Stone Old Guardian Belgo-Barley Wine

Stone Old Guardian Belgo-Barley Wine

When our illustrious brewing team spiked a few barrels of the Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine with our Belgian yeast strain last year, we absolutely loved it. So much, in fact, that we knew we needed an excuse to make more. So, in our unending quest to constantly challenge the status quo (even our own), we came up with Odd Beers for Odd Years, a program to release odd beers – e.g. Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine – in odd years (2011, 2013, 2015…). It was met with a bit of resistance (to say the least) since we weren’t originally offering the traditional Old Guardian alongside it, but we’ve mended our ways and decided to make both. You’re welcome.
3.6
468 reviews
Escondido, United States

Community reviews

4.2 "12% big boy, same as the classic 2011 version. lots of sweetish fruit esters, yeasty spice and earthiness. dry and malty. not a lot of hops coming through other than some back end bitterness, but the hoppage in the classic is toned down this year as well. very nice, glad i have more."
3.5 A little on the bitter end, which shouldn't be a big surprise coming from stone. Just not loving it as I hoped I might. Still, a decent representation.
4.1 2011 version Pours red amber low white head Aromas of barley malts, caramel, dried fruits, sweet fruits, red fruits Taste is loaded of caramel malts, fruit cake, apricot and peach jam, dried fruits. Has matured nicely!
4.2 Pours cloudy caramel with a low white head. Aromas of caramel, raisins, figs, dates, slight tartness and marinated tropical fruit. Taste is caramel, raisins, figs, dates, marinated fruit. Mouthfeel is quite oily and sticky with low carbonation. Aftertaste is caramel, ripe tropical fruit and resin.
3.5 Bottle at Pikkulintu, Helsinki. Originally rated 30122011. Colour is dark copper with small white head. Aromas and flavours: Dark fruits, Belgian yeast, spices, sweetness and malts.
4.5 Bomber. Deep orange amber opaque, thin wispy white head. Aroma is big caramel, toffee and dark fruit. Slight Belgian yeast note but in the background, mild booze. Flavor is off the charts, big dark fruit and caramel notes almost a boozy bourbon sweetness. Some sweet citrus and spice, mild hop bitterness. Big tasty malt bomb, wish I could get another.
3.8 Poured 2011 from bomber to glass. Reddish copper hue with off white head that lingered with decent lacing. Aroma is caramel, toffee, clove, port-like, slightly buttery, raisins, esters. Mouthfeel is great with full body and good carbonation. Somewhat slick texture on the palate. Taste is sweet up front with a nice bitterness following and an estery ethanol finish. Overall this is an interesting and nice Barleywine. Beginning to show oxidation but not in a horribly bad way, more of a different layer in this complex brew.
4.1 Poured from a bomber. Orangey-red body and an off-white head that well lingers. Smells like a barley wine and is very yeasty. Not a strong beer, but a good middle-ground ale. Lacing goes all the wY down my pint glass. A bit of caramel and good balance if sweet and bitter.
4.0 [My bottle (22oz) shared with HogTownHarry & biegaman] Pours a murky reddish-orange with an average size long-lasting frothy tan head. Aroma is fruity and hoppy along with caramel malt, a hint of toffee and some light Belgian yeast. Lovely flavour, fruity and hoppy with a long bitter finish. medium bodied. Fantastic.
3.6 Draft at Eulogy. Poured a very, very dark copper brown with some soft tan foam. Aged dark fruits. Burnt molasses candy. Body feels a bit thin and watery, though complex, (like an aged Belgium Dubbel) but there is definitely a strong spicy hop bite in the finish. Unusual combination.
3.9 bomber shared by blankboy with me and biegaman. Hazy very deep amber with a decent frothy beige head. Classic fruity/light resin american barleywine, alcohol and that floral/sweet Belgian thing - intriguing. Taste - yep, more Belgian, less malt body, quite clean and balanced - dangerous. Slightly light body, good carbonation, increasing sweet floral bitterness - oh yes. Damned good. How old??
3.3 Bottle poured into a snifter. Great reddish-amber-brown color with thick tan head that held pretty well. Good lacing and legs. Full body and medium carbonation. Aroma is of toffee, some mahogany, medium roasted malt sweetness. Taste is funky. The big thing that throws me off is that it tastes like burnt marshmallows. That burtn flavor is front and center and I’m glad I was splitting this bottle because I would’ve drain poured it if I tried to finish it myself.
3.8 Stone is always hit or miss for me. They tend to play it safe by doing IPA’s. With their barleywine there is sense this is where they need to go. It has an amber hue. Lacy head. A little boozy but the hops override it. It has a smooth wash down maybe too clean. It needs a bit more bitterness but overall it is a balanced beer. I’d like to try on tap definitely next time.
3.9 (Bottle) Hazy reddish amber colour with frothy, beige head. Malty, fruity nose with notes of orange marmalade, dried apricots, rye bread, honey, citrus peel, red fruit, caramel and hints of spices. Malty, fruity taste with caramel, apricots, rye bread, orange peel, marmalade, hints of liquorice and spices (clove?) and a certain sweetness and alcohol bite in a finish with a good citric bitterness. Almost full body, soft and chewy mouthfeel. Quite sweet. Solid and well made barley wine with a spicy touch. Very nice.
3.3 Bottle at Commercial Taphouse on 04/14/2011. Clear copper amber body with a small creamy tan head. Sweet banana, clove, belgian yeast and caramel aroma. Sweet banana, clove, belgian yeast, fruit, caramel, and slight alcohol flavor. Medium full body with moderately high carbonation.
4.2 Very thick like a Barley Wine should be. Hint of figs and apricots. Nice bitter aftertaste...love the hoppiness! The aroma of apricots mixed with the piny scent of the hops makes your nose come alive.
3.5 Bottle. Pours reddish brown with off white head. Nose and taste of sweet caramel, sticky orange candy, Belgian yeast, toffee, light oxidation/sherry, fruity esters and touch of banana bubblegum. Medium body.
3.8 TAP at Chez Moeder Lambic during "Moeder Lambic Vs. Stone". Only found back scores, not ratings.
3.7 Draft cole house pizza. Pour has a deep burnt caramel color and a thin coating of off white head. Aroma has belgian yeast, light oxidation, sweet sticky malt, and light aged hops. Mouth feel is hefty with low carbonation. Flavor is rich on the malt, dark fruit, Belgian yeast, caramel, mild oxidation, and a bit of heat into a lingering finish.
3.6 2011 Odd Year Release 3/09/2011: Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine Style Ale... Aroma: Strong, yeasty, lots of ripe, fleshy fruits (peach, apricot, plum, orange, grapefruit); sharp, metallic alcohol (like rubbing alcohol at times). Appearance: Orange color (leaning toward amber), cloudy; dense, thick, and lasting ivory-colored head. Flavor: Lots of esters - very fruity with some banana, yeasty, Hawaiian bread, lots of bubblegum; plenty of alcohol shines through along with some burn. Palate: Overall: Definitely drinks like a Belgian Barleywine! Good, but I’ll take the "standard" Old Guardian over Belgo since this one is just quite a mouthful and shows every bit of 12% alcohol and maybe more... 1 Pint 6 Fl. Oz. bottle (12% Alc/Vol) from Marty’s Hops & Vines in Cincinnati, OH. Rating #431 for this beer.
4.1 Bottle bought at Systembolaget a couple of years ago. Slightly hazy amber with a small head. Malt, dried fruit, caramel and some alcohol. Also some light spices. Nicely balanced and a great one to sip.
3.9 Draft. Aroma is of belgian yeast. The appearance is a reddish brown with a little tan head. The taste is belgian from the start. It is a muted belgian flavor, though. Palate is very belgian. Overall, good for being belgian, as in i would buy it again. I would not in most cases.
4.2 Bottle, 650ml - Hazy amber beer with a nice white head. Aroma is fruity with notes of spices, caramel, coconut, vanilla and dried apricots. Flavor is fruity with notes of spices, caramel, dried apricots, licorice, nuts, oranges and with hints of alcohol. Well balanced beer with a pleasant warming end which blends the two styles of Barley Wine and Belgian Strong ale nicely together.
4.1 22oz bottle 2011 release: pour is clear mahogany with an off white head. Aroma is mostly of caramel malt with some fruitiness. Hints of spiciness and alcohol are present. Lots of caramel malt sweetness up front. Raisin, date flavors. Smokey phenols and some bitterness on the end. Alcohol is noticeable at 12% but overall an enjoyable drinkable beer!
3.3 A - Pours a clear mahogany with ruby highlights. A 1/2 inch off-white head. S - Moderate banana, deep caramel malt, mineral Belgian yeast, perfume alcohol, T - Heavy dose of caramel/crystal malt slaps the tongue, banana phenols, candied fruit, maple, the yeast has a muted spiciness. The hops band together with the alcohol and starts a salty astringent bitterness at the end. Finishes hot with vodka solvent heat. M - Full bodied and not too heavy. Alcohol doesn’t show up until the finishes. I’m kind of on the fence with this one. If the heat was backed down a few notches this would be really good. The Belgian yeast definitely adds great layers of character to an already great Barleywine. Serving type: bottle 04-03-2011
4.8 Aroma of raisins and nuts. Taste is similar. Very well balanced. Some belgo yeast in the taste adds complexity.
3.7 Lagrad i två år. Smak och doft av malt, humle, citrus. Frisk, fruktig, lagom söt. Jästsmak med en trevlig beska.
3.6 22oz 2011 vintage bottle. Shared with taylor. Mostly hazy orange-red color. Good thin off-white head. Respectable lace, especially for a 12% barleywine. Caramel malt, light hint of belgian yeast noticeable in the nose. Definitely some mustiness, some dark fruit. Taste is mostly sweet, light bitter. Alcohol not as bothersome as I’d have thought for a 12% belgo-barleywine. Some light sweet bite in the finish (more so as it warms), but it’s not bad at all, really. Bigger body. Light, smooth, creamy carbonation and texture. No lingering viscosity. Some alcohol warmth, but it’s all enjoyable, pretty smooth and well-integrated overall. Better than I expected.
4.1 Flaska från SB. Drygt två år gammal. Stora likheter med den vanliga OG, men här skapar den belgiska jästen en stor fruktighet och blommighet som trots sina lätta dofter och smaker bidrar ytterligare till ölets intensitet och ger det en spännande tvist. Vinner på målfoto mot den vanliga OG.
3.7 10oz pour at Tylers Apex. Real good aroma, sweet. Candied sugar, minor yeasty spice. Clean brownish orange, good head that faded to a ring. Spotty lace. Sweet flavor, medium body, smooth oily mouthfeel, sweet finish. Darn tasty, packs a wallop.