Double Bastard Ale

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

22oz 2008 bottle enjoyed 8.5.09. Pours a clear medium-dark red with a nice dense fine frothy light tan/orange head. Aroma of American Barley Wine, dry pine, earthy, bitter, warming alcohol, richly oxidized caramel, a touch plasticy. Of course flavor is quite assertive at first, mellowed just a tad by age, odd play of dark bitterness, almost ashy/burnt against the sticky caramel, reminds slightly of Central Waters Y2K ale, dry bitter pine, earthy, some hot alcohol, plastic dullness, light fruit, definitely a Stone beer, has several similarities to Old Guardian. Some lighter notes of cotton candy, dough and brown sugar as well. Medium bodied, nice viscosity without being sticky or syrupy, soft smooth ubiquitous fizzy carbonation. Much better as it warms, definitely a BW now. [Huge thanks to drewbeerme for sharing 02 - 08 bottles with me in a sickening vertical tasting... still gathering my notes from that though. If I remember right I liked the older bottles the best]

Stone Brewing is one of the newer highly anticipated California breweries that are now available in Florida. By the time she made to my shelves late last year though, I had already missed out on most of her special seasonal releases, the Double Bastard 2008 release being one of those. Thankfully, the folks were on a trip and stopped in a liquor store to pick me up some goodies, beer and sake, and the clerk hooked them, and thusly me, up with some nice rare beers and sake.

Burnt amber and garnet with a hazy brown murkiness which adds a mysterious aura. Not much of a head to speak of while she sports a thin collar that also threatens to fade into oblivion. Her head may have been nothing to write home about, but let me tell you about her nose. Grass, lots of grass, flowers, green leaves and sticky hop oils lead into more green hops in their whole entirety, picked fresh from the vine as their presence permeates the air around them. Sweet grass mowed with fresh morning dew finishes with a dry punch of dry hay and crunchy honeycomb. No, not the cereal, real honeycomb dripping with the fruit of hundreds of hard-working bees. Obviously the head knew better then to get in the way of this Mack-truck of a nose barreling its way to wherever it durn well pleases. Like a beer geek frozen in its headlights, I throw caution to the wind and dive right into her path. What’s a little danger, right? Dry and herbal, like a gourmet rub to tempt and taunt and seduce my tastebuds. Green leaves, hops and grass scrub also center on top of my tongue for a tasty palate cleansing experience. Her dryness is balanced by a sweetness slowly swells in the background thick with honey, honeycomb, and burnt sugars. Hop oils continue to coat while further fields of grass and hay dry at the same time. I always enjoy the playful interplay of dry and wet at the same time; it only serves to quench one’s thirst while adding to it at the same time. It’s no wonder then that my glass is quickly diminishing in volume; thankfully Double Bastard comes in large 22oz bomber bottle. A pleasant warmth slowly starts to blossom in my chest before spreading throughout my body, a testament to her higher ABV which also adds a nip of spice at the back of each quaff. Mmm. From start to finish, a big hoppy, grassy, sweet and yet dry, woodsy and warm brew that I look forward to quaffing this year, also.

What can I say about Stone Brewing that I haven’t already said and probably will say again later. Great brewery, great beers, and they make no apologies for being big, bad, and doing exactly what they want. If you don’t like their beers, tough. They aren’t brewing it just for you, but for those who will enjoy them, especially the folks at Stone Brewing. After all, don’t we all want to brew what we would like to drink?

Poured from a 1 Pt. 6oz. bottle. into my Guinness pint glass. The color is a dark orange/red and a little amber and gold at the same time. Not clear but cloudy with a thick off-white head. The smell is very hoppy. Is a bit floral and a bit sweet with malt but also has a bastard of a smell that I can not place. It is the signature smell of the Arrogant Bastard brew. The taste is strong, it is at first sip a little citrusy, has a great hanging aftertaste that is reminding me that this is a true to form craft beer. Is very creamy and is a bit flavorful than the orignal bastard. This beer has a nice finish. It has a nice bite but is not overwhelming in it’s texture. It is just right is it’s combination and is very mush the brew worth the wait..

Poured deep red with a medium head. Great hops smell and carmelly malts. Taste was very smooth, rich and balance with carmel and brown sugary sweet notes. Just as good as the Arrogant Bastard, but with more punch. GREAT BEER!

Bottle@Home. Strong malty and hoppy hops, the well known American hops of course. Hazy, red/brown, yellow firm head, good lace. Very sweet, very very bitter, grassy, fruity, floral, heavy flavours. Sticky, warming finish. Very flavourful, powerful, complex yet not over the edge. Nice stuff.

Noogfest High 5. Sample from a bottle thanks to brentfeesh. 2008 Vintage. Dark red, thin off white head. Aroma is caramel, big berry fruits. Taste is alcohol, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, fruit.

Bottle, 65cl - Hazy red amber beer with a fine head. Aroma is very malty with hints of cranberries, dried fruit and red berries. Flavor is very sweet with hints of roasted malts, caramel, ripe fruits and spices. Very full bodied beer and beautifully balanced.

Bomber. Small head of off-white, a little boozy, doesn’t hide it’s alcohol well. Overall a beautiful looking beer, with explosive flavor, that really packs a punch... better than its little brother arrogant bastard ale. anther great beer from Stone who never produces anything but exceptional beer!