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Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale (2009)
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 11.3%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 10.51%
- Reviews:
- 249
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 23, 2022
- Added:
- Feb 06, 2009
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 48
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Ralphus:
Reviewed by Ralphus from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I didn't even know there was an old Guardian until I saw it in a liquor store in Annapolis on a recent trip to Chesapeake Bay. But it was Stone and that was good enough for me.
Pours with a nice fluffy head that recedes to a cap of foam that leaves plenty of lacing. The color is good.. a cloudy orangey amber that I enjoy looking at.
The smell is also good. Soft notes of vanilla, sweet fruit and hops are present in the beginning. It's unfortunate that the strength of the beer is so high that after a quarter of a glass you can barely smell anything though. Well, it was nice while it lasted.
The taste is a typically Stone well done balance of sweet malts, fruity yeasts and hoppy finish. In this case the volume is bumped up by at least 30% and despite not tasting the alcohol too much - you can definitely feel it! It warms the stomach and leaves a slight burning sensation.
Mouthfeel is really well done for a beer of this strength. Smooth and refreshing with very little stickiness that I would expect.
Drinkability is also good. More than a bottle is out of the question for me given it's strength - but it does go down very quickly. Nice work Stone.
Nov 27, 2009Pours with a nice fluffy head that recedes to a cap of foam that leaves plenty of lacing. The color is good.. a cloudy orangey amber that I enjoy looking at.
The smell is also good. Soft notes of vanilla, sweet fruit and hops are present in the beginning. It's unfortunate that the strength of the beer is so high that after a quarter of a glass you can barely smell anything though. Well, it was nice while it lasted.
The taste is a typically Stone well done balance of sweet malts, fruity yeasts and hoppy finish. In this case the volume is bumped up by at least 30% and despite not tasting the alcohol too much - you can definitely feel it! It warms the stomach and leaves a slight burning sensation.
Mouthfeel is really well done for a beer of this strength. Smooth and refreshing with very little stickiness that I would expect.
Drinkability is also good. More than a bottle is out of the question for me given it's strength - but it does go down very quickly. Nice work Stone.
More User Ratings:
Rated by BKotch from Texas
4.02/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pretty darn impressive at 11 years old. Still decent mouthfeel and above average flavor. Not at all disappointed that I still have one more bottle.
Nov 01, 2020Reviewed by Radome from Florida
4.19/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2009 Vintage tasted on tap at Aces & Ales - Tenaya, Las Vegas, NV. This was a surprisingly fresh and tasty beer at ten years old. Only aroma seemed to have faded over the years.
Feb 04, 2020Reviewed by DVMin98 from North Carolina
4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
10 year old ABW on tap at Queen City Craft for $3.50? Oh hell yes. Lots of malt. Lots of sweetness. Very very little oxidation. So damn good. Great offering
Apr 01, 2019Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.53/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
These are some thick and syrupy barleywines. This is a deep copper and amber color, with hints of brown thrown around. Small beige head 1/4". Aroma was boozy and caramel that has been almost burned.
Taste was much sweeter than expected. Despite Greg's claim about how hoppy this is, it has just as much malt/sugar to keep the hops from dominating, especially at this age.
I think the price is decent for a bomber in this style, but ultimately I prefer Stone's smaller hoppier offerings.
Oct 06, 2016Taste was much sweeter than expected. Despite Greg's claim about how hoppy this is, it has just as much malt/sugar to keep the hops from dominating, especially at this age.
I think the price is decent for a bomber in this style, but ultimately I prefer Stone's smaller hoppier offerings.
Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale (2009) from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
341 ratings
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