Old Guardian Barley Wine (2004-)
Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Barley Wine - Barley Rotating|
Score
7.66
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Barley wines are traditionally hefty brews, but ours is downright excessive. The huge maltiness of this beer is only tamed by an equally prodigious addition of hops, creating a rich, slightly sweet, caramel-hued ale infused with assertive bitterness and bright hop notes, all culminating in a pleasing dryness. While it will evolve into an even more glorious brew with age, this beer's delicious onslaught of flavors will seriously challenge your ability to wait any longer to drink it.
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6.5/10
Tried
on 24 Dec 2025
at 01:23
8/10
Can in the Airbnb. Pours clear amber, nose is pine, caramel, herbs, sweet toffee, taste is similar, sweet.7/8/8/8/8
Tried
from Can
on 11 Aug 2025
at 16:05
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottled, early 2k9 vintage. Pours a darkish cloudy amber with small dissipating head. Aroma is floral and hoppy. Taste is a bit bitter and woody. This guy might need some more time to age.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 May 2025
at 00:55
9.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 9.5
bomber from the cheese man!
2006 edition.
Murky brown pour with a very small off white head. Aroma is BIG on sweet malt, and some nice hops, and a touch of fruit. Wow, this smells so much of a big glass of caramel. Flavour is very smooth, some big matly notes, the hops come through in the finish, they leave that high alpha soapiness in my mouth, with a touch of pine. Finish is nice and bitter, but not too bitter, they hops are present enough, and do they job beautifully, and the malt is the star, it leavs a wonderful sweet/caramel maltiness, and adds a bit of a brandy like sweetness. Excellent barley wine, i enjoy its not a hop monster like many other american barley wines i’ve had.
2006 edition.
Murky brown pour with a very small off white head. Aroma is BIG on sweet malt, and some nice hops, and a touch of fruit. Wow, this smells so much of a big glass of caramel. Flavour is very smooth, some big matly notes, the hops come through in the finish, they leave that high alpha soapiness in my mouth, with a touch of pine. Finish is nice and bitter, but not too bitter, they hops are present enough, and do they job beautifully, and the malt is the star, it leavs a wonderful sweet/caramel maltiness, and adds a bit of a brandy like sweetness. Excellent barley wine, i enjoy its not a hop monster like many other american barley wines i’ve had.
Tried
from Can
on 28 Feb 2025
at 05:01
7/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Dec 2024
at 22:36
8/10
it's caramel and sweet and delicious.
Tried
on 13 Dec 2024
at 18:26
7/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Apr 2022
at 16:55
8/10
Humalane, magus, karamelline, linnaseline, alksi ka. Ma näen kust põhjala odravein "inspiratsiooni" sai :D Igal juhul hea kraam.
Tried
from Draft
on 17 Jul 2021
at 22:50
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Old Guardian (vintage 2012) was my final beer at a tasting session at Aces & Ales in Las Vegas. The bartender suggested this one from a number of barleywines available on tap. It arrived an attractive dark amber and had a full covering of light tan foam. I immediately picked up the ripe fruit smell before taking a drink. And that drink followed with more of the ripe fruit, malt, cereal, karo syrup and something field. Enjoyable, I hope to locate again.
Tried
from Draft
on 24 Aug 2020
at 17:32
8.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bomber. Wine Rack, Sheffield. 2016 vintage. 11%. Soft haze on a reddy, pale copper colour. Dense, messy, off white head is lasting and almost fully lacing. Nose has ginger biscuit malt. Fruited loaf. Privet leaf. Hint of pine. Lacquer. Polished leather. Touch of booze. Bit of a Christmas cake vibe going here. Taste is sweet and fruity, with a pretty punchy, earthy, tart fruit bitterness. Smooth and fully rounded on the palate. Fine carbonation. Lingering leafy bitterness to finish. Never feels the ABV. Great stuff.
Tried
on 31 Jan 2020
at 22:37