Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale - Kentucky Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged
Stone Brewing

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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
13%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.29 | pDev: 4.2%
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
19
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 17, 2016
Added:
Nov 17, 2013
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  2
The rye whiskey imparts a substantial amount of oaky spice to the beer, while the barrels themselves lend a strong oak tannin and smooth vanilla tones. The flavors meld together for sustained spiciness, oak and malty sweetness throughout.

46 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mikeincharleston:
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Rated by mikeincharleston from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

Feb 22, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4.26/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle: Poured an amber color ale with a medium size foamy head with light retention. Aroma of caramel malt with some dry fruits and toffee notes with quite a bit of rye whiskey notes. Taste is a complex and satisfying mix of rye whiskey notes with some toffee and caramel malt, some light dry fruits and a quite a bit of woody notes. Body is about average with good carbonation. Very solid offering from Stone.
Jan 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.05 by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

Dec 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by TonyJ815 from Florida

Oct 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.47 by mbeerdino21 from New Jersey

Mar 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.6 by ItsPhipps from California

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.92 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BillRoth from Maryland

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by ahbithwabm from Illinois

Jun 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by KVNBGRY from Florida

Apr 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Lovely85 from Florida

Apr 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by nickfl from Florida

Apr 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Apr 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by iatethecloudsfor from Vermont

Apr 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Mar 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by drewone from California

Feb 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.63 by Beersnake from California

Jan 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by kjkinsey from Texas

Dec 17, 2013
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.42/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a very dark and cloudy ruby red/copper color with plum hues and a one finger, off-white head that quickly settles into a lasting ring.  Streaks and spots of soapy lacing left behnd.  Nice retention for the style and high ABV.   Looks good.

Inviting aroma with a nice barrel presence that's subtly integrated into the leathery malts, earthy hops and vinous fruit notes of the base.  Some dry oak that compliments the spicy rye and boozy sweetness very nicely.  The rye really stands out in the nose giving off a strong spicy whiskey character.  This beer was aged for a long time and it really shows in the aroma.  Underneath, there's some earthy hops and a lot of sweet dark fruit notes.   Vinous with sweet cherry, fig and raisn.  Sligtly leathery but not too much so with some roasted dark malt underneath the barrel and earthier malt tones.  I love the way that the whiskey barrel stands out without overpowering what I enjoy about the base beer.  

Medium body with soft carbonation and a beautiful, spicy rye whiskey presence that's perfectly integrated into the characterisitcs of the base beer.  Dry and earthy wood/oak presence that has a slight toothpick character along with a prominent spicy rye whiskey flavor that lingers throughout.  The rye flavor is really nice adding some cinnamon and fiery flavor to the whiskey sweetness, hop bitterness, leathery malts and sweet vinous fruit.  Subtle earthy hops but they are somewhat faded at this point.  Some dark fruit sweetness with a leathery, tobacco-like malt backbone .   Really well balanced with a complex flavor profile and excellently masked ABV.  Dangerously easy to drink at 13%.  If I tried this blind I would have guessed it was somewhere around 9%.  This is the best beer that I've tried so far in the Stone QM Series.  
Nov 18, 2013
Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale - Kentucky Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 19 ratings