Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

Toronado Barleywine Fest. Pours medium amber, piney, citrus, hoppy, alcohol, little caramel, little dark fruits.

Pours a cloudy reddish orange with a substantial head for something above 11%. Great bittersweet blend of citrus hops and caramel malts - slightly grassy on the nose. Huge hop presence in the flavor of this one, as well as a bit of candi sugar to offset, and it’s hot! There’s no shame in the amount of alcohol in here. Bitter hops overpower some ripe fruit notes, and you’re left feeling every bit of the 11+% abv. Not crazy about the aftertaste - the bitterness lingers with the alcoholic punch in the face for a bit long. Great when you can offset it with food, though.

22 oz. 2008 bottle. Beautiful medium amber color. No head, no lacing to speak of. Nose of apricots and honey, caramel and sweet hops. Sweet malt and fruit taste, definite alcohol presence, not cloying, but a bitter finish.

Fresh bottle of 2009, one of the extras sampled at the Sam Smith tasting at Blacklick Wine and Spirits on 2.5.09. I remember having the 2007 version and it not having much hop. This one is waaaaay different. Pours dark amber with a small head. Hoppy and fruity aroma with caramel malt and candi sugar notes. Malty and sugary flavor like most barley wines, but the hop presence is dominating. Not bad.

0.65 l bottle at Stockholm Beer Festival 2008. Hazy orange amber color. Thick sweet malt and tropical fruit hop aroma with orange, berries and grassy hops. Bittersweet berryish flavor with loads of orangey and mangoish hops as well as huge toffeish malt backbone. Very rich, full and warming, the flavors are even too concentrated. Needs some age I guess.

07, 08, 09 vintages sampled from the tap at same time as a vertical tasting at a local beer bar. All are an orange/amber with medium size off-white head. Aromas of 07, 08 are brown sugar, caramel , sweet malt with a hint of hops. 09 has the malt with much more hops in the aroma. Flavors of 07, 08 are very similar, 07 is softer and smoother - Brown sugar and caramel with slight hints of hops in the background at the finish, alcohol well hidden. 09 however is very different, much bolder flavor of sweet malt and lots of resiny hops present - quite enjoyable, though alcohol much more noticeable. 07 is my favorite now, but 09 I bet will beat it hands down cellared for a year.

Very bitter. Not as sweet and malty as some barley wines. Definetely boozy on the nose. Just a little too bitter and unbalanced.

2009. clear amber under a small off-white head. sweet strong fruity(apple, strawberry, mango) hop aroma. palate light-medium bodied, warming, and sticky. flavors of hops, alcohol, sweet malts, and a twist of citrus. slightly lingering boozy finish. could use some age.