Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

500 mL bottle. Deep rust-brown with a small but solid and sticky head. The aroma is strong, and consists entirely of citrussy hops. The flavour is beautifully (and surprisingly, considering the hops) balanced, if not terribly complex. The solid caramel and roasted malt hold their own. The alcohol is there, but doesn’t get in the way. Nice bitter finish. Very drinkable.

this is truly an american strong ale. too strong to be an APA, too well balanced to be an IPA. the malt is truly the star of this show -- it still shines through despite the intense IBUs, where lesser malts would be crushed. this is very well put together beer i could live with for a long long time due to its wildly intelligent balance. ive had this a few times over the years, but the last time i tried it i didnt really understand it. this is a rite of passage, tonite i am enlightened...and in love

Sampled on draught, pours a thick cloudy copperish colour with a medium sized white head. Aroma is hoppy, with piney notesm, wood, bourbon and smoke. Taste is astringent, again hoppy, citrusy and aggresive indeed. Tackles your palate right off the bat. I think if I would have had more then one pint of this I would have had trouble riding my bike home.

Pours clear reddish brown with light tan head. Aromas of caramel, bread, and some grapefruit. Big malt flavor with a hefty dose of piney hops. Full body with average carbonation and a thick mouthfeel.

Dark Brown in color with a average sized light brown head with great lacing. The aroma is of hops with notes of citrus and pine. The flavor is of strong hops, chocolate malts, nuts, wood, and a hint of molasses and citrus. The texture is creamy. Overall it’s a great beer with a very complex and aggressive flavor. I love it. Those guys at Stone have done it again!

22oz. bomber poured into English pint. Pours dark amber with a dark tan head that left a nice amount of lacing. Aroma is HOPS. A clean, smooth palate with a heavy taste of hops that lingers on the tongue with almost a numbing quality. A malt undertone works its way through as it warms and as you get used to the amount of hops. A great, hoppy ale.

Pours a cloudy brown with a slight tan head. Smell was a pleasant mix of hops, malt, lime, and caramel. Tastes a little malty, with hints of citrus and smoky chocolate. The hops are present and pleasant on the tongue. The mouthfeel was smooth for a strong ale, which brought out the hops. The carbonation was minimal. I’m a very satisfied customer, and will return to Dilly Deli in Cincinatti for more!

Pours a devilish copper-brown with a sizeable tannish head. Nose is not overpowering, just a decent dose of piney, grapefruity hops with a decent pastry malt backbone. More similar piney, leafy hops on the smooth and full palate, certainly well bittered although not a total hop-bomb, with a delicious crisp finish and lingering bitter resins. Really more of an imperial red, it seems to me. But quite nice.