Stone Old Guardian

Old Guardian is a big bold American barleywine. It has loads of malt and hops.

Beer Advocate 

classifies it as an American Barleywine.

Brewer's Notes

Barley wines are traditionally hefty brews, but ours is downright excessive. The huge maltiness of this beer is only tamed by an equally prodigious addition of hops, creating a rich, slightly sweet, caramel-hued ale infused with assertive bitterness and bright hop notes, all culminating in a pleasing dryness. While it will evolve into an even more glorious brew with age, this beer's delicious onslaught of flavors will seriously challenge your ability to wait any longer to drink it.

Featured Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Delta & Nugget.

Flavor Profile: Caramel, dried fruit, balanced finish.

Tasting Notes

20260214: I had a 10-oz. glass of 19-year old 2007 vintage at the brewery. It was lovely. Caramel and dark fruit flavors shined. Then I had a relatively fresh can from a four-pack I purchased in November. I featured big hops and a bitter finish. I am upgrading the rating. I acknowledge that Bigfoot may be a better value. Old Guardian may be more agressively hopped and fruitier.

Nov. 26, 2025: I had a small glass of a 10-year old 2015 vintage at the Stone tap house. It was wonderful. For the money, Bigfoot gets my nod. Therefore, I downgraded the rating slightly.

Rating = 6.5 glasses

Oct. 4, 2020: I cracked open my second growler of Old Guardian 2010 last weekend. The beer is now 10 years old and spent the last year and change in a crowler in my refrigerator. The beer is not what I remembered. The sweet malt had faded. A nice chocolate taste had emerged and the hops were kicking. malt. I don't know if the result is simply part of the aging process or being the crowler too long. Folks on Beer Advocate warned me that crowlers are NOT generally suitable for long-term storage. 

I would not rate what I had as 7 glasses but am leaving the original rating alone.

20 Aug. 2019
This vintage 2010 American barleywine was on tap @ Stone. It is yummy. It has aged wonderfully. - way better than the Big Foots in my "cellar". Loads of sweet malt with backbone of muted hops. Don't tell my wife; but, I bought two crowlers. The opportunity may never come again: Stone quit brewing Old Guardian circa 2015.

Rating = 7 glasses. 

Stone IPA

Brewer's Notes: One of the most well respected and best-selling IPAs in the country, this golden beauty explodes with citrusy flavor and hop aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character.

The IPA That Launched Generations of Hop Fanatics
First Release: August 1997

By definition, an India pale ale is hoppier and higher in alcohol than its little brother, pale ale—and we deliver in spades. Now one of the most well-respected and best-selling IPAs in the country, this golden beauty explodes with citrusy, piney hop flavors and aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character. This crisp, extra hoppy brew is hugely refreshing on a hot day, but will always deliver no matter when you choose to drink it.

Packaging Notes: the iconic west coast style IPA.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting Notes

July 2024: Ditto as below.

April 2020: Loads of crisp hops bitterness balanced enough for one sip to invite a gulp. A wonderful beer and a great example of the style. 

August 2023: I noticed that I have not updated my review of Stone IPA in over three years. It has become my go-to IPA and one of my favorite beers. At $17.99 for a 12-pack, it is a standard in my refrigerator. I am officially upgrading the rating from 5 glasses.

Rating = 6 glasses. 

Stone Ruination

Brewer: Stone 

Style: Double IPA 

Tasting notes

2208: Super bitter. Upgraded to 6 glasses.

2208: A nicely balanced bitter double IPA. Upgrading the rating from 4 to 5.5. Thought about 6 glasses but think Dreadnaught is a titch better.

1006: Ditto although the grapefruit was not as pronounced as I remember. 

0706: Moved to 4 in new rating. 

0602: Floral, hoppy nose. Plenty of hops taste but milder than I expected (or advertized on the bottle). Strong grapefruit aftertaste. Would be fun to share with a hop head, although my recollection is that Bear Republic Racer X would be a better choice. 

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 14 August 2010. 

Rating: 5.5 glasses

Stone Xocoveza

Brewer's Notes: This is a beloved stout. When first introduced as a limited special collaboration release with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker (after his recipe won our annual homebrew competition) and Cerveceria Insurgente, it was an instant hit and fans began clamoring for its return. Seeing as how its amazing flavor profile is evocative of Mexican hot chocolate, featuring coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and a generous amount of chocolate, we concluded it was the perfect stout to re-release in celebration of the Holidays and the entire winter season. This is now a highly anticipated yearly tradition that we are pleased to present from us to you, and makes a perfect wintry gift from you to your friends, loved ones, or simply to yourself. Cheers!

22 Nov. 2020
I enjoyed a 10-oz. glass at Stone's tasting room after a bike ride. I sat outside and drank the beer with some Ronnie's barbecue. What a nice way to end a ride.

The brewer's notes are accurate. The beer is not heavy or think. nothing like motor oil like some big stouts. It is black. It combines many flavors but none overpower or are BIG. I get hints of coffee, chocolate, peppers, vanilla, and cinnamon. 8.1% abv is totally hidden. I would liken it to a toned down and subtle version of Gingerbread Stout. I like it a lot. It combines flavor and complexity with lightness not found in many stouts. I want to make a six-pack or two a holiday tradition.

Rating = 6 glasses.

Stone Espresso Totalitarian Stout

Stone Espresso Totalitarian Stout is a wonderful Russian Imperial Stout. It is BIG, with loads of hidden alcohol and a nice dose of coffee flavor. The coffee is a perfect balance to the sweet beer and is not too much. I had a glass at Postbellum on Happy Hour. It was too cold and I had to drink it too fast to really appreciate the beer. I need another try to figure out whether the rating is 4 glasses, 5 glasses, or even 6 glasses. 

Rating = 5 glasses.

Stone Tangerine Express

Tangerine Express adds whole tangerines and pineapple to an American IPA. It is NOT a fruit bomb. It is an American IPA with added flavor. The citrus complements and smooths the hops. I liked the first one so much that I drank another.

Rating = 4 glasses.