Stone Old Guardian Oak-Smoked Barley Wine

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Rated May 2013. Growler fill at Whole Foods in Chandler (bottles hadn’t hit town yet) pours with a clear copper-amber body that supports an impressive looking nearly creamy tan head of foam. The aroma is sweet and prune-y with smooth malt sweetened smoke that has a pleasing mild bacon component. The taste is smooth and yum and moderately smoky. I get sweet malts and prunes mixing with honey covered ripe cherries to midway. As the bacon-y smoke surfaces amid a modest bitter pine hoppiness the sweeter notes fade away. The smoky bacon persists into the finish as the pine hops grow and then linger into the after taste. This is a terrific sipper.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Opened this one for new years eve to ring in 2015. I have had this beer for almost a year now and it seems like a good time to pop it open. Aroma is kind of surprising, the smoke is practically non exisitent, plenty of hops-citrus and pine with oak and sweet caramel malts. The body is a deep copper with a thick and chewy head that leaves some thick lace. The flavor is about the same as the aroma, not much smoke but thats o.k. its aged nicely, smooth, slightly syrupy and flavorful.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I like the original better, this one reminded me of smoked ham. After it warmed a bit and the further into the bottle I got the better it tasted. The smoke seemed overly oily and didn't really do anything for me, I will stick with the original.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Unique take on a classic American Style Barleywine.....not well received initially but I eventually warmed up to it's tender subtleties. Grand pour with a fluffy, thick off white head above a sparkling chestnut colored body. Heavy lacing and slow carbonation. Meaty smoke and rich malts with an intertwined bitterness. Hop flavors/aromas not too hearty, but the IBU's are assertive. Bold and warming, becomes more drinkable after half the bottle is gone. Some fruitiness and caramel but the smoke blankets most everything. Prefer regular Old Guardian to this, but worth a bottle to experience Bitterness eventually becomes too much to the palate.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

22 oz bottle. Pours hazy copper red with a big creamy light tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is a bit subdued - some peaty smoke with sweet caramel malts in the background.

The flavor is sweet caramel malts and dark fruits with a big bitter smoke finish. The alcohol is noticeable in the finish too. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation and is a bit watery.

Overall, the smoke is interesting, but the beer is a bit watery with a lot of harsh bitter alcohol.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

A beautiful beer to look at. Cold, the smoke is nearly undetectable in the aroma, as is the usual hoppiness of the base beer. The smoke comes out as it warms, though it was present in the flavor right from the get go. I miss the hops but the malt carmel backbone of this huge beer combined with the smoke is really nice, as is the oak presence. Dare I say it's a little harsh at room temp, but damn, it IS 11.4%. One of my favorite american smoked beers.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Comes out of the tap a beautiful clear mahogany with a very thick, fine-bubbled and persistent wheat head that leaves some generous lacing. Aroma is none too strong, but intrigues with notes of malt, oak and - is that horehound? Robust flavor has oak, horehound, caramel and smoky tones - and an appreciable alcohol bite and just a whisper of sweetness. Smooth texture has firm fizz and body, and leaves an oaky, syrupy finish. Enjoy - but don’t get too smoked. ;)