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Stone Old Guardian Oak-Smoked Barley Wine

Stone Old Guardian Oak-Smoked Barley Wine

Rated 3.660 by BeerPals
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Brewed by Stone Brewing Company

Escondido, CA, United States

Style:  American Barleywine

11.4% Alcohol by Volume

70 International Bittering Units

Availability of this beer is unknown


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Tasting Notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele Appearance: Deep amber with a creamy tan head. The beer has a light haze with a more intense reddish hue than the classic version of Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine. Aroma: Light smokiness combined with fruity yeast esters and malt flavors. The smoke character is very pleasant and blends well with the other beer aromas, but doesn't dominate. Taste: Flavor is rich and malty. The smokiness is second to the malty sweetness and lingers pleasantly through the finish. Palate: Rich and smooth at first, the finish is bitter with a slight alcohol heat and bitterness. Overall: We used Oak-Smoked Wheat Malt from Germany at 20 percent of the grain bill to provide the smoke aroma and flavor to this beer. The result is a very nice blend of the classic Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine flavors with an additional smoke component that is well-blended and compliments the overall character of the beer. The best way to experience both versions is to taste them side by side, tasting the classic version first, then the Oak-Smoked version. Going back and forth between the two beers dramatically highlights the differences between the two. The hop character of the classic version becomes more prominent, and the smoked character of the odd version really makes it quite unique. Both beers taste great now, when fresh, and will age beautifully for many years. Suggested food parings, provided by "Dr." Bill Sysak Appetizers: Quail knots, Merguez sausage, wild boar ribs or any pork ribs, tomato & bacon jam, bacon-wrapped jalapeño shrimp Soups: Beef stew, French onion soup, chili con carne Entrees: Spanish ham, smoked pork butt, beef teriyaki, grilled portabella stuffed with Point Reyes blue cheese, lamb shoulder Cheeses: Beemster X-O- aged Gouda, Berkshire Blue Cheese, Oregonzola, Bayley Hazen Blue Desserts: Double chocolate brownies with caramel frosting, pecan pie, oatmeal raisin cookies, coconut macaroons, bacon toffee ice cream Cigars: Padrón Family Reserve 85 Years, Oliva Serie V Belicoso, Tatuaje Havana Cazadores

ID: 51118 Last updated 1 week ago Added to database 11 years ago

Key Stats

96
percentile

0

Drunk

7

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Statistics

Overall Rank2272
Overall Percentile95.8
Style Rank69 of 512
Style Percentile86.5
Lowest Score3.3
Highest Score4.5
Average Score3.943
Weighted Score3.660
Standard Deviation0.408

Rating Distribution

Beer vs Style

7 Member Reviews

Recent | Card View | Table View
  • IBREW2OR3 1040 reviews
    rated 4.5 1 week ago

    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.

  • JERRYMORRISON 2130 reviews
    rated 4.1 9 years ago

    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.

  • HEYBEERMAN 1025 reviews
    rated 3.7 10 years ago

    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.

  • KINGER 2328 reviews
    rated 3.7 10 years ago

    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.

  • BEAV 1788 reviews
    rated 3.3 11 years ago

    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.

  • SLOWRUNNER77 5682 reviews
    rated 4.3 11 years ago

    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.

  • CYBERCAT 11711 reviews
    rated 4.0 11 years ago

    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. ;)

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