Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2011 - Stone Brewing Co.

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Golden sherry color with little creamy head. Hints of tropical flavors, orange, pineapple.
The taste was clean and bright, the mouthful was semi-big, but the aftertaste still was very light.
Surprising for a barley wine style of beer.
Would go very well with smoked trout or other smoked lighter foods.
Still not a barley type of person

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 02:24:30 | More by rdilauro

zachary80

Indiana

1.93/5  rDev -49.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

2011 bottle, bought the day of release. Split the bomber with a friend side-by-side with the Belgo. Poured into a tulip glass

L: Dark amber body, nice light head. Left good lacing down the glass

S: Lots of sweetness, sharp alcohol aroma. Underlying the expected aromas is something horrid that I've never smelled or tasted before, and it completely ruined the aroma and most of the flavor as well.

T: Decent until the atrocious foul flavor came through. Alcohol is too hot as well

M: Pretty good for a big barleywine. Moderate carbonation

D: This was almost drinkable.

What a waste. This was easily one of the worst beers I've ever had. Considering how much I enjoyed the Belgo, I wonder whether this was a bad bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 21:55:50 | More by zachary80

beertunes

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pored into 10oz glass. Poured a clean, clear orangeish-amber color with an inch of off-white head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was heavily malt-sweet, with noticeable hop and alcohol notes. The flavors were pretty similar, lots of malt, hops and alcohol.

The body was full, even and smooth, except for the alcohol burn, and was a bit better than average. Drinkability was pretty good for a beer this big.

Overall, a nice example of the style. Try it when you see it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 04:15:01 | More by beertunes

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber. Pours a dark, murky mahogany color with a nice frothy head. Minimal lacing. Aromas of dark fruits, malts, bread, booze and hops. A lot going on here. Taste has that nice warming alcohol zip to it. Malty flavor along with a big amount of dark fruits and a bit of a caramel taste. Bitter aftertaste is where I pick up on some of the hops. Boozey. All things considered this is pretty drinkable. Old Guardian continues to be one of the best barleywines on the market.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 06:09:20 | More by PicoPapa

gdrydenc

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark amber that looks almost brown if you don't look through light. Pours with finger solid fingers of middle brown head that is quite resilient. The head sticks around in volume for a while, but remains as a thin layer throughout. Gorgeous beer overall.

S - After the head dies down, I can smell this beer from a ways away. It smells like dark fruits, plums, maybe apricots. Additionally, I'm getting some caramel from it.

T - I think this must be my first ever barleywine, which I find shocking. This baby is a doozy though. At the front, it's fruits and bitterness that stand out. The malt backbone is very present. Pretty boozy in the finish, but the fruitiness remains. Frankly, this seems like it needs some time on it to fully develop.

M - Syrupy, but the taste leaves my mouth surprisingly quickly, which is nice. I don't like it when a beer clings to my palate for too long. Overall, the carbonation seems appropriate, at very minimal.

D - Well, I suppose if I'm reviewing within the style, this is probably about average. However, if I was reviewing for me personally, I would have a hard time finishing a bomber alone and walking after. Not that that's stopping me, though.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 00:23:11 | More by gdrydenc

muttyd

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours an amber/orange with a thin off white head. Aroma is of caramel, some citrus hops, and burnt sugar. Flavor follows the nose. Big burnt sugar flavor, toasty, citrusy and grainy. Some orange peel as well. Very hoppy for a barley wine. The citrusy, slightly earthy hops help balance out the big brown sugary flavor profile. Sticky on the palate with moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 01:33:32 | More by muttyd