Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

old rating: 7/4/8/4/17 - 4.0 (limited early 2008 release). 2009 vintage pour is a cloudy brown-orange with a medium size beige head, and excellent lacing. smell of sweet fruit (pear, apple) some roasted nuts, some caramel, spice, and grain in the back. taste is thick, semi-tart, burnt caramel, roasted nuts, malt, some fruit, and a touch of citrus, ends a little dry and a little bitter, gets sweeter as it warms.

Bottle, 2008. Cloudy orange-brown with a thick orangey-tan head. Aroma is intensely fruity and sweet, of candied citrus, hops and a hint of something sharper. Powerful flavor of malt, citrus hops, dates. Big, full mouthfeel and a lingering bitterness. Really nice barley wine.

Bomber 2008 vintage poured a hazy copper with a small lasting amber head. Aromas of carmel, citrus and light pine. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, grapefruit rind, earthiness and light orange with a smooth lingering bitter finish.
Tastes more like a DIPA to me!

Having only recently started to enjoy barleywines, i was really looking forward to the one from my favorite brewery. Id have to say i was a little disappointed. I really expected more hops. It wasnt bad at all just not what i expected.

Hmmm. Not quite my thing. It pours beautifully, though. The big plus? 11.26%, baby!

Old Guardian is so strong yet so smooth it will make you feel like you got kicked in the nuts but yet still want to come back for more. Yes this is the brewage that is that good.

Pours a slightly cloudy amber with a medium sized cream colored head. Aroma is hoppy and slightly malty. Taste is smootha and it is very hard to tell that there is over 11 percent alcohol especially on the first drink, but it becomes more pronounced after a moment as well as the hoppy finish that pops up after a moment. Good but not quite enough hop flavor except in the finish.

22 oz bottle, 2008 edition. Pours a clear copper with 2 cm off-white head. Aroma of malt, apples, grapes, and alcohol. Flavor is spiked apple juice with a slight hint of hops on the backend. Finishes hoppy and alcoholic. Light lacing, light carbonation, medium body, strong alcohol presence. Drinkable, more so to say you have tried it than anything else.