Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

Date: 08/30/1998
Mode: Bottle
Source: Beverages & More, SF

Appearance: dark amber, frothy light tan head, sudsy lace,
Aroma: earthy hop aroma,
Body: big body,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of hop flavor, long bitter finish
-------- /> Date: 03/23/2002
Mode: draft
Words: bardo

Aroma: fresh hop aroma,
Flavor: big bold and arrogant flavor, a bit better than the bottle due to freshness
-------- /> Date: 03/23/2003
Mode: draft
Words: bardo

nice fruity malt flavor that is overwhelming leaving the hops and bitterness to take a back seat, now i see where the double bastard comes from, a bit of alcohol shows up after warming, best ab yet!
-------- /> Date: 10/10/2008
Mode: draft
Source: summits woodstock

Aroma: dry and earthy caramel malt aroma,
Flavor: rich dark caramel flavor, lots of balancing earthyness,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Score: **4
-------- /> Date: 05/19/2007
Mode: 3 liter bottle
Vintage: 2003

Aroma: strong oxidized malt aroma,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, plenty of hop flavor and bitterness, the reduction in hops from age allows some rich chocolate emerge,
Overall: becomes a balanced hoppy old ale,
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

The best I've ever had brought some wonderful citrusy, leafy hops overtop of the crystal malt. This trend carried through the earthy body. If it's not so fresh, and doesn't have a fresh, rich hop aroma, it gets dominated by that malt and is not nearly as impressive nor enjoyable.

Dark copper color; creamy head. The aroma is malty, hoppy but not fruity as expected; some roasted malt. Full body, very good malt, nutty. Immediately the bitterness takes over, for a bold final (again, not particularly fruity nor aromatic).

Clear dark reddish amber with large beige head. Sweet aroma with toasted malt, caramel and loads of hops. Sweet flavor with toasted malt, caramel, hops and grapefruit notes. Ends solid bitter.

Dark copper body topped by a small creamy tan head tinged with orange. Aroma is intense grapefruit, medium sweet. Taste is grapefruit, chocolate, finishing alcohol-tinged grapefruit and light chocolate. Medium-full body. I could see this as one of my "Desert Island Beers" -- it's very satisfying, though not enough to stop you from wanting another one or two or six.

Bottle from Belmont Station, Portland. Ruby colour with lasting tan head. Sour hop aroma is lovely. Malts are sour coffee. Sourish in mouth, astringent hop on end. Cats pee aroma. Rich in mouth, but slightly sour as well and then this astringency cuts in. This is more a state of mind than anything else. Take bits that are attractive, sour, astringent and here you have something arrogant. It seems to say "Here I stand with strong statements of taste and knock me down if you dare." Smells of a yeasty English bitter. Yeasty like Harveys Sussex Best Bitter. Some fullness in mouth. Yeah, I liked it.

On Tap at the Falling Rock Tap House, Denver 02/10/2005 Amber coloured and extremely hoppy. Crisp on the palate with a malt finish.

Bottled
Red ruby color, small tanned head. Strong flowery hoppy nose. All hops, hops and hops with some sweetness underlying. Not very complex beer - propably heaven to hopheads, not for me.