Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

2.18/5  rDev -45.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bomber bottle poured in a Gulden Draak tulip glass.

Appearance- An orange yellow color with even some reddish hues in it. Hardly any head what so ever.

Smell- Floral hop and booze

Taste- Very boozy here and not in a well balanced or good way, more like a malt liquor way.

Mouthfeel- Medium bodied all the way around.

Overall- The strong boozy flavor killed the beer for me. Only thing I can say is as the beer warmed the booze mellowed and some other flavors started to appear but I was already turned off by the 1st half and not able to enjoy the new flavor notes.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 18:33:46 | More by BrownAleMale

jl28r1

Texas

4/5  rDev 0%

05-18-2013 17:01:12 | More by jl28r1

BeastLU

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-18-2013 13:41:05 | More by BeastLU

DMarlinJ

Michigan

4/5  rDev 0%

05-17-2013 01:16:47 | More by DMarlinJ

jwk7324

California

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-16-2013 05:50:06 | More by jwk7324

Bustersuess

New York

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-14-2013 18:38:22 | More by Bustersuess

baybassboy

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-14-2013 04:38:27 | More by baybassboy

deadliest

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-14-2013 03:27:47 | More by deadliest

pstam87

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-14-2013 01:53:23 | More by pstam87

mendvicdog

Maryland

4/5  rDev 0%

05-13-2013 22:55:42 | More by mendvicdog

RangnaR

California

4/5  rDev 0%

05-13-2013 19:55:53 | More by RangnaR

csfcmitchell

Texas

4/5  rDev 0%

05-13-2013 15:50:47 | More by csfcmitchell

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-13-2013 14:49:07 | More by mikeincharleston

Beefytits4

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-13-2013 14:48:06 | More by Beefytits4

Braz

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-13-2013 03:59:55 | More by Braz

Zimm

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-13-2013 00:38:31 | More by Zimm

TOP

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-12-2013 01:09:42 | More by TOP

tbryan5

Louisiana

4/5  rDev 0%

05-11-2013 17:51:59 | More by tbryan5

Herky21

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle purchased for $5.99 - 2013 Vintage.

Appearance - caramel and burnt like fall leaves with a finely laced and dense head that dissipated quick.

Smell - banana, caramel, nougat, melon and citrus.

taste - alcohol, sweet caramel, backed up by a good amount of bitterness, kind of a fruity note in the swallow.

mouthfeel - very carbed and perhaps a bit too much for the style - full, thick beer.

Overall - pretty well done, but it doesn't quite hold a candle to Bigfoot. If you have one I'd recommend aging. It isn't super hot, but it would be a lot better in say 2 years.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:12:37 | More by Herky21

Roberto11232

New York

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

05-10-2013 15:10:31 | More by Roberto11232

mbw314

California

4/5  rDev 0%

05-10-2013 05:45:57 | More by mbw314

jkane101

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -18.8%

05-10-2013 01:15:02 | More by jkane101

cwreay90

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

05-08-2013 19:16:16 | More by cwreay90

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-08-2013 17:17:56 | More by Whiskeydeez

BrownNut

Florida

3.86/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Feb 2012 release drunk in May 2013. Served cool in tulip.

A - 4.5 - Beautiful, crystal clear ruby amber. Loose, creamy off white head that lingers a good while.

S - 3.75 - Pleasantly malty. Hoppy in a familiar flavor I can't put my finger on. Smells like it's going to be a moderate bruiser hopwise and moderately caramel sweet maltwise.

T - 3.75 - Moderate sweet malt partially offsetting notable bitterness. The balance swings bitter. Exhale is all hops and aftertaste is lingering bitterness.

M - 4.0 - Medium heavy body. Immediate hop abrasion on the tongue. Thanks to that, it has a dry astringent end. Gentle waves of boozy warmth wafting up the throat.

O - 4.0 - A nice one, if kind of unbalanced. I've never had one fresh - this one is 15 months old. Next time I think I'll try for 2 or 3 years to see if it'll balance out a bit more. The nose on this is nicely balanced. The body not as much. It's to be expected for the style I suppose.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 14:00:31 | More by BrownNut