Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2009 - Stone Brewing Co.

jsapunor

California

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured this into an Old Guardian glass. It's a great looking cloudy orange-red with three fingers of tan creamy head that just hangs on and on.

Since this is from Stone, you have to expect hops and that's what you get in the aroma but malt and alcohol are there as well.

I was expecting this to be hop heavy but it wasn't. The hops are there all right but there is a bias toward caramel malt. The taste is mostly sweet malt and alcohol along with the hops. Nicely carbonated.

This is not as smooth as Bigfoot but very enjoyable as a maltier, more muscular barleywine. It's also very drinkable, at least until halfway down the bottle when the gargoyle jumps off and kicks you in the head.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2009 18:39:23 | More by jsapunor

Zbeetleman

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-15-2013 03:03:42 | More by Zbeetleman

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-13-2013 22:30:43 | More by mikeincharleston

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-07-2013 23:21:22 | More by cadaugherty

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-02-2013 04:51:27 | More by spycow

MrMattC

California

5/5  rDev +22.2%

04-22-2013 00:31:25 | More by MrMattC

2beerdogs

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

04-19-2013 05:36:47 | More by 2beerdogs

atoulouk

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

04-15-2013 02:49:16 | More by atoulouk

jvillefan

California

4.5/5  rDev +10%

04-06-2013 23:50:46 | More by jvillefan

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

03-24-2013 20:33:17 | More by brheuer

Dirt

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

03-15-2013 02:23:55 | More by Dirt

MiamiRedSkins13

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

03-05-2013 01:46:16 | More by MiamiRedSkins13

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-25-2013 02:16:59 | More by t0rin0

AmitC

Indiana

4.59/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A pure bliss of a bottle.

Got this in lieu of 3-12 fl oz Hopslams.

Poured from 22 oz bomber into large snifter glass. Very clear, deep amber color with great ruby hues. Still has a lot of carbonation for a 2009. Some bubbles are seen rising up slowly. Very less, thin layered head from the first half pour. Tan colored and does not stay. Excellent stickiness shown by the side laces with each sip.

Aroma is huge. Smells a lot like old ale. Some very obvious malt-hop presence upfront. A little bit boozy as well. Smells fills the nose from a feet away once you open the bottle. Hops shine along with a lot of malt but do not have a distinct presence of their own.

Taste is all malt and boozy. This one is heck of drink, Alcohol has not mellowed down much i would suppose or it would have been hell boozy when fresh. Bitterness is still there. In fact a lot of it. A little bit of toffee flavor and a lot of caramel flavor dominate the taste. An excellent blend of malts and hops is what barley wines are all about. I like it very much. Finish is bitter to very bitter.

Mouth feel is medium to slightly full. A lot of oily and resiny touch. A very good warmth when drinking this. A lot of booze and might appear astringent to some.

Strong and drinking nice.

I love it.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 01:25:19 | More by AmitC

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-02-2013 18:30:51 | More by baybassboy

DmanGTR

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

01-28-2013 14:39:07 | More by DmanGTR

MordorMongo

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

01-13-2013 23:38:50 | More by MordorMongo

freewill35

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +10%

12-24-2012 23:00:39 | More by freewill35

cdayb1

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

12-16-2012 22:16:42 | More by cdayb1

fox227

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

12-04-2012 05:17:36 | More by fox227

Hanzo

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

09-09-2012 11:59:04 | More by Hanzo

funkel81

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

09-06-2012 03:37:38 | More by funkel81

Nickfellow007

Rhode Island

5/5  rDev +22.2%

08-14-2012 20:38:15 | More by Nickfellow007

hiphopj5

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +10%

06-19-2012 21:16:36 | More by hiphopj5

trancesk8er

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-09-2012 04:21:31 | More by trancesk8er