Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

This ale is a beautiful deep reddish mahogany, and pours with a fairly thick tan head. Aroma is rich and hoppy with a definite smoky oak overtone. Flavor is almost indescribably delicious - mainly hoppy with malty, nutty, smoky and even sweet hints, and definitely some contribution from the oak chips. Texture is supremely smooth, and leaves a very pleasingly hoppy and smoky aftertaste. A winner!

Disappointed me actually. It is rare to find this beer as it used to only be brewed once a year. The oak is barely noticeable. You can actually smell the hops which is rare with a beer. I’m not a particularly big fan of hoppy beers so I’m not impressed with the flavor. The bitter overwhelms the subtle flavors in the beginning of the sip. I can respect the beer for what it is, it’s just not for me.

Pours dark amber with zero head. Smells exactly like it tastes, great with a nice bite of hops almost like an ipa. Great after taste. Price was a bit much for a 6 pack but worth trying.

Pours a clear amber with a generous, thick tan head with some great lacing and low carbonation. Aroma is hops, hops resin, pine, grapefruit, brazil nut, pecan, and brown sugar. Taste is very creamy and hoppy like an IPA but this has such a fantastically neutral and dry aftertaste for such a high IBU brew. Lots of caramel malt, molasses, nutty flavors, vanilla extract. Oak flavors are difficult to taste. Alcohol is nicely covered up. Always a joy to try a Stone creation.

pours deep cloudy amber, almost not head. Oily weak lacing. Aroma of bitter hops. Flavor is malty sweet and full and hoppy. Mouthfeel is thick. Finish is full, thick, and malty and hoppy. I can’t taste the oak. At least it sounds cool and is trendy.

scent has a dirty element to it, underscored by something more savory. after a few sips, hops become very apparent in the nose. color is a wonderful very dark red. hop attack is still prevelant despite the oak, which comes across as a screaming shout that makes it hard to focus on the usual elements that would be more obvious. either becuase most of the oaked beers ive tried were stouts, or because this beer is oaked using chips rather then barrels, the wood character is elusive at times, and at others obvious but unique even though its familliar at times. IBUs may be off the charts mathematically, but this remains very drinkable as far as im concerned, almost sessionable. this is a big beer thats well rounded and balanced, and doesnt allow wood character to make the most enjoyable parts otherwise murky and lost. somehow the oak seems to have mellowed the overall flavor (of a regular arrogant bastard) and made it even more enjoyable, which seems shocking or impossible to me.

Bouteille 12oz, acheté au City Market (Burlington, Vermont) le 25/9/08. Ruby foncée claire, petit collet. Arome de bois (chaine bien sûre) et d’herbe malté très crèmeux, légèrement alcoolisé. Goût de cola un peu sucré, boisé avec une finission alcoolisé pas très agréable. Ce n’est pas la version original!

Not a big fan of the og arrogant bastard(too malty).........but this was different. Was thin bodied with just the right taste of vanilla coke mixed with a small hint of nut malt and hops. Appreciate the oak way more.