Double Bastard Ale

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

Rated 11/3/06: Amazing offering by one of my favorite brewers. The Arrogant Bastard was the brew that really started me off on the journey for great beer, and almost a year later I find myself sipping on the Double during an already great Friday Night. The aroma is original and awesome, if I could create a flavor of incense or an air freshener I would want this. Very aromatic throwing malts, hops, dark fruits, citrus notes, with a powerful alcohol kick bringing up the rear. Nice pour looks like the local fermented apple cider with a pencil thin head and minimal lacing, but hey it’s a strong one so you can’t be too upset. Take a sip and it bites you strong and fast a very aggressive mouthfeel with a smoooooth subtle burn. Flavor is right on and then some, hoppy enough to combat the huge malt content. This is American Barleywine at it’s peak. Thank you Stone again and again, thanks!

Aroma is deep citrus and dark berries and a slight alcholoic bourbon sweetness. Pours a thick tan head. Color is dark honey. Mouthfeel is perfect-thick but just sparkly enough. Taste and aroma are very similar to DFH 90 Min, but it’s all a little better and more sophisticated. The flavor is the same as the aroma, but you get a refined bitter that is dry and very fresh - like a nose full of fresh hops. The bitter makes this beer. All the rest is good but the bitter is unique and very well balanced with it’s sweetness. And that play masks the alcohol very very well. This is a real joy. Superb!

Awesome. Very hoppy on aroma and the hops swim around your mouth and hang on for dear life. Thank you dpjuart!

Double wow! Talk about a hefty beer. the great thing is, you don’t even realize its so massive until halfway through it. goes down nice and smooth, not too hoppy. Goes down as one of brewing’s great achievements.

2007 release. Now this is one fine beer. I love Arrogant Bastard so I was not only very happy to find a bottle of this on a road trip but I also had high expectations. The Double Bastard didn’t let me down! Pours a reddish color, nice clarity, with a thin off-white head. Aroma is sweet caramel, cherries, alcohol and some pine. The flavors are sharp and delicious. Lots of sweet caramel malt, some toffee, with a blast of hops, pine and some grapefruit. Finishes bitter with just a little alcohol showing but my palate adjusted quickly (or bowed down to it’s goodness) and this was just so damn tasty. A wonderful brew that I can’t wait to have again. Definitely deserving of a spot near the top of my list.

Poured dark amber with a fluffy white head. Aroma of citrus and sweet caramel. Alot going on in this. Lots of everything... malt, hop, and some citrus. Good stuff.

This is a very, very good brew! Excellent aroma and flavor! Pours a nice amber color with a whitish head. Al lot smoother than I was expecting. A definite must try!

Dark but glowing red-amber pour with a thin off-white head. Huge caramel malt aroma laced with fragrant hop notes. Taste is thick with spicy hops, candied ginger, preserved citrus rind, all carried by a sweet malt-wave. A moderately ’heavy’ mouthfeel carries the bold flavors beautifully, and the hop onslaught cuts the sweetness for a nice, dry, bitter finish. This liquid hop-candy is going down like it is only 6%. I need more. My favorite from Stone ... hands down.