Stone Brewery Old Guardian Barley Wine

In general I’m a fan of Stone Brewery and everything they have to offer. They are consistently one of the cheaper microbrews given how seriously they take their craft. Stuff like Arrogant Bastard and Stone Pale Ale are consistently good and when you are craving some hops nothing hits the spot like Ruination IPA. Still they have based all of their philosophy and marketing behind the idea that their beers are not for everyone. Every single one of their offerings is a bit more intense than you would expect, with each ingredient standing out in a bold and easy to recognize way. On the other hand that means that when the pendulum swings the other way and I’m not in the mood for bold beers I tend to avoid them, especially their special releases such as the taste bud smashing Stone Anniversary Ale. So maybe I approached their Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine at the wrong time or maybe no matter when I drink it I will always find it to be a bit too much for me. As is Barley Wines (at least American ones) are one of the more extreme beer offerings from any brewery, with lots of sweet and bitter flavors accompanying high alcohol content.

And as you might expect the Stone Old Guardian barley wine goes even a step further. When poured it looks innocent enough, the dark golden orange of something that is maybe a little dense but not especially rich. Even the head fizzes away leaving some lacing but no real warning as to what is to follow. You don’t get any impression as to what you are in for until the smell gives it away a bit, all floral and hoppy with some green apple and orange blossom. But the taste, the taste is intense. It has a bit of that “you just bit into a grapefruit” flavor you might expect but there is a ton of other stuff going on too. It is spicy, bitter, sweet, and herbal, similar to Campari with soda and just as alcoholic too. Of course by the third or fourth gulp you get used to it, but unfortunately it has a little bit of that Flintstone Vitamin taste I detect in most barley wines, although hopefully I’m the only person noticing that.

If you are a fan of Stone Brewery or barley wine, you really should taste this. Even if you just want a nice refreshing drink that is smooth and bitter while getting you buzzed. On the other hand if you are looking for that next step up from Budweiser, well, try this and let me know what you thought. It should be entertaining to say the least.