Double Bastard Ale

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

10.5% nose of some pine but overwhelming malt stickiness, plenty of toffee. no alcohol detected. appearance is clouded rust that gives way to opaque rust. flavor is huge malt sweetness, none of the crunchy nuance found in the nose. some hops but huge bitterness seems to be more attributable to fusel like alchol that burns even the nose like ammonia. palate is somewhat dry, when actual flavors are gone the sour bitterness hangs like acid. while arrogant bastard is one of the most well balanced beers ever and hugely enjoyable, this is just overkill. far from undrinkable, i think its execution was as planned but i dont see that this is that enjoyable, just intended to be ’lacerative’ per its description, but i dont know that that is at all positive.

Pours a cloudy ice tea like color with a thin tan head. Aroma is sweet caramel malt, some bitter hops, and a little bit of alcohol. Taste is strong. Sweet malts, spice, alcohol that lingers in the aftertaste, but not unpleasantly. Interesting, strong definitive beer. You need to be ready to drink this one.

2008 bomber in a pint glass. Pours with a one-finger off-white head that sticks to the upper third of the glass. The aroma is all hops - piney and floral with a juicy grapefruit bitterness. The sweetness of the caramel malt doesn’t show its presence until you taste the beer, providing a nice balance to the strong bitterness of the hops. The mouthfeel is sticky, like light syrup. Be careful - the alcohol sneaks up on you quickly - it started going to my head only half-way through the first glass. This is an excellent beer - highly recommended.

From a 22oz bottle this Ale pours a ruby amber with a very nice, thick tan head. Lots of lacing. Aroma jumps right out of the glass at you - citrus hops and sweet malts with lots of spice and alcohol. This big beer comes right after you on the first sip with the malts, bitter hops and spiciness - but the alcohol is never overwhelming. I was actually surprised how different this beer came across than the Arrogant Bastard. This is a fantastic beer that I would certainly drink again (and again).

On tap at Flying Saucer. Has a cloudy copper golden color with a large frothy light tan head that lasts awhile. Good sticky lacing along the glass. The aroma is a sweet pine hops and citrus. The taste is a sweet caramel not as hoppy as i was expecting, alchol is present but not too overbearing. A very well done American strong ale from Stone.

Pours a deep brown in the glass with a tan head. Smells sweet with a huge piney hop aroma in the glass. The taste is not much different from the AB, but has a bit more alcohol burn and hop bitterness.

deep reddish-brown in color with a beautiful creamy beige head that leaves sticky sheets of lace in the glass. Strong hoppy aromas of grapefruit and candy, citrus, bready and fruity flavors kind of like pineapple cake. Full bodied with a thick almost syrupy mouthfeel, alcohol is very well hidden

Unassuming pour, weak ipa scent, but tasty, closer to a hop centric barleywine but not a dipa.