Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

Bottle. This is a very dark beer, and it has a bitter taste. Overall a good choice for one of my first trips into craft beers.

12oz. bottlle from VBM. Another beer I put off trying for no reason but then changed my mind on a whim. Pours a deep, hazy ruby body that shows very little carbonation. Big off white head with some decent lacing. Aroma is hops, cherry, caramel, alcohol, wood and smoky notes. I hate to use such a f description but the flavor is very similar to the aroma. Hoppy bitter finish. Malts and some sweet cloying aspects. More creamy than normal AB. Alcohol is present throughout but not too overpowering. Easy drinking, good beer.

I didn’t particularly like this at all on my first taste, but it got better as the bottle progressed. The bottle was a gusher but showed no identifiable signs of infection, this type of rusticity are the sort of thing a guy like me loves, even if the flavor of the ale its self is as refined as this one. The color on this beer is beautiful, a deep red with a medium head that goes away leaving only a small film on top of the beer. The aroma is a little faint, which surprised the hell out of me, but what was there was fruity, woody, and hoppy with just a whiff of cherry. The flavor was woody, with notes of spice and ginger, some cherry, of course a substantial enough hop bitterness although this seemed mellowed in comparison to the regular arrogant bastard. There was some general fruitiness as well, but mostly what I tasted here was raw wood. I can honestly say I’d like to try this again.

Dark, luscious. Malty and hoppy. I once declared this the best beer I had ever had. I trend hoppier now, and this is a little mellow, but still always a treat.

it pours out ruby gold with an off white thick head. it has a dark maroon colored body with slight bubbles rising from the bottom. there is some good lacing in the glass and it takes a little while for the head to fall. the aromas i am getting is obiviously oak wood which complements the hoppy smell. a sweet malty scent is pushing through also. the taste is a sweet malty flavour with cloves, vanilla, wood, and a piny hop kick. the aftertaste starts mellow, but finishes with a great hop kick wich lingers for a good little while. great beer.

The aroma on this one is awesome. Brandy and oak mixed with caramel. Hops mixed with great subtle malt. Bourbon and vanilla is very prevalent. Much more balanced than I expected, this probably has to do with the aging and oak. Unique but very drinkable.

Shared 12oz. bottle poured to a high ball / sampling glass with a maple brown color, light conglomeration of bubbles to the head, and almost no lacing. The aroma was sweet, with hints of medium fruit as peach and apricot, and some dark grapes. The flavor added warming alcohol, wood, a light bitterness and dry finish. A decent Strong Ale.

This is a unique beer, but I prefer the none-oaked version. There’s a lot of bourbon and vanilla to this. Lots of flavor but a bit cloying in the end.