I have your classic Sean Connery beard and stash and have for longer than he's had it. Same grey color too. Once in the Marines (I've always had a stash) I was told to shave it off for a Commanding General's inspection. Right after, my Company Commander (Captain), First Sergeant and my Platoon Sergeant all told me never to shave off the stash again. They said it made me look like I was 16 (a compliment now). I haven't shaved the stash since, once in '93 I shaved the beard, grew it right back.
BTW, in medieval times a clean shaven man was not to be trusted! Nor a man who didn't drink.