Arrogant Bastard Ale

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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This beer has a strong aroma with notes of alcohol mixed in with a hoppy nose. Beautiful dark red color with a malty body to match. This beer attacks your tongue, momentarily twisting it in directions that it is not normally prone to go. What a bastard! This beer’s flavor lasts, a hefty one it is. Always good, never matched!

Great looker. Rich red, nice head. Maltier, nuttier nose than I expected. Somehow, it’s coming off a bit less arrogant and much more sopisticated than expected. Probably my favorite of the Stone big ales so far.

Sell my clothes, I’m going to heaven. This pleasurable drinking experience starts with a nice dark cherrywood color, strong citrus and candy aroma. A nice head from start to finish (then again, I did drink it rather quickly). Your first sip renews your faith in using the alcohol to enhance the hoppiness instead of cloud it. Then, bring on the caramel malt and life is pretty close to perfect. Nice lingering finish. Now, if only it was more widely available.

This notably strongly hopped American is exactly what one likes (as I do!) for the non weak at heart. The complexity of flavor to include grapefruit, caramel, freshly cracked malts, and dark fruits are exquisitely combined to produce this product. I have enjoyed this several times at local pubs, or in the peaceful setting of my home and every time this beverage shines through. Relatively thick head, excellent palate, and an appropriate color are to be found. It is consistent and only can be beaten by it’s bigger brother, Double Bastard!

Well, how would I put this... The beer’s name is perfect. It’s an Arrogant Ale allright. The pour was nice. The head was beautifully thick. The color, a dark cherry was suprisingly murky, not as clear as I hoped. Dark but not clear up to the light. The first sip took me by suprise. It was strong, rough and bitter. Not my favorite. But after the first sip or two the mellow under tones smoothened it out. I should have continued to simply drink this strong ale alone but I had it with dinner. BIG MISTAKE. I ate it with chicken and vegatables and it was almost undrinkable. It made the food seem too sweet and the food made it seem too bitter. Too bitter you say? Is that possible? YES. I would say keep this beer away from food. It was hard to finish the rest of the beautifuly illustrated bottle with my dinner. Too bad. I love beer with my food.

8/08/02: Gorgeous mahogany color (reminded me of the lobby of Portland’s old Benson Hotel) accompanied by thick, rocky head with copious lace...Marvelous! Aroma is medicinal sweet--a little like some of my stronger homebrews...Hops hit in two...make that three waves: once at first sip, then a second that slides under the tongue and along the sides of the mouth, and a third which dominates the back of the palate in the finish. Warm, moderately sweet malt rides shotgun through all phases of the journey...This brew has (predictably) rough edges to it--(it’s supposed to, of course!)--but the robustness and complexity of the flavors makes this a rare treat indeed. Re-Rate 11/01/02: On draught...Same wonderful appearance...aroma seemed lighter than bottled version, but hops and brandy-like qualities came through nicely...the bitter qualities of this brew were also more in play this time, which to my palate wasn’t quite as balanced as my last visit with this, but again, the differences are so subtle that my ratings are not altered...Terrifically brutal!

I had this on draught at "Moose Malone’s". I had it out of the bottle too, but I don’t remember it tasting as well. Both very malty and also having fair amount of hops. It’s an excellent brew, and you will probably like it!

Nice dark red color with good head. Interesting and difficult to describe aroma. Very citrusy and bitter. Very interesting, and would like to try it again.

UPDATED: FEB 28, 2003 almost as good as Bonesbeer,ahem, again this is not as good as bonesbeer, but fuckin close!

Big hoppy, biscuity nose. This is a big beer that doesn’t go too far. Perfect balance of rich caramel malt and fat, chunky citrusy hops. Very funny label. Really good, but I think I was expecting something more. Maybe it’s just all the hype on here about Stones Ales!