Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Thanks Daknole. 2009 release. Amber pour with light tan head. Slight sweet aroma with a little alcohol. Malty flavor with some alcohol taste. Dry aftertaste with malty mouthfeel. Very tasty- wish I had another bottle so as to compare with it after a year in my cellar. Nice lacing on the glass. You do feel a little warmth at the end of the bottle.

Bottle. Small off-white, quickly diminishing head. Medium amber body. Hoppy aroma of resin and grapefruit. Hint of cookie. The flavor is moderately sweet and moderately bitter. It finishes lightly to moderately sweet and heavily bitter with a lingering taste of alcohol. Full body with a velvety texture and soft carbonation. Seems way over the top with hops for a barley wine. Why not just drink a super-hopped IPA? Style aside, a good-tasting beer.

Overwhelmingly bitter. Lots of hoppy citrus. Malt characteristics are overpowered. Not at all what I expected from a barley wine and not one I’ll buy again.

Very very very very bitter. I’ve had good barley wines. This is not one of them. for those who appreciate bitter flavors, this is for you. It is very strong you will feel it... does provide a nice flavor burp... but for those who don’t like bitter, your best bet is to throw to back of the mouth... avoid the front of the mouth and you can maintain some enjoyment.

caramel, resin, floral, citrus, woody, orange, hazy, frothy, tan foam, medium sweetness, very bitter, lightly sour, medium body, creamy, soft carbonation, bitter, long finish

Bomber (early ’09 vintage) served in trappist glass- poured somewhat turbid, darkened amber with copper tints, white ring around the glass for a head. Aroma of various fruits, malt, hops, and purely magical beer goodness. Hits the mouth with a high-medium body, the slightly sweet malt is there but is quickly followed by the incoming hop wave (to be expected, especially from this brewery) but the background has fig and clove, middle is dandy where various sweet and hard esters make themselves known, finish has a very mild alcohol burn and it completes is self with no effort. Damn. Mental note- buy the rest, tell Austin to F$#@ OFF!!

2006 bottle courtesy of HogtownHarry. This BW is a deep and hazy caramel colour, topped with a frothy beige cap. The nose is huge on this one. Massive caramel and piney hops meet citric notes, some apricot, bread crust too. Tastes of big complex malts, caramel and butterscotch, piney, citric hops, some apricot. Quite bitter and malty on the finish, massive lingering hoppiness. A slight metallic twang at the end. Good stuff. Thanks Harry!

The smell is caramel, hops, florals, fruits, malts, alcohol, pine, and citrus. The look is clear, some sediment, and has a good nice off white head. The taste is florals. hops, pine, caramel, citrus, fruits, and a nice bitterness.