Arrogant Bastard Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

Bottle. Poured dark amber with a tan head. Aroma of malts and hops. Taste of caramel and roasted malts. Finishes bitter with a hint of grapefruit.

I always think that we, as raters, are truly arrogant bastards; well, unless you’re Man U or Chelsea fans, then you’re just unbearable. Well, I should slim that down a bit. I should direct that at the fans who’ve never been to that side of London, nor set foot in Manchester. Anyhow, the beer. What a beer. Pours a nice dark amber colour with excellent head and carbonation. Nose is candied, malty, slightly hoppy, and bitter. Taste is the same, with barley taking hold and adding a more bitter contrast of grapefruits and orange slices. The hops tip the iceberg well, cutting through even the thickest steel Hulls. How about them Tigers anyhow? Way to go, though would be cool to see more of that Dean Windass. Excellent last name mind you.

Trappist. Pours a black cherry with a thick, foamy, can’t-get-it-off-the-glass head. Aroma of pine, ruby grapefruit, oranges, lemons. Flavor blasts of citrus hops, some grass, dry on the finish. Lingering flavor, kills the taste buds for anything else for a while.

Bottle at The Rover, Göteborg. On January 5, 2009. Clear dark copper to red color, tan head. Sweet hoppy bitter scent. Fruity, bitter, hoppy taste. Medium to a bit hoppy taste. Medium high bitterness. Very clean and balanced, I like!

Bottle, Beer Ritz, Leeds. Poured a deep ruby red colour with a good lookin’ tan head. Big attention grabbing aroma of hops, pine, a lil’ malt and tropical fruit. Full bodied, sticky and thick mouthfeel that seemed to balance the hefty dose of malt and hop in the flavour. Piney and resinous with a slight grapefruit tang that leads to a long lingering dry bitter finish. Slightly naff marketing guff and pointless bragadacious flannel aside this is pretty good stuff. Only in America and all that jazz.

Pours amber from the bottle with a creamy head of foam. Smells and tastes of bitter hops, toffee, orange rind, and pine. Aggressive and malty -- like a creamy IPA with teeth.

This is a big bold and agressive beer. For the hop head who wants something heavyer than an ipa. Pours dark brown with a cherry hue. finishs with hints of alchohaul and citrus.

bomber from grape and gourmet poured into a snifter. pours a beautiful cherry wood color with hints of red and short, off white head and great lacing. aroma is huge, fresh hops, hints of orange, grapefruit, pine, and earth with a solid toasted malt aroma as well. flavor is big hops of course with hints of citrus but the roasted and somewhat sweet malt balance is wonderful. slight flavors of cinnamon, biscuit, pistachio also some through. mouthfeel is very smooth, medium bodied, and leaves a long lasting bitter aftertaste with a touch of alcohol. one of my all time favorites that too me way to long to give a proper rating to.