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Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale (2007)
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 11.26%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.13 | pDev: 9.69%
- Reviews:
- 240
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 09, 2023
- Added:
- Jan 25, 2007
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 13
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by boston2bburg:
Reviewed by boston2bburg from Virginia
3.92/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
3.92/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a clear dark orange with a finger and a half of head into a snifter from a 22 ounce bomber. Head dissapates to almost nothing as I wait for it to warm a bit. Gives me time to read the novel on the back of the bottle...the brewer writes well, if about nothing in particular.
The aroma doesnt seem to be the showcase here, and that's clearly evident once I take my first sip. As I swirl and it warms, cherry cheesecake and sweet pastry grace the olfactory nerves. Some caramel and cereal scents pull through. I continue to wonder why I chill big beers. Room temperature or close to it is optimal for this one.
The tenacious assault of bitterness upon the first sip of cool beer gradually eases as the aroma strengthens with warmth. Maybe my palette was obliterated, but the hops dont seem overboard anymore for a barleywine of this size, as noted in some other reviews. The 11.26% is actually hidden fairly well, except in my extremities, which were quite chilly just minutes earlier. Hmmmm...
I refill my snifter with the remains of the warmed bottle with a vigourous pour. Three fingers of beige foamy head take much longer to subside, and leave some modest lacing. Head still doesn't cover the liquid, but doesn't completely clear either.
The mouthfeel is very smooth, syrupy and inviting. It's sweetness makes me pucker and my stomach is being eaten away by the alcohol so I doubt I'd be OK if I had more than one of these.
The best judge of a beer is the way you feel when you've finished it. I feel like I wish I'd bought two.
Feb 01, 2008The aroma doesnt seem to be the showcase here, and that's clearly evident once I take my first sip. As I swirl and it warms, cherry cheesecake and sweet pastry grace the olfactory nerves. Some caramel and cereal scents pull through. I continue to wonder why I chill big beers. Room temperature or close to it is optimal for this one.
The tenacious assault of bitterness upon the first sip of cool beer gradually eases as the aroma strengthens with warmth. Maybe my palette was obliterated, but the hops dont seem overboard anymore for a barleywine of this size, as noted in some other reviews. The 11.26% is actually hidden fairly well, except in my extremities, which were quite chilly just minutes earlier. Hmmmm...
I refill my snifter with the remains of the warmed bottle with a vigourous pour. Three fingers of beige foamy head take much longer to subside, and leave some modest lacing. Head still doesn't cover the liquid, but doesn't completely clear either.
The mouthfeel is very smooth, syrupy and inviting. It's sweetness makes me pucker and my stomach is being eaten away by the alcohol so I doubt I'd be OK if I had more than one of these.
The best judge of a beer is the way you feel when you've finished it. I feel like I wish I'd bought two.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.25/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bomber from a friend, 16 years aged. Didn't fare that well. Dull amber pour, malty aroma and taste, tobacco, leather and signs of oxidation. Still plenty warm though.
Oct 09, 2023
Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale (2007) from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
291 ratings
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