Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2007 - Stone Brewing Co.

thetastywort

California

4.64/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Fortunate to grab a growler and a glass at the company store. Served in a 10oz. Glass.

A: A golden copper color. Very cloudy/opaque, such that I cannot see through the glass. Thin white head retention.

S: Very malty and strong flavors of carmel. A beautiful and complex aroma. you can tell its aged well. Reminds me a little of a dry 18-year old scotch.

T: immediately, the sweet carmel and toffee hits me. Next, is a nice, smooth malt backbone, followed by a bitter, hoppy finish that lingers. I feel like I'm going to taste this for hours (but in a good way). It's amazing how the flavors are so bold after almost six years. It's definitely one of the best barleywines I've had.

M: Definitely thick and chewy. It completely coats my mouth.

Overall, fantastic! 'Nuff said.

07-22-2011 21:47:43 | More by akorsak

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2013 18:31:01 | More by thetastywort

drabmuh

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer served in an Old Guardian glass, because I can.

Beer is ruby in color and clear with an off white head of small bubbles with low retention, some lacing and moderate carbonation.

Aroma is bready, yeasty, nice esters, a little fruity with plums or other stone fruits.

Beer is medium in body and sweet, very sweet, mildly bitter from the grains in the back and the midpalate is estery with some nice fruits or grape skins. Not my favorite series of beers from Stone but this one is pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 18:41:03 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle courtesy of drabmuh at last weekend's Stone tasting. Served in a Stone goblet.

Pours a semi-hazy golden-caramel color with a bit of an orange hue. Short head without much in the way of retention or lacing.

The nose brings some caramel and brown sugar, as well as some older hops. Faint fruits in the background. This is the hoppiest of the bunch when compared with the 2005 and 2006, though still not super hoppy. The flavor has a good deal of sweetness and still just a touch of lingering bitterness. Some alcohol. Medium body with low carbonation and a mixture of sugar and alcohol. There's some fullness to it.

This was okay, but it's not something I'd really plan to age all that much of in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 11:28:11 | More by Thorpe429

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle, 2007 vintage, 11.26%, that I picked up at the Whole Foods in Georgetown back in the day.

Pouring a clear barleywine-red-brown with a dense, beige head with rather excellent retention and lacing, this looks like a good barleywine. It smells like one too, with quite a bit of crystal and caramel malt character, along with a mostly faded pine hop character. QC at Stone is pretty good (IMO) and so, there's none of the deleterious oxidation here, with no cheesey hops or stale, papery malts. Brown sugar, toffee, creme brulee even, there's some wildflower honey with some floral aspects. Pretty nice!

The palate is mostly sweet with some alcohol. Medium-full in body with soft carbonation, this beer is all kinds of sweet. Caramel, toffee, a little brown sugar, some burnt sugar, a little vanilla, and some booze to round out the front and back-ends. A moderate bitterness is present, at a surprising level even, balancing some sweetness. Aggressively caramel-like, though the complexity really does tell me that this is kettle caramelization and someone playing fast and loose with crystal malt, this is growing on me. Bitter and sweet on the finish with honey and pine, this beer is pretty enjoyable, and from past experience, better than it was fresh. Recommended, and it ages well too. Hits all the right notes for a style that typically doesn't do much for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 01:06:55 | More by DefenCorps

Smurf2055

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2007 vintage enjoyed at Bevridge Place in West Seattle. Aroma was amazing! Sweet yet balanced, malt and hops, aggressive yet friendly. Appearance was dark amber with about a finger of foam. Obviously at four years old, there’s very little carbonation on it. Taste was decent. Warming feeling and a bit of citrus. Lot’s of malt. There was a bit of an alcohol bite, and I sort of expected a bit more complexity at four years old. Palate was full and strong, all over and remains for a while. Overall, I’m not a big barleywine fan, but I still keep an eye out for them. As far as they go, this one was pretty good. It’s very Stone brewing; up front and aggressive, and it knows it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 23:07:32 | More by Smurf2055

SLeffler27

New York

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Fills a tulip glass with clear, reddish copper, some carbonation and a thin, frothy almond head that puts a film on the glass and modest legs.

Well balanced caramel and pine -- almost pine tar. Some raisins and honey are detectible in the background.

Opens with a strong punch of alcohol, immediately followed by a jab of hop bitterness assaulting the tongue before the more subtle flavors can be appreciated. Raisins do come through along with caramel, but the long bitter finish overwhelms the flavor nuances.

A medium to full body beer with slick texture and abrasive carbonation. While some sweetness is present on entry, none remains for the dry finish and alcohol is assertive.

A difficult beer to drink as warmth brings out more alcohol, preventing the flavors from truly developing, especially after aging three years in the cellar. If this is intended to be overly aggressive, then, well done. However, I think Stone has pushed the envelope a bit too far and may have lost the beer in the process. For those who are seeking alcohol and assertive bitterness, Old Guardian is for you.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 22:28:54 | More by SLeffler27

Boto

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2007 bottle sampled 12-2011: This one pours a clear, coppery color. There was almost no head on it as well as no lacing. Big whiff of caramel malts. Some piney hops trying to rise up from the malts. Maybe some raisin and other faint fruits. The taste is very rich. Lots of the caramel malts, but the sweetness is subdued. Hints of the pine hops in there balancing it out a bit. Actually a hint of dryness to the finish. Really nice!!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 20:45:01 | More by Boto

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

64oz Growler poured into a hill farmstead tulip, found at Pearl Street Beverage in Burlington! Huge thanks for them putting this on the Growler bar!

Pours a fairly unfortunate hazy, muddy amber brown wig a small light yellow head that settles quickly. Nose is really malty and rich - caramel and an almost honey and oats note that's really nice.

Taste is simply fantastic, no surprise but age has done this beer a lot of good! Not hot at all, rich and mellow with that honey and oat finish that was on the nose. Light carbonation and a dry finish. Very good beer!

Serving type: growler

12-15-2011 22:59:29 | More by kingcrowing

brew3crew

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at acre for the stone tap takeover

A-transparent amber with no head whatsoever

S-lots of malt with some hops still left suprisingly

T-sweet malts with a little bit of burn from the alcohol. Very slight alcohol but its there still

M-medium body and smooth.

O-Age has really mellowed the beer out. Would love to try agai with more age

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2011 23:51:55 | More by brew3crew

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A slow turn through an 06-09 and 11 Belgo vertical. Poured into a tumbler glass.

A: The barleywine is a darker orange copper, still within the acceptable parameters of amber. The barleywine is translucent, nearly transparent. A finger and a half of off-white head, a yellow-brown shade, leaves a few strings of lace behind.

S: Lots of malts, thick and prickly. But there are plenty of hops here too. The balance is big, a little muddled at times, but powerful nonetheless. My final opinion is that the maltiness is wins out, its wall of caramel and toffee overpowering the hops.

T: The hops come sprinting through in the first sip, a flash of bitterness that is quickly swallowed up by rich caramel sweetness. The caramel builds quickly to a full wall of treacle. Hops return after the caramel passes, a fresh pine aroma that adds to the thickness of each sip. The combined hop/malt finish is bold, still intense 4 years in.

M: The mouthfeel is touch, incredibly strong with each sip, the hops a nice stand out.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 21:47:43 | More by akorsak

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Opened a bottle of this in 2010. The bottle had been on the shelves of a local beer shop for 3 years I suppose. Hard to imagine something like this sticky around for that long. The beer pours out as a nice looking thick brown liquid. The head was still pretty good right after the pour. The head settles and left a decent looking lacing on the glass. The smell of the beer was loaded with malts giving off a bit of sweetness mixed with some heavy booze aromas. There is also a healthy amount of hops on the nose too, not surprising from Stone. The taste is a so mellow, I found this to be one of the easiest barely wines I've ever drank. I'm not sure if it's because of the age or if that's how it's just made. The mouthfeel is thick and has a heavy body to it. It's a very filling beer. Overall this beer was quite impressive, I figured I'd enjoy it but I didn't expect to at this level. Very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 19:00:29 | More by Knapp85

pitasoup

Tennessee

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz poured into snifter per suggestion. Thanks to flexabull for another blind bif beer.

A: slightly hazy amber brown with a finger of dense white head that is very slow to subside. 3.5

S: Wow, intense caramel, raisins. Slight hops, apples, coconut and lemon rind. This smells oreo cookie sweet. After letting this sit, there's a bit of alcohol and mint as well. From the smell alone, I'm going to like this beer. 5

T: A bit of hop bitterness, then strong sweet caramel malts. Slightly smoky, slightly peaty flavors and smells with the first sip. barley malts, a bit of lemon, pear, and tannins at the end 4.0

M: medum-full body. slightly hot, finishes with lingering bitterness and heat. 3.5

O: This seems nicely developed. The flavors aren't harsh but I believe it still has room for improvement. Alcohol heat detracts from the overall enjoyability but the fantastic smell makes up for most of its shortcomings. 4.0

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 05:08:44 | More by pitasoup

armock

New York

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Craft & Commerce in San Diego CA

A - Poured a copper color with a tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Lots of sweet malt with some citrus hops

T - Starts off with the sweet malt then the citrus hops come out more so now than the smell

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

O - Whats already a very good beer has been made even better with a few years on it makes me want to put a few bottles away age

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2011 01:57:07 | More by armock

Snow81

Minnesota

4.72/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Reddish glow

Head: no head, just a small runner on the sides of the glass

Smell: Dark citrus with a big maltyness no heat

Taste: Sweet malts with a dark light citric hop and subtle warmth

Weight: Heavy body

Finish: Light biter citric with lots of stickiness on the lips

If you ask me for another I would say, yes!

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2011 04:48:04 | More by Snow81

jera1350

Minnesota

4.72/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A lovely light ruby/gold color that seems to glow. A nice tan head to complement.

Hoppy and sweet smelling with notes of citrus and candy.

Big time sweetness along with citrusy hops that are so well integrated together. Alcohol is nowhere to be found. Such a treat on the palate.

Big body, slick and smooth. A very clean feel as well.

This is one of the best Barleywines I have ever had. The aging seems to have allowed the flavors to marry perfectly. Awesome, awesome beer!

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2011 19:09:02 | More by jera1350

tewaris

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12% ABV; 85 IBU's
Served in a 10 oz. Chalice like glass.

Hazy and deep tangerine hued with a small off white head. Not big on head retention or lacing. It's amazing that the hops have survived 4 years and are still present in the strongly woody/resiny aroma. Bready and caramel malt notes are present as well.

Lots of palate bruising bitterness but worth the flavor - earthy, resiny, and woody notes, strong caramel and dried fruit. I am glad that I got to try a brewer certified aged American Barleywine. Mouthfeel is thick and sticky with appropriate carbonation. The finish is clean and a little astringent without any alcohol burn. A very good beer!

Scores: Appearance 3/5, Aroma 4/5, Taste 4/5, Mouthfeel 4.5/5, Overall 4.5/5

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2011 02:35:44 | More by tewaris

UCLABrewN84

California

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler fill from Stone Brewing Co.

Pours a deep honey amber color with a 1 inch off-white head that fades to nothing. Small rivulets of lacing on the glass. Smells of caramelized sugar, cherry cordials, citrus zest. Taste is sweet sugary caramel malt, cherry cordial, and citrus zest hops. Bitterness is quite subdued but still noticeable, which I attribute to the 3+ years of cellaring. Good carbonation still present on this beer. Leaves a sticky sweet coating in the mouth. Drinkability is quite good for such a high ABV. A rare treat from the Stone cellars.

Serving type: growler

02-24-2011 05:14:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

ehammond1

California

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler

Stone Brew Co.
Escondido, CA
02-20-2011 Sunday Funday Growler Fills

(Aged 4 years at the brewery)

A murky and cloudy deep copper. Very thin milky brown head with small bubbles. Leaves not so much rings of lacing as sheets of it.

Orange citrus hops, cherries, and lemon in the nose. A sugary caramel sweetness as well.

The bitterness from the hops have faded and what's left is just the essence of citrus hop flavors. These are accompanied by flavors of caramel malts, maple syrup, sweet dates, and old-fashioned donuts. No alcohol heat whatsoever. A fantastic sipper.

Silky yet sticky. Feels like drinking a divine dessert.

As with most decadent desserts, one is most often enough. Even without the slightest hint of alcohol, I don't find myself grabbing for more. (Until around midnight, just like with a rich dessert, and I sneak down to the kitchen for just one more!).

Serving type: growler

02-22-2011 00:37:40 | More by ehammond1

MrHirschybar

California

3.9/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a growler at a Stone Saturday Tap Night recently to go.

A- Murky copper/peach color with an off-white and tan head that quickly dissipate. Almost like a really dark mimosa-like appearance...

S- Initial boozy alcohol smell, followed by light hop scents with a citrus fruit and grape reminiscent smell with a follow through that reminded me of yeast...

T- A little tart initially, with strong maltiness and hops still hanging around strong at the 3 year (January 2011) so almost 4 year mark depending on the original release date. Much better drinkability as it warmed in my New Belgium glass. Reminded me of a lighter tasting North Coast Old Stock Ale in a way..

M- Felt it was light to medium at most, very little coating from drinking it, with a nice little alcohol warming near the finish that lingered nicely.

D- Enjoyed this quite a bit actually, though I definitely would sip and let it warm as I felt it tasted better as it warmed. The girlfriend enjoyed it quite a bit as well. For the growler fill price it was quite nice and would definitely enjoy again as an aged barleywine.

Serving type: growler

01-24-2011 02:01:55 | More by MrHirschybar

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a tumbler.

Big thanks to plenum for this vintage gem!

The kettle's a-boilin' now, so what better time to break out a vintage OG? It pours a hazed tawn' topped by a half-finger of tan-ish cream foam. The nose comprises light caramel, lemon zest, light mandarin orange, and buttered biscuits. The taste holds notes of tangerine, lemon, very light buttery caramel, and a strong phenolic bite in the back. The body is a solid medium, with a moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, a pretty solid barleywine, though I think age may be starting to get to this guy. Even still, despite that, this is surprisingly pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 07:01:53 | More by TMoney2591

Vdubb86

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass

Thanks to TMoney2591 via Plenum for allowing the partaking of this beer

This offering pours a cloudyish golden orange with not really too much head to speak of. The aromas are faint on some hop notes and heavy on the caramel and toffee on the nose. The taste I was rather impressed with because the hop character that I'm used to kicking me in the face with Stone beers. I suppose hops don't stick around for 3 years. There was a buttery taste to the beer along with the aforementioned caramel characters. This beer wasn't overly boozy, but I found it to be flat. Though I must admit I truly had no problem whatsoever drinking this beer. It was a very good, clearly above average barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 07:39:46 | More by Vdubb86

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Damian and Lona. Thanks!

This beer is hazy light brown with crimson hues. The head is rather small and leaves subtle lacing. The aroma is of sweet malt and alcohol. The taste follows suit, with additional notes of toffee and butterscotch. Alcohol remains prevalent despite a few years of aging. The feel is medium bodied, with moderate sweetness. A decent beer, but only an average example of the style. A small serving is plenty.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 00:58:13 | More by Huhzubendah

drumrboy22

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler obtained from Stone Brewing. Poured into a Stone chalice. Beer was a cloudy amber color, with a one-finger, tan head. Very thick lacing lacing and moderate carbonation.

Aroma was grapefruit, citrus, caramel, malt, toffee and pine.

Taste was citrus, sweet malt, bitter hops and bread.

Has help up really well. Well balanced and drinking very well.

Serving type: growler

11-04-2010 22:04:19 | More by drumrboy22

wknight167

California

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Apearance - Pours a hazy orangeish amber with a 3 finger off white head, medium retention and some decent lacing.

Nose- Dark caramel and stone fruits with citrus hops still present in a smaller way.

Palate- Hops are still there, but a shadow of there former orange/grapefruit selves. Caramel and toasted malt along with some butterscotch. Alcoholic warming seems to have re-emerged.

Mouthfeel- Full bodied, almost sticky. Carbonation is on the low side which is understandable for a 3 year old.

Drinkability- A little rough. I can't say that 3 years is the prime time for this one.

Overall- I think this might be in a lull. The beauty of the hops has faded, but the malt is yet to shine.

Serving type: growler

10-20-2010 07:23:23 | More by wknight167

Zorro

California

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear reddish amber colored beer with a small tan colored head.

Smells like ice tea with lemon at first. Citrus with a definite lemon note. Chocolate on toast with a slight menthol aroma.

Starts out neutral with a savory aftertaste. Quite a smooth flavor 3 years of aging has mellowed out this beer a lot. A little bitter up front on the tongue with a woody caramel aftertaste. Not real complex in flavor though, just mellow.

Mouthfeel is good, not quite thick though.

Drinkability is where this beer really shines. At this point it is perfectly mellowed and deceptively easy to drink. It would be a mistake to age this beer anymore it is perfect right now.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 06:10:38 | More by Zorro