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

n00tz

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep red apple cider-like (translucent) body, medium height silver-queen colored head that laces down the glass.

S - Piney with a fruity sweetness that I can only distinguish particularly as apple. Somewhat woody, mossy natural smell seems to peer out.

T/M - Smooth fruity grape, melon, berry onset, followed by a malty punch (almost porter-like) followed with a sharp pine hops that hammers it's way into your palate. The initial mouthful(s) carry the barley through until the hops burn in, though 5 minutes after your last sip you'll be tasting the barley and grain more than the hops - unique! The more it warms the less hops you taste and the more of the fruit, malt, and grain you taste.. the most temperature diversity I've tasted in a brew to date.

D - It really takes an open mind for newbies (those that don't know half of the diversity of brews). But wow, this really kicks up and drives home my desire for a beer cellar. Such a lucky find!

I drank this after much internal debate, this was my first barleywine and I was somewhat scared of it for lack of a better term. It will certainly be where I set the bar for good barleywines from now on.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 01:32:31 | More by n00tz

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