Double Bastard Ale

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

Aroma is very sweet and fruity, not as hoppy as Arrogant Bastard. Alcohol aroma becomes more evident as it warms. Pours a hazy reddish-brown with no head; really not very attractive looking. Taste is sweet fruits, caramel, perhaps a bit of peat. Hoppy finish with an after taste dominated by caramel, but also a little smokiness. Alcohol is well-hidden in the flavor.

Number three in my bastard tasting, and by far the best. Orange-red pour, very hazy. Thing tan had with nice lacing on the glass. A sugary sweet alcohol aroma with lots of hops. Hints of raisin and caramel. Sweet malty flavor with raisin and caramel. Hops hit you like a punch in the face. Very fruity with citrus and grapefruit. A bit on the harsh side, but a good beer.

Bottle, 22oz. A reddish golden beer with a slight haze. Dense, beige head of low height. Quite intense aroma with lots of sweetish maltyness, beefstock, caramel, piney and resiny hops, and some alcohol. Maybe a bit too sweet on the palate, with a lasting alcohol warmth, but there’s enough hops to justice it. Piney, resiny bitterness with a citrusy touch. Sweet and bitter finish. A big, bold beer, but very satisfying. (080811)

Somewhat cloudy amber color with a thin light tan head. Sweet aroma with notes of honey, alcohol and hopes. Some citrus flavor but mostly hops with a little bit of malt taste coming though with maybe a bit of caramel. Finishes with a piney-alcoholy bitterness that hung around. A more bitter and hoppy version of the regular that I think they could have done more with.

Surprising red fruit-punch color. Incredible nose of berries, citrus, passion fruit, faint chocolate, and hop. Flavor goes a bit flat after that nose while showing no subtlety. There is a mildly sweet and fruity start before the wave of bitterness hits and sticks for long finish. Not much betwixt. Not well balanced IMO, even compared to other Stone beers. The result is interesting but smells much better than it tastes.

650ml bottle. Clear reddish orange beer with a small beige head. Aroma is sweet malt, dry fruit, citrus and hops. Flavor is sweet malty, dry fruit, some citrus, some caramel and very bitter with a warming alcohol character. Long and bitter finish. This is a nice and hoppy beer, but a bit too sweet for my taste.

Wow is all i have to say! This is a strong beer. Aroma of hops and berries. Dark murky appearance. Flavor hits you strong but takes it down a notch with semi sweet flavor. A real thick palate. Overall its a really good beer that complements its alcohol level with a taste of sweetness, but I rather drink Arrogant bastard ale then the double.

Super strong, but very subtle. You would think that a 10% drink would be stronger, but it was excellently balanced.