Stone Brandy Barrel Double Bastard

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

Draft at Stone Bistro. An amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet malty combined with notes of caramel and over ripe fruits as well as a light note of alcohol. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt, over ripe fruits, and a light touch of brandy, leading to a dry and very woody finish. The alcohol burns lightly in the top of the throat.

From tap at Stone Bistro. Pours hazy brown with a lacing white head. Dense brandy aroma with a nice fruity and malty notes- Sweet prune flavour is the first impression followed by a sweet raisin flavour. Lingering sweet finish. Nicely fruity too.

Date: April 25, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Tasting, DLD
Vintage: 2006
Appearance: muddy dark amber, frothy beige head
Aroma: sweet and fruity aroma, brandy and vanilla sweetness
Flavor: sweet brandy candy flavor, lots of vanilla, oak along with a light earthyness provides the needed balance, slightly alcoholic
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

On tap at the Stone Bistro. 8oz glass. Poured a deep and cloudy amberish-brown color with a very small sized off white head. Aromas of brandy, caramel. some dark fruits, vanilla, roasty, woody, and some chocolate. Tastes of brandy, caramel, dark frutis, some applies, citrus, and lighter wood. Alcohol content fairly well hidden with a light syrupy finish. Sweeter.

Draft... RBSG ‘08... This beer rocks!... Clear amber ale with a mid-sized, off-white head. Molasses, brandy and medium-roast malts pound my olfactory system like a drum. Full-bodied and very silky with moderate carbonation. Chewy, boozy-warm flavors of caramel, dark fruits and brandy. Finishes lightly smoky with a suggestion of vanilla.

Growler consumed some time in the summer of 2008. Pours brownish red with a tan head. Smells of oak, brandy, molasses, fruity, some sweet malt, breaddy. Tastes dry and oaky with a nice fruity undertone and some nice bitterness on the finish.

Growler from Jon, mucho thanks! Served in my NB worthy glass: Mahogany hued with a nice frothy beige head which left good lace upon the glass. The nose detects brandy for sure along with notes of caramel and toast, peat moss, resin, pepper and clove, and an overall earthy vapours, vinous and welcoming. The taste starts with a brash boozy brandy introduction that wakes up the palate before the onslaught of dark fruit and sweet malts comes about to play. There is still a fair amount of hop bitterness found more towards the smoky and peaty finish. Nice depth and complexity. The mouth feel is equal parts aggression and silky smooth notes. The finish reminds you quickly that this is still a Double Bastard and not to be messed with without caution. A masterpiece of barrel aging IMO and better than the oaked version of DB. YUMMY!

tap at DLD 09 ... hazy brown ... sweet vanilla nose ... rought vanilla malts ... too sweet.., too vanilla ... too rough ... my memory of this is worse than the score so i may even be being generous.