Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Limited early 2007 release poured form the 22 0z bomber. It has a warm rosy visual appeal, lightly carbonated with a stoic rocky head. The aroma is sweet and sugary, making me think of some rich dessert. As expected, it carries a big stick to the palate ... syrup, oak, cooked caramel, and resin. Would love to do a vertical comparison of this one; me thinks it will age grandly. (#2729, 3/1/2007)

The aroma is oak and some cherries. The apperance is copper colored with a nice lacing. The flavor is citrusy with some cherry and orange. It has a nice alcohol warming effect. The aftertaste leaves an almost buttery coat. Its like a Double Bastard Lite. Good stuff.

Wow. Very bitter beer. Really good though. Thanks Tchrome. Clear orange in color with a tan head. Malty hoppy flavor. Smooth brew. Yum.

Aroma is fantastic. Smooth flavor and texture, you can feel the alcohol a bit. Very enjoyable.

22 oz. brown bomber bottle. No freshness date seen, but then again, none needed. Poured out a clear copper color, with a decent, but short lived head. Aromas are of citrus, piney hops, malts, and bready yeast. Alcohol is not prevalent in either aromas or tastes. In fact the alcohol is rather well hidden. Hoppy aftertaste to it, along with a rich mouthfeel. Not exactly creamy, but rich all the same. Overall, another winner from Stone Brewing.

Dull orangy rusted murk. Slimming medium yellowed beige top of slippery smooth soft foam. Gets thin drippy rings of tiny stringy lace along with some slight clear glazed residue. Aroma has a nice blend of caramel, pine sap, and floral hops. Fairly sweet overall and resinous with a some tender orange slices, pear, and pineapple. Simple, rich, lasting, and blended flavors of soft candyish caramel, well rounded piney hops, dullishly deep tropical fruits of pineapple, orange, and nectarine keep a sweeter complexion along with high ended resinous floral perks and light heat underneath on the finish. Fantastic barleywine feel with a bold medium body taking on a sweet smoothness wrapped in delicate carbonation, creamyness, ruggedness, and alcoholic warmth. Nice finish of soft caramel mixed with leftover floral pine hops mixed in with the warmth. Super swift on the drinkable scale. Goes down far too fast and easy to be 10%. A fine tasten’, easy drinkin’ barleywine that no doubt a bit of age has suited it well.

VINTAGE 2000-QUATRO.nice head. orange peach body and yellow top below the head. looks like a doll. i dont give out many 5’s for appearance, but im generous as fuck tongiht you feel me, vato? cant smell this yet. im gonna do some snuff to clear my shit up. yo, da flavour is ill. word is life. buttery feel in the mouth. carbonation at first crack of da bottle. im feelin a bit yukmouth right now. i taste peaches, juice, mango, and some ill ass dark deep down brotha lynch baby killer type o’ shit. son, life is real in the streetz. this snuff is about to ensue: snuff didnt help one bit. i couldn’t even snort it b/c im so clogged here. im sniffing hard thought, and i have some faint orange peel, alcohol and lemon. in that order.

This is an excellent beer. The color is brown with a nice head. The beer is very full. The taste is initially of nice malt similar to their IPAs. The finish is nice and hoppy. Overall excellent beer. Not overwhelming like some barley wines.