Double Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

grapemaster

California

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

When I bought my Double Bastard I did what all good beer drinkers should do....buy one for a friend to enjoy it with. He began to drink his first and when I asked him how it was he replies, "It's like a slap in the face". Not a bad slap in the face, but this damn beer is intense. It poured out deep amber with a thick head. I noticed hints of all sorts of sweetness, from different kinda of fruit to chocolate. However, what I noticed most was the fact that this beer has muscle. The hops seemed slightly stronger than the malts, but both were overshadowed by the pure power of the alcohol. Overall a good beer, but like the bottle says, you may not be worthy.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2005 21:52:00 | More by grapemaster

nephlim

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another winner from StoneBrew.

Appearance: pours a nice dark colour, almost like a creamy cola. When held to light, it has a very deep, intense red with a hint of brown.

Nose: Has a very clean smell to it, like a good French red. Very complex.

Taste: Lots of flavour, hits of deep fruits like fig. Feels nice on the palate.
Has a bit of an aftertaste, which is probably due to the high alcohol (10%). I bet this could go well with some hard cheese and wheat crackers. I'd say it's not as malty as the regular bastard; this one is more creamy.

Like a good wine, I found this opened up after a few minutes. I left my bottle out after opening it (serving from a Stella Artois promo tulip glass), and found more flavours as it got slightly warmer.

This was a good buy. Try it!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2005 03:22:27 | More by nephlim

Skitowneric

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass with a heavy head. Dark caramel non-transparent coloring. Smells of sweet maybe brown sugar and just a little hops. Drinks very smooth considering the ABV. Light carbonation helps balance out the thickness. The finish of this beer has just the right amount of bitterness to balance out the initial sweetness. Overall I was very impressed and would be willing to pay the higher price again for this type of beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 00:40:44 | More by Skitowneric

Tetano

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2004 Release

Did something special and used my Kwak glass.

It poured a dark amber color with a brownish tan head.

Smelled malty with a slight hint of hops.

Tastes woody, a small hint of sweetness, malty, with a hint of bitterness at the end. It has a nice citrus finish that is a bit unexpected considering the smell.

Mouthfeel is thick and resin. My tongue is completely coated and it holds for a bit so I can really taste the whole profile. The taste does not leave the mouth quickly.

This is a big beer that will blow your mind. I would not pound this fast. If the sun is setting in your neck of the woods and you have a good view, pour this slow and enjoy it slow at the same time.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 02:50:47 | More by Tetano

swanny28

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap with redrising at brixies brookfield IL:

A: Dark Red almost opaque : whispy head with a nice deep lacing
S: oh what hops: almost like pulling them off the vine. IMO the hops are the best part.

T: the hops are back. What a great taste....

M: I held this in the mouth as long as i can. What a great hop taste.. malts, very balanced... if you can get your hands on this buy it...

D: loved it: hold it in the mouth as long as you can. just like a fine wine...

so good imo ...

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2010 04:58:07 | More by swanny28

ShreddedThumb

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A gurgling froth from the obsidian-lined depths of Hell, Stone Brewing Co.'s Double Bastard Ale found its way into my local beer store. Here comes the hype, y'all: the coveted Double Bastard, the successor to the acclaimed Arrogant Bastard Ale, is said to be even more enjoyable and iconoclastic than its predecessor. With full disclosure in mind, I must admit that I did not particularly enjoy Arrogant Bastard. Yet, I am an open-minded beer snob. With that, let's crack open a bomber of Double Bastard and see if we can't have sympathy for this devil of a brew.

The Dorm Room Review

Poured from a 22 oz. Bomber into a Stone Brewing Co. licensed Arrogant Bastard pint glass. (I must admit, Stone's line of pint glasses stand out as the most appealing drink-ware I have ever seen. Guinness, eat your heart out.)
Also, before I get into the liquid review, I must reflect upon the excellent graphic design with which Stone specializes. Beer after beer, it's obvious that the Professional Writers and graphic designers have a special job at Stone. The "Diatribe" rearing the bomber (taking up at least 15 oz. of the Devil's nectar) arrogantly lambastes Macro brewers of both domestic and international origin. This academically-charged (and possibly Thesaurus-quoted) indictment of the likes of AB and Miller-Coors eviscerates the "yellow swill-drinking" majority, divisively separating the craft beer junkies from the ball-park crowd. Also, the Frank Miller-esque Devil caricature adorning the bottle acts as both an invitation an a warning; you don't even know what you're getting yourself into.

Appearance: The Double Bastard pours dark copper, almost ruby red in color. Sort of an extreme amber, if you will. Clearly, the beer is intended to be malevolent: nearly opaque, huge, thick alcohol legs, off-white & cappuccino head. Without direct light, this ale is opaque, red, and very, very dark.

Smell: Certainly complex. Malty flavors and scents prevail. Some smoky characteristics accompany the malted front, but an offensive, unabashed uppercut of alcohol assaults the nose. The hop-forward miasma does not beg to be noticed, as it wafts cruelly into the taster's cartilage. As the beer warms, some spices, dark fruits, cinnamon, and raisins become apparent. The olfactory sense is taken aback by DB; admittedly, the most diverse and experienced palates will identify the cornucopia of flavorful facets this ale has to offer.

Taste: Goodness gracious, great balls of fire! A concussive BOOM of hop bitterness onomatopoetimizes (new word) this ale's relentlessness astringency. While the scent is mostly malt-forward, the immediate taste revolves around a universe of tongue-shriveling bitterness. According to Stone, Chinook, Magnum, and Cascade hops are incorporated in the brew. The second aspect noticeable is the intense carbonation. Combining the astringent hop notes with the overarching carbonation, Double Bastard truly assaults not only the taste buds, but the entire mouth as a whole. The alcohol as mentioned from the smell is back again. Honestly, it tastes like scotch. The warmer concoction tastes bready and even maltier and more bitter. All the while, DB is smooth and drinkable. Yet, one should sip this carefully and thoughtfully, lest they invoke the disapproval of the brand's company Devil. Is it a red? A barleywine? An IPA? A strong ale? Double Bastard is in a class of its own: intense.

Mouthfeel: DRY. The prevailing mouthfeel is somewhat sweet and malty, but one cannot exclude the Sahara-like dryness emanating from all portions of the mouth. No one said the Devil was ever sweet.

Overall: Drinking a beer such as Double Bastard encourages me to develop my palate even further; moreover, it would be doubly important just to comprehend what I just consumed. Those with the most sophisticated tastes for alcohol will ultimately enjoy Double Bastard the most. Yet, even after reading the vociferous screed against the mainstream beer shysters, I firmly believe that any beer connoisseur should invest in a bottle of Double Bastard to sip with like-minded friends over good food and great conversation. They say the devil is in the details: if the Devil is this complex, one may wonder if the red incubus is simply just misunderstood.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 21:28:35 | More by ShreddedThumb

alarusse

California

4.6/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Very pretty to look at. Cloudy, dark orange/brown hue. Minimal head, and very little, splotchy lacing.

Overwhelming and delicious smell. Even now, as the glass is empty, I can still get a good aroma from the drops left at the bottom. Fruity without being too sweet. Maybe some slight coffee, but definitely in the background.

Taste is where it shines, in my opinion. Not "refreshing," per se, but magnificent and very complex. So much flavor it's absolutely overwhelming. Must be sipped, IMO. Thick in the mouth, but thankfully so, as the taste clings to every part of your mouth, even after you swallow.

While I would have a hard time drinking this quickly, I could definitely imbibe properly past the point of good, gentlemanly behavior with little trouble. The almost 11% abv is impressive, and, let me just say that 3/4 of the way through a bomber, I was doing the head droop, staring at the wall. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2008 20:34:11 | More by alarusse

jerseyjoe

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a 22ounce bomber at Rutherford Wine Shoppe, Rutherford NJ

A- dark reddish copper color with a thick white creamy head that lingers throughout.

S- Pine, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Hops and Malt...my nose is all over the damn place!!

T- Hops and Pine with a bitter kick. Honestly this beer is all over the place just like the smell. Every sip is a pleasant surprise. Smooth with light carbonation. I enjoyed this beer very much and enjoyed it even more than my beloved Arrogant Bastard.

Side note: Stone Brewing oompany maked the most creative bottles in the business. Art work and design is superb.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2009 23:58:23 | More by jerseyjoe

jrodvog148

Sweden

5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A beer well worth the wait. Anything you read about this beer is true and a sound purchase if you can find it. It is becoming more and more available then it used to be and from what I learned from a Stone Brewing rep that they ship it out in the fall time. This might have changed since then. Found it at the Canal's in Hamilton Square off of rt 130.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 17:38:31 | More by jrodvog148

GonzoPizzaBurger

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Double Bastard = Liquid glory. Poured into a pint glass from a 22oz brown bomber with a red and white gargoyle mirrored image on the front.

A- Beautiful. My kind of beer.Thick frothy 2 finger creamy white head over a full bodied dark-reddish amber brew. Sticky lacing with great retention, microbubbles dance on the top.

S- Sweet malt and sugar, alcohol, burnt chocolate and a whiff or refreshing fruity hops. In that order.

T- Incredible, very complex. Smooth beginning that gives off a lot of sweetness to be immediately followed by a welcoming hop bitterness that does not allow the sweetness of this one to get carried away. The alcohol is masked by the balance of all of these wonderful flavors. They linger on the palate a while after drinking, and I can't complain!

M- Sticky, almost syrupy, taste definitely lingers on tongue. A bit tingly from the huge 10.5 abv.

D- Don't think I could drink anything else after this one, very strong, complex brew that I would pair with a giant slab of ribs with drenched in sbr's bbq sauce. Or as a night cap.

Another great brew from Stone!!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2009 00:03:14 | More by GonzoPizzaBurger

StoutCream

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Did the devil just piss in my mason jar? Because that's what I drink out of. Quart size when it comes to bombers. This one is half head half beer, and I know what I'm doing when I pour. Can't mind that much good head, but stay away from the Herp. Dark, cloudy amber (like, the darkest amber you've ever seen) looks thick and rusty straight on, but tilted in the light reminds me of a redheaded woman: stubborn and wild at the same time. Can you handle this? If you haven't had a red head, I wouldn't recommend it. Then again, enough of these will lower your inhibitions enough to actually pursue that cute redhead at the bar. Also not recommended. Both require proper supervision.

As the foam dissipates it smells like a Hawaiian Tropic store. Coconut pineapple (oddly enough I just ate a pineapple this morning that tasted like coconut) that slowly changes into malt, super-sugary malt with some green-y hops at the whiff.

Now to the piss, uh, beer . . .
SOOO Heady! Drunk in one sip, no lie. Just let that first swig linger in your mouth for a while before you swallow and I bet you will feel something - something in the back of your mind that says, "Did I just feel that in my brain?" The answer is maybe. I was already 22oz deep before I cracked this one, so that one sip might have taken me over some sort of threshold that I wasn't expecting. Whisked is more like it. So damned malty sweet, yet balanced off the back of my tongue with bitterness.

There is still an island of head on top teasing my nose with each sip.

The flavors are difficult to pin down, not that I don't recognize them, but they are whizzing around each other so fast that I can't tell where one ends and another begins. Cop-out, you say? Think Heisenberg. You can't tell where it is or how fast it's going at the same time and, trust me, all that alcohol puts the flavors in the fast lane to Digestion Land. Burnt sugar and ginger. Cinnamon toast and over-fried garlic. All while chewing on a piece of pine (which is toxic, don't do that) and a handful of grass (the lawn kind, hippie).

This beer has it's place . . . Hell.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 06:17:34 | More by StoutCream

HoppyHomo

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at the local shoprite which has recently opened up a liquor department. Not sure how long this has been sitting on the shelf:

It has a nice smooth red copper appearance with a non-heady pour. I was expecting this to be a way too strong IPA, but its not and i was pleasantly surprised. Sometimes the high alcohol content makes me feel like I'm drinking vodka and not a beer. But i felt this was just right. And while this may not be the best IPA I've had this year, month or week; its certainly not that bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 03:33:46 | More by HoppyHomo

Petcha

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Opaque brownish red

S: Malty dark fruit, some citrus and booze,

T: Pretty brilliant balance of sweet fruit, fig-like beginning with a surprisingly citrusy backbone. Very complex flavors that are well balanced that hide and ABV well.

M: Thick but finished pretty clean

O: Love this beer. Balanced complexity is executed very well. My favorite strong ale yet. My wife and a non beer snob friend both did double takes when trying this with me. Let's just say that we were all a bit sad when this bottle was empty.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 06:01:29 | More by Petcha

sagito327

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Honestly, without question the best beer I've ever tasted, and I can find not a single flaw. Bought a pint sized bottle from Marty's liquors on Harvard ave. Pours a brown color with a beautiful white head that retains throughout. Lacing is perfect. Smells of fruit, pineapple maybe? Taste is perfection at its most perfectionist. Fruit, hops, and others which my palate cannot pick out. The entire palate tingles. I could drink these all day, or until I passed out.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2005 05:08:23 | More by sagito327

therealnod

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is my third go at Double Bastard. 22oz Bomber into an Arrogant Bastard mug (without bias).

A: Stellar...beautiful red. Thick foamy head that makes you wait...damnit.

S: Dark fruit with aromatic hops. The aroma will not prepare you for what is ahead.

T: Dark cherry blast of sweet malt that is immediately offset by hops...and then the battle begins. This is how Stone does beer; Malt. Hops. Malt.Hops.Malt. Hops...big long bitter finish that ends with the perfect marriage of malt and hops that results in this signature Stone aftertaste that reminds me of cotton candy: It's in virtually all their brews. I don't kmow how they manage to do it so consistently across so many styles. It's just so damn delicious. This is a world class brew.

D: For me, very high, I can drink anyone under the table, so the alcohol doesn't even factor.

Notes: This is liquid ecstasy...man, I could really die for this.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 00:39:41 | More by therealnod

Phade42

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Let's see if I can write this review before I finish the bottle.

Been eying it in stores for awhile and finally decided to pick one up, along with Stone's 09.09.09 Vertical Epic (after having last year's)... anyway back to the Double Bastard.

Poured to go with a steak and gratin potatoes that I had just made.

A - Pours a deep copper red with a fluffy pale tan head that sat about a half inch over the beer but dissipated pretty quickyl. Like a blazing fireplace, looks warm and inviting.

S - Smells sweet, toasty. The 10.5% ABV definitely hits your nose but not so much that it's offensive. a bit of pine hops and fruity notes.

T - A little harsh up front, with bitter hops pushing through. Finishes sweet. Delicious caramel malts on the after tastes.

M - Heavy, almost cough-syrup consistency with light carbonation. Not offensive, but not what I would call pleasant.

D - I gave drinkability an Average score because I'd probably turn down a second serving without some water or a beer with a less powerful taste/mouthfeel in between. Definitely not a session beer (alcohol content notwithstanding), but not a struggle to get through a glass.

This bottle will definitely go in my collection and I may get another one down the line to age properly in a cellar.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2010 02:53:14 | More by Phade42

ezperkins2

California

4.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Stone Double Bastard – 2007
Poured from a bomber into a tulip (09/14/11)

A: A beautiful mahogany with traces of golden orange when held to a light. A standard pour garnished a decent ¼ inch off white almost light brown head that stuck around for a short while. Decent lacing

S: I believe the age on this bottle has hurt the nose a bit. Without the hop presence there are a lot of subtle smells but nothing over powering. Malts come first followed by sweet dark fruits. I even picked up a very subtle cola like aroma.

T: If the age hurt the nose it was more than made up for once it was tasted. It definitely still has that very distinct bastard malt character but the subtle nuances of the other flavors are fantastic. The first taste mirrors the nose with a very sweet raison/fig taste but there is still a bitter finish. The citrusy piney flavors are gone but the bitterness still shows up in the finish. There is still a bit of booze but is welcome to help cut the sweetness.

M: Thick and oily with a great lingering taste. This one stays with you for a while. Once the bomber was gone I tasted it for while. Carbonation was spot on and even gave a nice pop upon opening.

O: Fresh Double Bastard is good but I feel the years have been very kind to this brew. I have a few more 07’s and 08’s left in the cellar and will treasure them. Saying this is a big beer is an understatement. Most barley wines do not have the complex power this brew packs. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys aging beer to grab a handful of double bastards and stash them away for years to come.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 05:02:22 | More by ezperkins2

MountainBeagle

California

3.55/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2011 release from a 22 bottle, a few weeks old. 10.5 percent 100+ ibu

First Thoughts: Damn this beer is sweet, has it always been like this? However, it has some special b or peat malts that are really good.

The Good: Hop monster of a beer with slight smokiness and arrogance. The taste is of hoppy whiskey but in a good way.

The Bad: Malt monster of a beer, it's too sweet for my liking. 2010 was better.

The Bottom Line: Ye shall know the bastard and the bastard shall set you free! A good beer but you better be ready for it. I'd put in the strong ale/barley wine category.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 05:01:42 | More by MountainBeagle

sespourteille

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, what can i say. Since i was a kid, this bottle made me want what it contained. Now that I've had a few years to establish how i really feel about its contents, I can easily say it is one of my favorites. One of Stone Brewery's best, this is a must have if your a fan of Ales. Strong yet surprisingly smooth, it keeps you entertained between its exquisite taste and all the time put into the bottle. I found myself taking a haul every couple of seconds while reading and admiring the bottle for about 5 minuets and before i knew it, it was gone. So a must try but be sure to buy a couple because it goes fast!

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 02:21:05 | More by sespourteille

BarleyWineRox

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a lovely ruby garnet color into my Duvel tulip, with an off-white cap of foam which settles down quickly, no surprise there. Smells of caramelly raisins and bread. Reminds me of Belgian quads on the nose. Need to let it warm a bit. More sweet candied fruits coming out as it warms. Can't wait anymore, need to dive in. Wow! Luscious bursting fruit with a nice hoppy bite on the ending. Very noticeable booziness with a creamy mouth feel. The more I sip the more I am loving it! Another home run from Stone. (off in the distance a Greek chorus is chanting Barleywine, over and over)

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 08:33:51 | More by BarleyWineRox

samriggins

Nebraska

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bought at Anderson's in Toledo, OH. Bottle says 2007 Release.

Is it bad that I was able to drink this in 30 minutes?

Deep mahogony/reddish in color.

Smells of pine and citrus hops with plenty of malt in there too.

Big, big flavor in this beer. Even though the hops are huge(which I love) the malt is there to keep them in check. Great sweetness to back up the bitter hops. I was eating some well aged white cheddar cheese and it really brought out a nutty flavor in the beer. I started getting some of the alcohol towards the end of the beer.

As big as this beer is it is very easy to drink. If I could buy it at home in Nebraska I would be drinking it often.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2008 05:26:53 | More by samriggins

seancake

Belgium

4.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

First, let me state straight off the bat that I am new to this whole "beer aficionado" thing -- I don't have the vocabulary, the knowledge of such things as phenols and such. That said, I opened this beer and was struck by how assertive it smelled. Double Bastard, indeed. It is a doubly arrogant bastard -- with reason.

With reason, my friends. This brew makes no attempt, like many sneaky Belgians (which I must proclaim I love right now), to mask alcohol flavors -- this is up-front, right out there, proclaiming its strength. It is strong malt, strong hops, strong everywhere and every way. It is in every sense a strong ale. It is an arrogant bastard, doubly so.

As it warms, it only intensifies and improves. This is a beer for which angels weep. It will put you on your ass if you aren't careful. Very drinkable, for all its high abv, but if you decide to session it, you may well wind up on youtube, under the heading 'drunkest guy ever'. You've been warned.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2009 21:26:41 | More by seancake

burner

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

i just cracked a 22 oz. bottle with my wife. this american strong ale SMACKS YOU RIGHT IN THE MOUTH !! don't drink it alone.

the appearance is what you would expect. when poured there was very little head,just some lacing finished off with a bright amber color. a little on the cloudy side.

aroma is simply amazing. fruity,piny,slight pineapple. the aroma translates right into the taste. strong hop flavor.sweet and smooth up front.fruit and malt in the middle, almost biscuity. piny resinous hop bitterness smacks the back of the tounge. beautiful!

mouthfeel is not thick and not thin, a little resinous, but still well balanced. putting all these descriptions together this ale is very drinkable, well balanced, very alchoholic at 10.5 %, but outstanding. it will make you arrogant. after drinking one, there's no turning back.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 00:45:17 | More by burner

McKibben25

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I respect this beer, appreciate this beer, and love everything about it with the exception of its drinkability. This is a beer that I would want a small serving of in a snifter and thats it. Too overpowering and harsh to drink alot of. Don't get me wrong, the flavors are amazing and it is very wonderful to throw back, but in very small doses. This is a rare breed of bare that I love to enjoy, but few and far between.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2010 22:54:33 | More by McKibben25

Metallix6403

California

4.85/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from the trusty 3 liter Double Bastard growler! Tapped in December 2009. Poured into a pint glass (multiple times).

Appearance - Screams bitchin' beer! Dark and rich amber / copper body with three fingers of a strong tan head. Retains very well.

Smell - A double punch of thick and intense malts and hops. I usually smell some tropical fruits whenever I break open the growler or the bombers.

Taste - Fantastic fruity and sweet flavors. Sugars, caramel, and a hint of butterscotch pairs well with citrus and other fruits. Finishes with a great touch of hops. Beefy yet so delicious! Yeah I said delicious, so what? You wanna fight about it????

Feel - A thick, smooth, full bodied monster. The alcohol is warming even on a cold on a cold pour. Carbonation is delicate and feels like it is cleaning the palate for the next drink.

Drinkability - Amazingly easy to finish multiple pours. A 3L growler goes quick with two or three people. Alcohol is noticeable yet with the taste and experience, it just doesn't matter.

Final Thoughts - This IS my brew of choice when it is in season. On tap, growlers, or bottles, I haven't had a bad experience with DB. As my brother said, "This beer is rocking my fucking world!"

Serving type: growler

04-23-2010 01:07:51 | More by Metallix6403