 SDbruboy (1822), San Diego, California, USA
Jul 19, 2003 Updated: Dec 17, 2004
Okay, so I just need to start by saying that this is my 100th rating – I’m so excited, here comes the little crown by my user name and a whole new level of respect (I think!?!) Although I didn’t specifically plan it this way until just about a week ago, the Arrogant Bastard gets to cross this esteemed threshold with me. And that seems fitting somehow. It was this aggressive muther of a beer that lured me back to the dark side 3 years ago and inspired me to recommit to drinking good quality brews rather than those mass produced light posers that I’d settled with for a few years. So I do hold a fond spot in my heart for this liquid arrogance. It’s also fitting that this is a beer from Stone, a San Diego brewery – and if you notice, my user name is SD bru boy! Local boy, local brew. Okay, enough exposition, on to the rating. This ale pours thick and dark – almost opaque, but caramel-red if you hold it up to a bright light. It gives rise to a massive light brown head, which takes its own good time to dissipate. The head also leaves beautiful lacing from the top to the bottom of the glass. The aroma, ahhhh heavenly (in my version of heaven anyway), rich roasted malts, spices, caramel, dried apricots, citrus, light roasted coffee and abundant floral hops (but not those pretty, dainty little flower kind of floral hops, these are the bold, assertive kind of flower, floral hops that reach out and smack you in the nose –overly zealous, huge, flesh eating and redolent – those kind of flower, floral hops). The flavor is big, really big and scary. It’s the kind of flavor that the entirety of the Anheuser-Busch Corp. cringes and runs away from like a little schoolgirl confronted by a roaring, drooling, stalking tyrannosaur. It’s a flavor that assails the tongue with muscular – yet oddly graceful – sweet roasted malts, ripe berries, subtle alcohol and fruitiness balanced by the most amazing blast of hops ever to lay waste to a patch of taste buds. The body is thick – charging the border toward syrupy, but then pulling back at the last minute to deliver a supple, creamy dose of carbonation. It has a body to lust after (in mind, in heart and in palate). So now I’ll say it again, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh! An amazing brew and one to which I owe a debt of gratitude. Thank you Stone, thank you Arrogant Bastard, I’m doing my best to prove myself worthy…
bconley (82), Fern Park, Florida, USA
Dec 3, 2008 Bomber. Glad this is available in FL now. Pours deep amber color, with an off white head. Very floral smell. Big and hoppy. Has the nice citrusy and evergreen flavor. Definitely some caramel sweetness in there too. Really good...in fact..I Was worthy
joeyplush (78), Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, USA
Dec 2, 2008 Pours a rich chestnut amber color with a creamy off-white head. Rich aroma of citrus and floral hops, nicely balanced. Taste is hoppy and fruity, with hints of grapes balanced with caramel hops, and a bitter finish which reminds me of a grapefruit. Very strong lacing. Overall, a robust beer that feels like a cross between an IPA and an amber lager.
poolboy (29), Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Nov 30, 2008 This beer is available on tap at several places near me. So, I drink a good bit of it. Copper with a large head. Taste of malt, hopes, and bitters. Some alcohol taste as well. Very pleasant aftertaste. Recommended.
barleynhops (25), Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Nov 29, 2008 Poured a red color with light lacing. Mild taste of hops, but with bitter malts. Couldnt taste the alcohol, but rather enjoyed the aftertaste which was nutty with a little citris.
LisaR (46), Gothenburg, Sweden
Nov 21, 2008 Bottle. The Rover, Gothenburg. Surprisingly red colour with a small off-white head. Aroma: complex, sweet, dark. Flavor: Hops, sweet and toasted malt, fruits, alcohol, caramel. Maybe a bit too much alcohol in the taste.
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