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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 AmitC:
Reviewed by AmitC from New York
4.6/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A pure bliss of a bottle.
Got this in lieu of 3-12 fl oz Hopslams.
Poured from 22 oz bomber into large snifter glass. Very clear, deep amber color with great ruby hues. Still has a lot of carbonation for a 2009. Some bubbles are seen rising up slowly. Very less, thin layered head from the first half pour. Tan colored and does not stay. Excellent stickiness shown by the side laces with each sip.
Aroma is huge. Smells a lot like old ale. Some very obvious malt-hop presence upfront. A little bit boozy as well. Smells fills the nose from a feet away once you open the bottle. Hops shine along with a lot of malt but do not have a distinct presence of their own.
Taste is all malt and boozy. This one is heck of drink, Alcohol has not mellowed down much i would suppose or it would have been hell boozy when fresh. Bitterness is still there. In fact a lot of it. A little bit of toffee flavor and a lot of caramel flavor dominate the taste. An excellent blend of malts and hops is what barley wines are all about. I like it very much. Finish is bitter to very bitter.
Mouth feel is medium to slightly full. A lot of oily and resiny touch. A very good warmth when drinking this. A lot of booze and might appear astringent to some.
Strong and drinking nice.
I love it.
Feb 09, 2013Got this in lieu of 3-12 fl oz Hopslams.
Poured from 22 oz bomber into large snifter glass. Very clear, deep amber color with great ruby hues. Still has a lot of carbonation for a 2009. Some bubbles are seen rising up slowly. Very less, thin layered head from the first half pour. Tan colored and does not stay. Excellent stickiness shown by the side laces with each sip.
Aroma is huge. Smells a lot like old ale. Some very obvious malt-hop presence upfront. A little bit boozy as well. Smells fills the nose from a feet away once you open the bottle. Hops shine along with a lot of malt but do not have a distinct presence of their own.
Taste is all malt and boozy. This one is heck of drink, Alcohol has not mellowed down much i would suppose or it would have been hell boozy when fresh. Bitterness is still there. In fact a lot of it. A little bit of toffee flavor and a lot of caramel flavor dominate the taste. An excellent blend of malts and hops is what barley wines are all about. I like it very much. Finish is bitter to very bitter.
Mouth feel is medium to slightly full. A lot of oily and resiny touch. A very good warmth when drinking this. A lot of booze and might appear astringent to some.
Strong and drinking nice.
I love it.
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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