Arrogant Bastard Ale

Bottle: I’m still trying to figure out why I’ve never rated this...oh well. Pours a dark amber with a sizeable tan head. Aroma hits immediately upon pouring with a massive pine and dark malt base, some notes of caramel and light floral hops accentuate it. Malt dominant in flavor, some floral and piney hops absolutely kill on the finish. Very good, solid brew that I can fall back on anytime.

Bottle, thanks to emagee and South Bay. Deep amber/ruby pour with a tan head. Nice lacing. Battle of hops and malt on the nose and tongue, with both sides bringing out their big guns. Some may feel caught in the crossfire. Tons of malty caramel and citrus/resiny hops. Some notes of wood, butterscotch, toffee, biscuit/cookie. Ends with crisp hop bitterness. Despite the bottle’s challenge to make me feel man enough to like this beer, it really is over the top. Seems more like a Scotch ale than an American strong to me. Pretty good, but definitely not subtle. The Oaked Arrogant Bastard is far better.

Pours a beautiful red color with a nice light tan head. Mild hoppy aroma. Strong grapefruit hoppy flavor dominates from the beginning. Very bitter. Malt detectable underneath hops. Finishes bitter also

Bottle. Pours dark amber wiht a nice head. Heavy malt aroma. Thick and creamy to the palate. Flavor has a sweet start malt middle and a bitter chocolate finish. $15.00 a six pack...good luck with that.

Draught. Pours a hazy ruby brown color with a small creamy off white head. Nose is fruits, caramel and medium background hops. Initial taste is malty, red berries, caramel and nuts. Mid palate to finish displays an earthy hoppiness that balances the brew well. The flavors are still on the mild side. Palate duration is good, the hop bittterness is one of the highlights of the brew. Good head retention and spot lacing of the glass. Light to medium body. Very drinkable brew.

It’s true. I’m not worthy. I bought this beer with very high expectations. Bottle pours deep cloudy amber, with almost no crown at all. Smell is good, with hints of slightly piney hop amid woody earthiness. Taste is the deal breaker. What is hinted at in the aroma knocks you back in the mouthfeel. Hops aplenty gives you a kick in the teeth with medium sweetness and a bit of citrus following. Bitterness sticks with you for a while. I don’t think I’ve had a beer this thick and hoppy at the same time since I tried Smutty’s impy stout in the big beer series. Bottom line: I’m not the guy that disdains everything that someone else likes so he can feel superior and elitist. I’m the guy who appreciates the artwork but probably wouldn’t hang it on his wall. That’s how I feel about this beer. It’s a tremendous work in brewing, but it’s too much for me, you arrogant bastard.

Pours a ruby brown color with a large foamy off-white head that encapsulates the sides of the glass with lacing. Aroma is caramel and hints of hops. Taste is a big malt bomb - caramel, pine nuttiness, hints of hops. Nothing special.

Deep rich amber in color. I’d agree that this is an agressive beer. Flavors begin with malt but then progress to a complex bitterness. Full bodied.