Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

Bottle at The Rover, Göteborg. On January 5, 2009. Clear dark copper to red color, tan head. Sweet hoppy bitter scent. Fruity, bitter, hoppy taste. Medium to a bit hoppy taste. Medium high bitterness. Very clean and balanced, I like!

Bottle. I am starting to suspect that Stone’s bottles do not travel well to the East coast all the time. This was my second disappointing experience with Stone. Pours a deep reddish mahogany, with some slight beige/white mildly creamy head. Again, no sediment whatsoever. Aroma is sharp and smells overly bitter and citrusy. Opens up with a muted malt taste. In the middle of the beer, all of a sudden there is a bitter twang of hops flavor. Earthy yet piney, like a musty pinecone lying in the dirt. The malt is most curious in that it is not terribly sweet, but more dry and salty. Texture is very similar to ruination ipa, velvety. Beer certainly dosent thin out and has a nice full body, but the flavors are strange to say the least. Slight astringency problems arise. Has a muted honey herb flavor as it finishes and there is still bittersweetness on the palette. I really wish I could try this on tap. I would imagine it to be much better. Definitely want to try again. Rerate. Bottle again. Opened up bitter, muddled and syrupy BUT as it warmed and breathed, I finally saw some goodness in this beer. Flavor of a double IPA comes out, moderate caramel malt, chewy, almost leafy-like texture, fuzzy, peppery. Big bitter flavor and too much acid on the finish, but the nice hop flavor is apparent.

(Draught) Thin, yellowish-beige head and cloudy body. Nose of malt and cascade hops. Strong hops flavour. Very enjoyable!

(Stockholm Beer Festival 2005) Nice shiny dark amber with a small brownish head. A bit maltyand fruity at first then it turns clearly hoppy. Very hoppy dry flavor, some pine and grapefruit. Even more hops and bitterness in the long finish. Lovely, but not a beer you drink alot of in one evening...

Bottled. Sampled at Peculier Pub, N.Y. Red-ish colour. Piney, citrusy nose. Big hop profile but with the malt very present. Full mouthfeel. Notes of apples, oranges and caramel. Little roasted as well. Big dry finish.

Bomber poured a clear dark copper with a small amber head. Aromas of lime, a bit of carmel, and pine. Palate was medium bodied and resiny. Flavors of citrus, and carmel with a dry, bitter, astringent finish. I hear it gets better with age,I’ll have to stash a bottle away for a couple years and see if it improves.

Bottle. Ah, Arrogant Bastard, I’ve had you before but never rated you and now I get a whole bomber of you to myself! Woohoo! Pours a bubbly dark mahogany with a lovely large foamy off-white head -- it looks great! Aroma is a near-perfect blend of fresh citrus hops, roasted malt, caramel and spices -- man, that’s some good smellin’! Flavour follows the aroma but the hops are more upfront, way more upfront and I love it. I love the mouthfull of hops -- it’s a hop-party in my mouth. Not as hoppy as some of their other beers but there’s a reason it has such a great reputation -- it’s a damn fine beer and one of the best American ales you’ll find.

My No. 1000! Pours a brilliant mahagony to cherry stained wood, miniscule bubbles rising to greet the rocky, creamy tan head that sits atop this gorgeous brew. Fragrant (perhaps the most fragrant to date in my rating) floral hop bouquet of citrus, pine and fruit hops, well balanced nose, caramel malt (cookie) backdrop for this hoppy stage. Heavily bitter and acidic resinous hop (perhaps too much), pine is noticeable and the citrus adds a nice background flavor, with a malty (cookie) body, low sweetness. Full bodied, fizzy and warm palate.