Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Well, I bought it today, and I drank it today. Not exactly patience, but I had to let my liver absorb the $5.49 hit on its own terms, which were immediate. A very tasty ale, with a sweet, estery aroma. Pours red with a white head. Flavor is malty sweet, with banana-flavored esters and a bit of spice on the way down the throat. Another flavor-crammed offering from Stone.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
A truly outstanding ale, the Old Guardian deserves a poem:
Old Guardian, poured in the night
Your aroma a sweet and malty delight
You come to me now in fine amber form
Not the same beer I swilled in the dorm!
A barleywine style, secret and strong
Fills my belly with warm alcohol song.
Nice hops I do taste at the sides of my tongue
I look to my glass, make sure all liquid is wrung.
The Old Guardian protects me and coaxes my heart
Slides down my throat a malt liquid tart
To regions where all flavor and aroma is no longer
Renewing my passion, making me stronger.
The bottle is empty, a tear in my eye
I tasted this beverage and gave it a try
And to my delight I discovered malt heaven
I'll purchase some more, 3, 9, or 11!
An excellent barleywine, my favorite in the style so far. The malts are outrageous, and the hops nicely balance their sweet complexity. I need to stockpile a few of these to age, but this beer is ridiculously good already. The poet retires to more earthly nectars...
notalush (7339) reviewed Smoked Porter from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Not much of a porter. It's more like a very dark, well-hopped APA. Minimal head and no lacing. Very smokey aroma. The smoked aspect of the flavor is very evident, and is enjoyable. The body is pretty thin, especially for a porter. The hop bitterness in the finish is a bit unenjoyable, which surprised me considering stone seems to be great at creating the perfect hop finish.
notalush (7339) reviewed Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
[it’s funny to look at old ratings] Mother of God! This is the greatest IPA ever! The first few sips seemed just like dogfish head 90 minute IPA, but after a while I began to realize that this is superior even to that. The aroma is a bracing mixture of hops, flowers, sweet malts and a slight woody presence. The appearance is near perfect, but the lacing could be better. The flavor is massive, with malts and hops in outlandish abundance. Oak and sweetened butter. The balance is perfect, and the finish has a long lasting, but not overpowering hop bitterness. This is rocking my world!
jgb9348 (11828) reviewed Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8
Nice colour, with a noticable orange tint. Hoppy aroma, big time! Very powerful beer, full of hops and malt. Pretty hoppy beer, but for hop-heads who don't like Imperial IPAs, it really isn't the best beer. I still prefer Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale to this, anyday! Someday maybe i'll find Stone's original IPA and taste that, but until then....Tupper's still is king.
omhper (44752) reviewed Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5
Bottled, thanks hopsrus!!
Amber coloured, little head. Huge flowery grapefruit aroma. Completely dominated by hops, despite it's full body. The maltiness however is less soft and attractive than in Three Floyds Dreadnaught. To call the finish "bitter" would be a gross understatement...
Oakes (33493) reviewed 06th Anniversary Porter from Stone Brewing 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Very dark burgundy. Aroma shows roast, coffee, hazelnuts, light smoke. Palate also has some subtle smoke, lots of dry hoppiness, good roast character. Light creaminess comes in late but there's another flurry of hops as well. A few less of those would do well. More of a foreign stout IMO.
crit200 (5324) reviewed Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6
Rerate :Deep gold with fluffy white head. Huge grapefruit hop nose.Flavor is grapefruit and the typical California style green hops which I don't care for. I much prefer the Northwest style IPA's. Long strong finish
crit200 (5324) reviewed IPA from Stone Brewing 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bronze with off white head and great lace.Lots of hops throughout with long finish
Dogbrick (24210) reviewed 06th Anniversary Porter from Stone Brewing 23 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5
This was a pleasant surprise on a $28 round-trip cab ride from the Anaheim Mariott to the Hollingshead Deli 4.5 miles away. This is another classic from Stone. Thoroughly black with a nice ruby halo and a medium beige head. Aroma is not as smoky as I remember the Smoked Porter being, it is definitely more subdued. Warm flavor of chocolate, licorice and black cherry. Finish is as smooth a suede. Great stuff!