Double Bastard Ale

A- Pours a deep blackish crimson with light bubbles escaping to the top reminding me of a guiness pour. A small but thick head reins over the top of this monster. S- Smells oaty, earty, very similar to oaked AB. A little lighter than I would have liked. T- The taste is sharp with huge alcohol notes interspersed with sweet malt, coffee, mixed dark fruit. M- Thick with ample carbonation. D- This is definitely a sipper but for how much it lets the alcohol through, I am surprised I am able to drink so much.

Another winner from Stone. Pours a ruby red with a tan head that dissipates to a thin layer of bubbles. Aroma is caramel malt, with, of course, boatloads of hops. Flavor is a bit like Oaked AB, but I think there is a heavier malt flavor to this one. Hops are obviously American flavors... grapefruit, some pine. I’m not sure what I like better, Stone beers, or the insults they print on the bottle.

I have to admit that after having the Arrogant Bastard, which I didn’t really care for, I wasn’t sure that I would like the Double Bastard, as I have never considered myself a real hop-head. Well, many thanks to Matt at the beer store for talking me into trying this gem. This poured a gorgeous garnet color into a chalice. Great, creamy and sticky lace which lasted forever. Huge aromas of hops and malts. Incredible hop flavor balanced by incredible malt flavor. And the ABV was so well hidden that I couldn’t even taste it! This went down easier than probably any beer I’ve head A truly great beer. Don’t pass this by. You’ll love it even if you, like me, aren’t a hophead!

Bottle. Aroma of grapefruit hops, floral/pine hops, with nougat, fig, sweetness arising from the malt. Flavor continues along the same lines, and while it was far from "punishingly unforgiving" as stone claims, I actually preferred the fact that it stayed in very admirable balance. I found this very comparable to Yulesmith winter, which I had just a few nights ago, but while the sweetness in the Yulesmith I felt grew into near oppressiveness by the end, I found this brew to stay balanced, smooth, drinkable, etc. throughout. I hate the word "balanced" and I can’t believe I just used it for a Stone brew. But word. There it is. Good stuff.

Bottle, 2007. Pours a deep red/amber/brown color with a small white head that dissipates quickly. Aroma of caramel malt, some floral hops. Flavor mainly of malt, some floral and piney hops, faint grapefruit notes. Delicious! Thick mouthfeel, so this is a sipper, but is one of the most balanced American strong ales. Sweet, but not too sweet and thick, but not too thick. Excellent, best ASA I’ve had to date. I love this beer! (Oh yeah, also the label is awesome!)

...the bigger, badder brother of satan himself. This shit is really hardcore, and will give you super human strength. Massively complex, dark and roasty, yet sweet to mask the high alcohol content. I would like to drink this again, but you can’t get it in Florida. This will make you a true badass just by drinking it.

Bottle at Oldsmar Tap House. Pours a rich red-amber with a smattering of white foam on top. Very thick palate, with rich, chewy malts and a slight woodiness. This is counterbalanced by a monster hoppiness loaded with pine and grapefruit. The alcohol is noticeable as well. Very big and bold. Awesome!

on tap at 1702 nice chestnut color with whie lasting head. aroma of sweet and almost a little spice. flavor is sweet and malty and young. slight alcohol. well rounded sweet and bitter. really nice fresh on tap.