truly tasty.

Very pleasant malty aroma with hints of molasses, oak, and toffee. The taste matches the aroma with the addition of alcohol well balanced with the other flavors. Bitter finish.

Pours a amber color with a thin white head. Aroma of malt and caramel. This is good! Nice alcohol taste throughout the beer. Not overly hopped, with great malt flavors. Everything I expect in a good barley wine.

2009 bomber on 2/13/09 poured into a snifter glass. this one was very fresh and full of nice piney hops. This is really how I enjoy my Barely Wines... fresh and hoppy with the huge barley presence. pours a deep red with a quarter inch white head. good hop filled aroma. big presence over the palate with a bunch of spice and bitterness on the front. some caramel and alcohol lingering. excellent bitter finish. ’08 bomber on 4/5/08 - rating from notes taken. very well balanced American Barley Wine.... pours a deep red with a white head. sweet, hoppy, medium body and a thick hoppy finish. Didn’t really taste the alcohol at all.... doesn’t drink like an 11+%.

22 oz. bottle from Grape & Gourmet (Early 2008 release). Hazy, thick, dark orange pour with a foamy off-white head. Aroma of orange, tangerine, peach, and caramel. Perfectly balanced malty sweetness, grapefruit hop bitterness, and alcohol warming. This is exceptional.

~Pours an orange amber with off white head. ~Woodsy hop aroma that is similar in other Stone brews. Caramel malts also dominate along with alcohol. ~Has a smoked pine flavor, very bitter. Some sweetness. As a hop lover it is very delicious. ~Medium sticky feel. Similar to IPA. Sharp bitter finish. Leaves mouth watering wanting more. ~ This is my kind of barleywine. I enjoy a m ore intesely hop barleywine like this one opposed to super sweet ones. Very good!

2009 22oz bomber; This beer is perhaps the best offering from Stone. I dare to say that it is in fact better than the Double Bastard, if only slightly. People are saying that the hops overpower the malt, but I feel that it is almost perfectly balanced. More akin to a East Coast DIPA than a Barleywine. Heck of a deal at $4.20 a bottle. Drink and enjoy, this is a masterpiece by any measure.

This ale pours a hazy copperwith a nice sized head and great lacing. Flavors of caramel,mild hops, and slightly floral. full bodied and very nice.07 vintage at The Petrol Station.