Stone Brandy Barrel Double Bastard

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

2006 Vintage at DLD ’09. Poured a brownish read withe small lasting froth on top. Nose is sweet, oaky, brandy and brown sugar. Nice enough hop character avails itself as well. I think I prefer this to normer Double Bastard. On taste, it is a very strong beer with liquor notes pushing through the hops, lending a strong fruitiness and interesting wood character. The hops are still very king and I wouldn’t be surprised to find that they had dry hopped in the barre. Alongside the Oak Aged Behemoth, it was very neat to see the differences. Pretty good BA beer.

2006 Vintage poured draft at DLD ’09 (Munster, IN). Poured a dark brown, luminescent, with small offwhite head. Aroma is brandy and sweeter malts with some caramel and light sweetness. Pushes heavy brandy on the palate, already too hot for my liking, dark brown sugar, dark fruits, sweeter caramel malts, and a good bitterness from some good hopping. This is too hot and boozy for me, as I loose a lot of the oak in the warmth. Hops were strong, but could have been a bit stronger and pushed some better bitterness to balance. Hoppy florals do vindicate a little at the end, as they stick to the palate with the Brandy. Ehhh.

2006 vintage on tap at DLD 09. Pours brown with a foamy tan head. Aroma was of sweet brandy, malt, dark fruit, caramel, and hops. Taste is of brandy, dark fruit especially raisins, malt, wood, and caramel. Has a decent hop character, but the brandy really pushes it underneath. The alcohol is masked very well, causing this one to sneak up on you. Lingering wood and brandy taste. Very crisp, drinkable mouthfeel. A tad too sweet, but I liked it.

On tap at DLD. This poured a dark ruby hue with a thin head of tan foam. The aroma contained strong caramel and raisin notes, along with sweet brandy. The flavor was sweet brandy and caramel. Some dark fruit in the background. A little to sweet for my tastes. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and had light to moderate carbonation. Decent, but I prefer the regular Double Bastard.

Had this at DLD 09. 2006 version. Amber pour with whispy head. Aroma of brandy,fruits, some hops. The brandy barrel mellows the hops, Rich, awesome brandy flavor mixed with this awesome ale. Just, totally awesome and a pleasure to drink.

So excited they had this @ Dark Lord Day. 2006 vintage. Pours copper with thin off white head. Awesome aroma of brandy, caramel, and dark fruit. Thick and rich, this was a fine beer. Glad to try it. Thanks Stone for bringing beer to Dark Lord.

2006 Vintage, on tap at Sunset Grill. ruby copper colored body with a thin whispy white head. Candied sugar and raisin in the nose. Even a few years old, still really boozey with lots of dried fruit funky malts and a sharp alcohol bite at the end. Funny I only got a few hints of brandy and virtually no wood. A little dissapointed at that, but still a delicious beer that is no where near as hot as it is fresh.

I love the bastard, which is why this one was so great. The hops create a nice counter-point to the booziness of the brandy, making for a nice blend and a great beer.