Today's review is a rather special review, as I delved into my cellar and found a 2011-vintage Old Guardian Belgo barleywine. I bought this beer in the summer of 2011 and it's been in my collection ever since.
Every year, the Escondido, CA-based Stone Brewing Co. releases two kinds of their Old Guardian barleywine: the classic release and an odd-year release. The classic release is, well, classic and simple. The odd-year release is a second version of the ale, made with different ingredients and using different methods. It's meant to be an experimental take on the Old Guardian and oftentimes yields very interesting results. For example, this year's odd-year release is aged in oak-smoked barrels.
The 2011 off-year release, of which I have several currently cellaring, is 12% ABV barleywine made in a Belgian style. This is rather unique and has been cellaring since 2011, so the strength of the beer coupled with the fact it's been in my basement for two years means it's probably closer to 14% ABV by now. The beer itself is made with Belgian yeast and is intended to have a lighter, maltier flavor than its twin brother. Naturally, here at Sip and Puff we do not take such hearsay lightly and simply must try these things for ourselves.
My brother Dan and I cracked it open on a hazy summer day at my mother's beach cottage in Connecticut, where I am taking a (brief) vacation.We opened the bomber of ale and let it sit for a moment before pouring it into burgundy glasses (yes, we do not have a full range of tasting glasses down here at the beach, so we have to make do.) The beer had very little carbonation, almost still, and the nose was fruity, pungent and full. Wow! It was very potent and we knew we were in for a treat.
There was very little head to this beer, and once it settled down there was no lacing or foam to speak of. It was almost still, thick, and was throwing off lots of fruity notes right there in the glass.
Look at that color! It's a hazy reddish-amber when held up to the light. Dan calls it "neon Thanksgiving turkey."
It almost looks like wine, which is a coincidence because it's a little bit like wine.
The first sip was sublime. This beer definitely aged well, and as a result was very strong. The taste was very full, powerful, and fruity with a strong, heady delivery. Lots of fruit tastes and sugar tastes here. The flavor was strong, fruity, malty, with a nice lush finish of fermented hops. I really liked it! It was strong, too, so each gulp took a few moments to process.
Unlike the regular Old Guardian, the Belgo is a little more subdued and not as sweet. My experiences with the Old Guardian line in the past have been positive, for sure, but I find that the Belgo is a lot more mellow and a little less sharp than the regular line. This may be a function of the Belgian yeast used or a function of the two and a half years it spent cellaring. Or both!
The Old Guardian is readily-available and released every year. If you are interested in a stronger beer with an unusual taste profile, I'd give it a shot. This beer also cellars very well - meaning that you can pop it in your basement or closet and let it age for a couple months to a couple years. Only certain beers can do this. When you age a beer, it may get stronger in alcohol content and the flavors will change slightly. It's a fun experiment, but if you choose to try it out, do a little research first and make sure that the beer you want to put away is OK to cellar. This one is great for cellaring, but also great for drinking now! I wouldn't pair this beer - just drink it on its own. If you positively absolutely do-or-die had to put some food with it, I'd try a charcuterie with a side of dates.
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