Stone Old Guardian (Vintages 2004 and later)

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

Serve in Snifter

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Rated 4/21/06: Limited early 2006 release, 11.26% abv with a long story on the back in print that is way too small. WoW this beer knocked my socks off in every aspect. Poured a subtle golden amber color with pencil thin head and no lacing, occaisional bubbles float to the surface - cool. Sitting next to me my wife suddenly said "your beer smells like wine" exactly, the aroma is a floral bouquet of super sweet malts complimented by citrus and sweet hops. Overpowering and aggressive the sweet scent invites you to sample the precious nectar that awaits. Flavor is extremely intense melding loads of malts, sweet and bitter with a dry hoppiness that shouldn’t work but it does all too well. The alcohol walks through the door and shakes your hand but you are still thinking about the malts. The flavor lends itself to a smooth mouthfeel that finishes slightly bitter, the perfect ending to a wonderful story. Overall this is intense and beautiful, truly another fantastic effort created by Stone. Cudos

2004 Old Guardian from a growler (yeah baby) bought at Stone ($7 growler fill). 3 years old. No head, but a little carbonation. Nice background oxidation smell, a perfect amount. The beer is cloudy. I didn’t know aging made the beer cloudy. It was interesting to see the guy gingerly filling the bottle of aged old Guardian, while the next growler was overflowing with some other stuff. Very well balanced hops and sweetness. I should probably rerate with a fresh batch, this one is too good!

Wow what a brew. Pours a wonderful bronze color with a white forming head. Great taste of grapes and spice. Bit bitter hops. Good look, smooth, and greeat taste.

22oz. Pours a hazy amber brown and a medium white head. Aroma is great, big malt body ad hops, piny notes. Taste is complex deep, evolving, and nicely balanced. Great, thick, complex palate. I am really enjoying this guy. Today I an the RB DD, whoo hoo !

Aroma of hops and caramel. Taste of nuts, caramel and american hops. A little to bitter.

Very good beer. I am usually a bit tentative when it comes to barley wine ales but this one was surprisingly good. High alcohol content though.

On tap at Rubicon for cask night! (From notes) Aroma is fruity, some alcohol. Smooth. Hard to describe, there is a lot going on. Tastes like wine made of barley, literally what I imaging Barley wine to be. Very good. Also have this in a bomber, will update and contrast the difference.

aroma, fruitness, in the nose, old malts, color, sparkling medium amber, taste, the sweetness from the malts comes right through in front a ceral sweetness, ans a warming essence as well, the backend hops comes out, some bitterness, but awesome balance, overall, this is one of my favs, Iam glad I still have this one, after losing Old Horozontial

2012 release 60cl. Freakin awsome. bitterness, alcohol and this amazing "Stone" taste makes this beer allmost flawless

Bottle poured on pint glass great dark brown color, very cloudy; big kick tons of malt and hops flavor definitely strong taste. Great rich aroma. Overall great Ale.