Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Powerfully hoppy aroma, some peppery alcohol, sugary malt and citric fruitiness, with notes of spice, pine, light brown sugar, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and some very faint toasty graininess as it warms. Deep red-orange color, dusted with sediment, the head a slight ring of fine bubbles. Flavor profile is massive and intense, beginning with a large dosage of spicy hop flavor and bitterness, becoming maltier, sweeter and fruitier by midpoint and with a drying finish that sees the hops firmly reestablishing their presence amidst the potent, warming alcohol. The body is quite full, mouthfeel is smooth and seemingly befitting. I must add to the litany of comments suggesting this be laid down for a couple of years, I can definitely see further and better flavor integration down the line, although it is certainly a fine West Coast Barleywine as is.

Tasted at By the Bottle tasting in Vancouver, Washington--Poured a deep copper color with a fluffy off-white head. Monstrous hoppy bitter, and malty nose. Lots going on. Sharp and bombastic. Finishes with a big bittering grasp. High ABV well masked. Another nice Stone offering.

Holy crap this kicked my ass. 22oz bottle, copper pour with a nice long lasting head. I’m gonna buy a case of this stuff and cellar it for a while.......a long while. A great brew..oh yeah marked earyl 2006, 11.26 %

this here pond of alchemistic brilliance divulged a burgoo of succulent shades and induced thoughts of sun-torched blood oranges, watermelon flesh, and simmering fluidic lava...piercing acidic laced fruits fuel the aroma bringing an essence of papaya and white grapes and embracing oddities like watermelon jolly ranchers, grass, sour green jello...and closing with wet grass, alcohol, and sticky hop buds...a mellower progression of flavors awaits..soft, delicate, yet refined...fruity notes of peach, watermelon, grape, papaya,strawberries, and alcohol...stinging bitterness appears surprisingly at the end laying comfortably on a velvety coated mouthfeel...indeed a much needed improvement! Ay Ay!

22 oz. bottle 2006 release - Pours a deep copper color with a one finger thick off white head which faded quickly. Light fruity aroma. Flavor is also a little estery. Light alcohol warming. Initial bitterness is strong but fades quickly. Medium body. Good beer. Have to try it again after my other bottle has aged a year.
Re-Rate (1/07) This beer has mellowed nicely. More toasty malt is noticeable. Very smooth on the palate. Has lost some of its hop and bitterness punch. Time has treated this bad boy well. (numbers are adjusted to the year old bottles tasting)

Vintage 2004 22 oz. bottle pours an amber color with a white head that quickly fades to a sheen. Has a strong alcohol smell with breads, caramels, and a whiff of floral hops. The smell of this brew alone is intoxicating. Full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. Strong, bittersweet taste of sweet plums and caramels folowed by a bitter hop and warming, raw alcohol finish. A great west coast Barleywine that should only get better with time.Sept 2004 VINTAGE 2007 tasted May ’07: Copper with a lasting head. Spicy malty alcohol aroma. Huge malt driven taste with spicys hops and a bittersweet alcohol tang to finish. tastes about the same to me as the fresh ’04 did.

On tap @ Bodega 2008 vintage: Kinda surprised I haven’t rated this yet. Pours a dark amber with a off white head. Aroma, boozy fruits, caramel, sweet malts, some earthy hops. Flavor, at first it’s very hot, and I was put off by it, as it warms it got back to what it should be, sweet caramel malts, generous earthy and citrus hops, some fruits, and a nice bitterness on the finish.

ajm’s review below mine sums it up well. I found this to be very lackluster, and bland.

bottle shared with MiguelMandingo Pours dark amber to copper with a fair amount of transluscency. Smell is very mildly malty with a hint of alcohol and almost what I would expect an oxidized beer to be like. Taste is equally mild flavorwise with a hint of maltiness, balancing hops, but a subdued flavor overall with good bitterness on the finish and a noticeable alcohol presence. Below average for sure, I felt.