Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

On tap, Yardhouse San Diego. Don’t know if it was a yardhouse thing, but this didn’t impress. Served flat and listless, poor carbonation and no head. Flavour seemed muted and off, as compared to the regular AB. Flat out boring. I’ll keep and open mind and re-rate.

Rich dark cider color; Medium to heavy body; Aroma of oak, malt and brown sugar; Flavor of wood hops, sweet malt, dry fruit, and spice; Some bitterness which lingers on; Very complex and nicely balanced; Excellent American brew.

A red beer with a small head. The aroma was fruity & a musty like hop scent. The taste was fruity, bitter, & berries with a dry bitter ending. My guess would be that the oak chips makes the ending dry.

Pours a dark ruby/amber color. Nice thick three finger head of tan foam. Retention is good. Lacing is quite good. Big hoppy nose. Characteristic pine and grapefruit scents. Nice touch of oaky woodiness. Earthiness. Nice hint of sweet caramel malts. Smoother and easier to drink than their standard Arrogant Bastard. There is at least an attempt at balance here. Sweet caramel malts and pine and citrus hops battle for your attention. The hops win out, in the end. Rests on the tongue as a nicely balanced brew but finishes with a big hops bite. The whole thing has an overtone of a nice oaky smoothness and flavor. Good full bodied brew. Nice and creamy. Almost perfect carbonation level. Yum. Very good drinkability. The more I drink, the better it becomes, in fact. I like this version more than the ’regular’ version. Much smoother and easier to drink. Not nearly as abrasive. Very good, Stone.

12 ounce bottle. Pours with an appealing 1/4" tan head which dissipates quickly but laces extensively. Lovely deep reddish brown color. Flavor is quite similar to the normal AB but with considerable more alcohol warmth and a hint of vanilla. A truly glorious beer.

Bottle. Pours a clear brown beer with an offwhite head. The aroma is sweet, malt, fruit and raisin. The flavor is hops and wood. The palate is bitter. Overall a good and complex beer.

Dark brown/amber with a persistent tan head and nice lacing. Nose is floral and woody. Like the regular Arrogant Bastard, it’s a very flavorful brew, both extremely hoppy and rich with malt. The woodiness of the oak and the hops blend very nicely to give the beer a smooth, pleasant bitterness. That bitterness remains as the finish and then very gradually mellows until a slight malty finish remains.

13th June 2008. Highly hopped ale with a sweet malty finish. The hops are never over bitter and are crisp and refreshing. The oak chips impart a nice subtle vanilla.