Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

Re-rate, the first Stone bottle I have bought in our Great Lake State. Transparent ruby red with nice off-white head that lasts awhile, revives with a quick swirl. Duvel glass is completely full of lacing. Huge bitter pine resins up front, very sticky, plenty of caramel and syruppy mollasses in the background. Flavor again all pine resin up front, pine through and through, but surprisingly balanced in a way. Huge malt backbone really helps balance this out. Very smooth palate/mouthfeel. Bit of alcohol showing up for only 7.2%, still well done regardless.

(Draught) Pours dark red to brown with a nougat coloured head. Fruity aroma with piney/rasiny hops. Hints of anise and some earthyness. The flavour is Fruity, Piney hops, malty sweetness that soon turnes to strong hoppy bitterness. Rasin with a menthol-ish touch. Great, dry grapeftuity afterbitterness.

bottle. For some reason, this is the most available high alcohol beer in Knoxville, TN, so I have it every now again when there’s nothing new to drink. After drinking a few hundred different beers since I last approached the Bastard, I realize now that this, I think, is a great example of the mythical imperial red ale style. Aside from the attractive dark red pour, that sweet biscuity-breadiness is also predominant. The hops are steady and even throughout. This is just a solid, big beer. It goes beyond merely being a hop bomb and delivers adequate sophistication for a satisfying beer consumption experience.
[Nov.24, 2007]
Here I am again drinking the old Bastard. This is a very solid beer, I get desensitized to its quality from time to time since I consume it so often, but damn, this is a good beer. The beer selection in my county is abysmal, but thank God we get Stone for whatever reason. Again I’m reminded just how cleanly hoppy this stuff is. It’s not off the charts, but man, it’s assertive. Excellent citrusy, sprucy acidity highlights sweet, biscuity, caramelly malts. This is a real American amber ale with some juevos.
[December 20, 2007]
I think I forget just how good this beer is. It’s hard to find another similar beer that pulls of this kind of flavor with such finesse. I retasted Double Bastard just a few days ago. I’d like to note that I might just prefer Arrogant Bastard due to its crystal clear hop profile and commendable balance. It’s a tough call.
[August 5, 2008]
Bomber from McScrooge’s best before August 30, 2008. Damn right. I haven’t seen a fresh Stone beer on any shelves in my area for a few months, pissin’ me off. Finally I got my hands on a new Arrogant Bastard. Pours cloudy amber with thick lacing and a firm white head. The aroma has crystal clear grapefruit, some pine, thick biscuits, caramel, lemon, earth. Carbonation is medium high, just a little spritzy, and suits the flavor well. Now this is a true American beer. Loads of PNW hops, thick biscuity malts, no regard for subtlety. The level of balance in this beast is quite a feat. This is one of those ASA’s that really doesn’t belong in another style. . .kind of sets the bar for other similar beers.

Tried on tap at the brewery in one of those tiny taster glasses after going to the tour. The tour is great! Greatest name for a beer, it has made Stone tremendously successful. Enough about Stone and on to the beer. 1/2 finger head that quickly dies. Deep amber color. Small bubble carbonation as I swirl. Aroma is surpisingly mild (possibly because I just had the IPA?) Well balanced, but not as good as the IPA? Huh? Great beer, but I was expecting a hoppy punch in the face. Maybe someone will give the punch to me after this review.

On tap at Shallos (Indianapolis, IN). Pours a clear dark reddish brown with little to no head. Aroma is strongly os citrus, especially grapefruit, hops, some wheat and a slight bit of spice as well. Flavor is much of the same with primarily grapefuit and hops flavors with a clean finish. Generally medium body with a bitter finish.

2006 Bottle. First Impression: Hops! Strong smell, but good. Nice dark red alook with thin head that stays until the last drop. Strong taste but goes down smooth. Easily aan ale I can drink again and again. Highly recommended. Cheers!

Ginger Man, NYC. Amber coloured, huge head. Some caramel malts, but predominantly super hoppy. Very bitter flavour, but with enough complexity to balance. Very good.

On tap. I’ve had this beer several times, but prefer it on tap more so than bottle. A great American strong ale with lots of malt and hops - with an alcohol finish. Not my favorite Stone product, but good a good beer and easily obtainable.