Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

On tap at Rattle n Hum, NYC. Holy crow. It’s Arrogant Bastard’s flavours plus a whole additional layer of flavour imparted from the wood. Not for the faint of heart - no beer I’ve had tastes like it, for better or worse.

Better than the reular Arrogant B. Darker. You can really taste the wood! Nice sweet and bitter combination. Fruity yet woodsy.

Dark rosy appearance. Sweet aroma that turns rather smooth. Hops are present but not strident. Fairly creamy mouthfeel, nice finish. Great improvement over the original!

Hazy brown with a thick cream colored head. Aroma is heavy citrus hops, very nice. Taste is very unique. Like an IPA, only with a more restrained hop profile. Finishes with a very balanced bittersweet taste. I would probably have to have it side by side with the regular AB to taste the oak chips. Very nice.

My love affair with wood is no secret, so to witness my Oaked Arrogant Bastard pour dark rusty copper hues into my awaiting glass, a tear glints in the corner of my eye. Brighter amber hues sparkle in the passing light and a thick cream-colored head fades into a lush blanket while lace abounds. As I hold my glass close, earthen aromas of oak, bark, soil, and pine soothe my senses. Fresh vanilla along with spices, plums, raisins, apples, and pears mingle amidst the oak notes, adding vibrancy to her earthy brew. Yum. Exactly what I smell for in an oaked beer, I savor our first quaff together, and then another. She is pleasantly medium-bodied with an effervescence which lends a steady hand to her bountiful palate. Oak and vanilla mingle throughout her body from start to finish while a sharp lemon bite adds a refreshing snap to the finish, cleansing my palate in preparation for the next quaff. Dry, smoky undertones mingle with more oak, crunchy apples, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Each quaff is a different balance of flavors, but none are ever left behind unlike the empty glass I have sitting before me.

Wood is beautiful. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. That isn’t to say there aren’t oaked beers out there who fail to measure up to their lofty standards, but the success ratio far succeeds the few. For a relative newcomer to my local beer network, Stone has done nothing but impress me so far, and their Oaked Arrogant Bastard is no exception. Well worth the price paid.

Reddish brown beer with slight head. Aroma is of wood and hops. Taste is pleasantly bitter and wood. Finishes nicely.

Pours dark amber with creamy tan head. Aroma of caramel malt and fruit. Sweet malt and candy flavors throughout. Sweet brew.

Great copper color. Small tan head. Very little lace. Nose of hops and sweet malts. Average mouth feel for a big red American Ale. Taste of sweet malts and citrus PNW hops. Not quite the bitterness I expected, and not quite as nice as the basic Arrogant Bastard or the Dead Guy from Rogue. Maybe the oak blurs the edges somewhat? Not a bad beer, but lacking the crisp definition of the Dead Guy or the basic Bastard. I had to goose the numbers a little to make it come out a 3.8, more or less where it belongs, a tiny step down below where I put the Arrogant Bastard. But somehow I fear I may have been a bit generous.