Double Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

jwc215

New Jersey

4.9/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2006 vintage

Pours reddish amber with a thick creamy head that slowly descends to leave of lacing down the glass. Nice retention. The thin head stays throughout.

The smell is of caramel, earthy grains and citrus. Mild alcohol.

The taste is of thick sweet malt upfront - caramel, sweet - barley(?) ...brown sugar. It is balanced out, and beaten out after the second sip - by bitter citrus - orange and grapfruit. Soon, the citrusy, chewy hops fully emerge to overtake the maltiness. The malt, however, remains intact and give the hops a solid backbone. Complex, and the flavors are nicely layered.

The feel is smooth with an incredibly well-balanced texture. The abv is barely noticeable in the taste and feel - leaving it to sneek up on you.

This is an incredible brew - nicely balanced with the hops in control in the end. Fresh, full, tasty and complex. This is an amazing brew. And the beer gods rejoiced...

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2006 06:37:10 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2007 version.

This beer pours a clear, dark ruby hue, with a thin cap of beige head, which leaves wispy lace at the edges. It smells of caramel, fig, raisin, toffee sweetness, booze, and some very mild citrus hops. The taste is sweet caramel malt, stewed raisins, and toffee, with some citrus and pine hops coming on later in the game. The carbonation is quite mild, the body thick, oily, heavy, and fairly smooth, and it finishes with a growing hoppiness to quell the consistent dense malt. The resident lofty alcohol is scarily well-hidden.

It's been a few years since I've had a regular Arrogant Bastard (those words don't seem to go too well together), but this sure is reminiscent of that beer, as a beefed up, but consistent, older brother.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 23:41:18 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I have to begin by wondering why this beer doesn't have yearly distinctions like Old Guardian. Moving on... damn it's a good beer. Not the beer I've had, but it's very finely crafted.

This will sound a little funny, but at first all I can think abour is pineapple when smelling this beer. It smells like a case of pineapple cores were dropped in the mash tun. Hops can do funny things I guess. For taste there is a lasting dry bitterness that hits you slowly and doesnt leave.there's more pineapple with some citrus and fruit rind piled on top of big, sweet barley flavor. It seems like there is some more room for complexity, but what this beer has is pretty bad good.

My only major qualm with this beer is that it's so damn tasty, but I can't stomach too much too fast. This is a definate sipper. If you can find this beer, be sure to share it with a deserving friend or relative.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2006 07:20:06 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an '05 vintage served on-tap at the Blind Tiger's 12/12/12/12 Stone event.

A: The ale has an amber color, showing off red highlights that add a nice splash of color. Little head resulted from the pour but there is a clear stream of carbonation in the glass.

S: The nose is malty thick, having lost a majority of the bitter hops that define Double Bastard. Aging has done wonders on this beast, softening it significantly.

T: As the nose hinted, this beer has become a solid barleywine, with the hops mellowing out significantly and allowing the malts to come through. A sip reveals a whole mouthfeel of grain, thick in its strength. The malt flavors are as strong as ever but they are more noticeable because the hops have receded significantly. While Double Bastard burns the tastebuds when fresh, with two years under its belt it has softened and smoothed itself out. This is a good sippin' beer for in front of a fireplace on a cold night.

M: The mouthfeel has come around 180 degrees, from a hop bomb to a malt bomb. That change makes for a really good, complex drink.

D: This was my 4th offering at 12/12/12/12. I would gladly have tried any of the four again. I was especially fond of the smoothness that this beer picked up. If you've got a DB from '05, let it sit a bit longer and really enjoy it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2007 14:18:46 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From winter '03,

Appearance: Deep copper amber hue with a nice tan frothy two finger sized head leaves behind perfect speckled lacing oh yeah. Aroma: Pine cone this is my second bottle this year plus one I taste last year excellent brew with the perfect mix of hops and malt awesome. Deep plum and other fruit tones that send chills up my spine this is how this beer reacts, with slightly burnt orange rind and huge malty layers of amazement. Taste: Full flavored malty to beginning to end of fruit mainly charred citrus peels with malty backbone that little or no brewer's can believe this beer is awesome with syrupy mixtures of sweetness and pine cone flavored hops this is a masterpiece, just too good. Full meaty blend of malts and hops adding to this beer's addicting personality just way too good to express within flavor guidelines. Mouthfeel: Full bodied chewy sensation with an exubrently carbonated beer that stands infront of you just drops the jaw of your face. Drinkability: Each year this beer continues to amaze me for the flavor content and complexity I can't question it's goodness that would be unfair to me.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2004 00:56:42 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Off notes 11-3-2006. Pours ruby colored with thick lacing. Minimal nose- slightly citric. Very hoppy as expected, but with a slight tangy edge - almost sweet. Over time that flavor smoothes out and the sweeter side comes out but stays consistent and smooth. Feel is smooth with a great amount of carbonation on the mouth. Very drinkable, until you start to realize that 10% is kicking in hard.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2007 06:32:15 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at JJ Brewskys
Poured a hazy caramel color, but sits more brownish-red in the glasswith a light tannish head. Nose is deep malts-- caramel, toffee, flowery and mustard. Although massive in flavor, the taste is very balanced with oranges, red apples, beef jerky maple syrup to represent some heavliy guarded sweetness. The finish is very piney, resinous hops.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2008 16:33:30 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Muddy, light brown color. Modest head of one finger, but it lasts a very long time and leaves broken lace rings on the glass.

Aroma: Sherry-like maltiness; moderate grapefruit hop smell. Some pineapple notes as well.

Lots of hops to cut through the heavy malt feel. Alcohol is notable but not the predominant flavor. The potency can be sensed without dictating the taste. Hops are the story here; it's very much like a dark DIPA--perhaps we could call this Triple IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 22:14:15 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 Release

Poured into an Stone Arrogant Bastard 22oz. glass a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little creamy tan head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty/hoppy, hints of toffee, and lots of caramel. The taste is malty/hoppy, slightly bitter, nice touch of toffee/caramel. The alcohol is present, but hidden fairly well. Medium body. Very drinkable.

2007 Release

Poured into an Stone Arrogant Bastard 22oz. glass a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little creamy tan head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty/hoppy, hints of toffee, and lots of caramel. The taste is malty/hoppy, slightly bitter, nice touch of toffee/caramel. The alcohol is present, but hidden fairly well. Medium body. Very drinkable.

2006 Release

Been sitting on this one for a little over a year. Poured into an Stone Arrogant Bastard 22oz. glass a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little creamy tan head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty/hoppy, hints of toffee, and lots of caramel. The taste is malty/hoppy, slightly bitter, nice touch of toffee/caramel. The alcohol is present, but hidden fairly well. Medium body. Very drinkable, I like this brew so far when it is aged for a year or so, highly recommended.

2005 Release

Pours a dark amber color, not much carbonation, small head, some lacing. Not much of a scent, but could notice some sweet hops/malt. Nice taste of hoppy malts and a sweet aftertaste. Could tell there is a high alcohol content. Medium body. Drinkable another nice brew from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2005 00:46:25 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a one-finger cream head that goes quickly and leaves no lace. Clear, red/amber color. Strong carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is malts, raisin and alcohol, starts with a distinct alcohol flavor some sweetness, finishes sweet & sour. 22oz bottle for $5.95 from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2005 23:03:17 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- The beer pours a reddish-dark copper body with a light creamy head of light tan foam that last and last. There are a few random bubbles of carbonation that rise to the surface.

S- The smell of fresh crushed pineapple is strong in this one. There is a green floral hop aroma in the finish with some crystal malt flavoring as well.

T- This beer has a big juicy hop flavor with citrus, pineapple, resin and notes of green grass in the taste. The hops are so big that I taste a kind of dark earthy hop flavor that I have never tasted before. There is a bitter hop finish with a alcohol flavor that boost the hop bitterness and the hop flavor alike. There are flavors of crystal malt with notes of darker caramel malt that start to come through as it warms a bit.

M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with a creamy texture. There is a nice smooth alcohol warmth in the finish.

D- This is not a session beer. The hops are big and dark like a black storm cloud that has just opened up. The alcohol and toasted malts only enhance the big crazy hops. Even when I exhale after each sip the flavor of citrus, pineapple, and bitter hops hang on my breath.


Thanks to karengarys for finding this brew for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2006 02:53:21 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 22 oz brown bomber with a white and red silk screened label, mirror image if the gargoyle is creepy. Short essay about the meaning of life and why you are probably no worthy to drink this beer yet is on the back. No freshness dates though I am sure with its strength it does not worry about petty freshness dates. I am a little worried about going further … I must trek on.

Appearance: Deep and dark reddish mahogany brew with a thick light tan lace, this is a devil’s brew … devious in colour and taunts you to drink it. Even the bright clarity coerces you to drink it yet tells you to be fearful.

Smell: Citric and piney, caramel and spicy alcohol. Very aromatic, chocolate covered cherries laced with brandy is quickly suggested, higher alcohols will intimidate the nostrils. Almost vodka like in the fusel alcohols.

Taste: Exquisitely smooth right off the bat, it’s a well place carbonation … its placed out of the way but still hangs around to hold up the full body of malt and slightly syrupy mouth feel. Huge fruitiness with a bossy caramel maltiness, alcohol is sweet and fumy with a spicy overtone. Slight roasted malt and over caramelized flavour hits the tongue with chicory and faded burnt sugar. Hop bitterness pushes through the double doors of this beer and sets this beer even and balanced in a chaotic arrogant way. Piney and grapefruit rind hops flavours invade the taste buds. Warming alcohol increases with each sip, sweetness is large throughout but the hops and alcohol keep it in check right into the finish. Malt sweetness just can’t let go but hops and burnt sugar flavours tag along so the sweetness does not get too flamboyant.

Notes: Yikes! Barley Wine in character but don’t say that in front of the beer because it will set you straight, this is a American Nitro No Holds Barred Monster Truck Bitch Slappin Strong Ale. You’ll feel the redness on your checks after this one slaps you around, you’re probably better off not drinking this one alone just from the dominance and arrogance let alone the whopping 10% abv.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2001 00:51:12 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

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

Bomber bottle, enjoyed in paper cups at the Warwick NY Disc Golf Ice Bowl. This beer is the ultimate, huge, flavorful, over the top and strong. Big nose, big malt, crushing hop bitterness. Alcohol obviously present, but well in the background, Thick body feel, dances on and coats the tongue and entire mouth.Stone is setting the standard. Perfect brew for a winter, BBQ. Went great with spicy chili and hot sausage sandwedges.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2004 09:35:01 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 10/04/10 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey at the Stone Total Tap Takeover event. Vintage 2003.

a - Pours an amber, ruby red color with one inch of off white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of caramel malts, bready malts, dark fruits, and roasted malts.

t - Tastes of caramel malts, sweet dark fruits, bready malts, and chocolate. Sweeter than the smell.

m - Medium body and low carbonation.

d - A very good, solid strong ale. Some nice caramel malts and dark fruit in the nose and taste. Would like to have again fresh to compare.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2010 18:36:14 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle obtained via trade with Pisskynights. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed 1 1/2" of tan head over the clear deeply copper brew. Head is resilient, long-lasting, and laces amazingly, with solid foam being left down the side as the head recedes. Aroma is the solid, sweet scent common to most strong ales, tending towards a bit of fruitiness if one can bypass the obvious alcohol presence. Taste is, as expected sweetly malty, but well contrasted by the strong hops presence, which almost seem to provide a grainy feel to the tongue, they are so strongly present. Mouthfeel is great for the style, and drinkability is good, although I fear eventually the malt sweetness might get a bit tiring. An excellent strong ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2004 23:13:02 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to egajdzis for this...
Appears a dark amber with an ivory white head. Spotty lacing is left on the glass .
Smell is of tons of malt, hops, along with some oaky vanilla going on.
Taste is of the same aromas. Very nice and hard to put into words. All I know is that I like it.
Mouthfeel is super smooth with a sweetness that comes through.
This is awesome but some abv is evident and you'll be able to tell.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2005 01:04:23 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy medium brown colored brew.

Smell is heavenly! Sweet malts and fragrant flowers and grapefruit hops smell!

Taste is malty and hoppy at the same time. Very thick brew, as a barley wine should really be. Malty with a rounded bitterness. I would like a bit more malt but this is good. Could have a more complex flavor, there is a point at which "More Hops" becomes a LIABILITY! This brew is right at that point.

Mouthfeel is the thickest brew I have yet tasted.

Drinkable? More like sipable. Tasty brew that could learn some thing from Belgian brew masters about balance.

Still it is Light Years more balanced than “Arrogant Bastard!”

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2004 04:15:21 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.83/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear orange/brown, with very nice looking head, and a lot of lacing. The smell is HOPS, but a very fresh hop smell, floral citrus, very little alcohol can be detected in the nose. The taste is a dense malty backbone balanced perfectly with hops. This is the most perfectly balanced beer I've ever had. You know theres a shitload of malt and a shitload of hops, but neither of them have the advantage. Insanely full mouthfeel, and just an excellent ale. Thanks a lot DrJay!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2005 22:34:09 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

Deep cherry wood / mahogany tone. Thin beige head leaves spotty lace. Aroma is quite malty. Sweet. And some NW hoppiness to it as well. More malt than hops on this nose though. The body of this beer is full and has a viscous feel to it. Mouthfeel is actually quite creamy. This, along with the nice taste, leads to a high drinkability even though it's 10%. The taste is quite exotic. A virtual cornucopia of fruit flavors. Passion fruits. Pineapple. Ripe melon. Grapefruit rind. All this is accompanied by a noticeable EtOH heat and a high alpha acid hop bitterness. The malt tones are what really make this beer great though. The toffee and caramel tones are quite delicious. What an accomplishment in brewing. This is a dandy.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2003 04:35:25 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark brown color with a nice tan foamy head that settles into a nice lacing that lasts throughout. Aroma of roasted maltiness, chocolate, nuts and hops. Up front there is a lucious roasted chocolate maltiness that is perfectly balanced by a huge bitter hoppy finish. I love this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 08:26:40 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.09/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Warning, this is a huge beer. Big dark ruby and brown pour, massive amounts of everything.

If there was ever a beer that is a malt bomb and uber hoppy, this is it. Chewy, but oh so bitter. Chinook smack to it. Mouthfeel is so puckering. Share this one with someone. Good price for what goes into it, but damn if you'll have two of these in a sitting.

This beer is challenging. Full of a ton of ingredients. But its good, but oh so warming.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 13:43:37 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Perhaps I would have enjoyed this beer more if I hadn't had it right after the 10th Anniversary DIPA. For that matter, I wonder if Stone has tweaked the recipe over the years, as I've found this beer far more appealing in the past then I did at Frisco's last night.

The beer pours a darkish amber color with very good head retention and lacing. The beer looks quite impressive. On the nose I get sweet malt, cider and roasted nuts. Again, this beer smells very impressive, although the high abv. is noticeable even on the nose. On the palate the beer is sweet, rich and very alcholic, but with a drying hop burn in the finish. The beer is impressive, but frankly I don't feel as if the high abv. blends in all that well with the very sweet malt and hoppiness. I found the beer somewhat tiring on the palate, with this beer coming across as a sweet, but then ultimately very hoppy, barleywine.

The beer is very warming and, while impressive, is just not all that enjoyable. In the same style I much prefer the Bigfoot, where the sweet malt has been dialed down a tad. A good beer, but not what I would call terrific.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2007 17:42:41 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: ?

Also strange that I've never reviewed this one, but oh well. Pours a dark amber color with a decent off-white head that leaves some doily lacing on the glass. Dark sugars in the aroma, and a blast of fruity hops. Taste of dark sugars, malts, caramel, citrus and tropical fruits, woody, notes of dark dried fruits and some pine resin. Full bodied, a little sticky, noticeable alcohol presence, strong, very good overall, but not something you could drink all night. Well maybe you could, but it's definitely not for everyone.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 14:53:10 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got the 2006 version on-tap at the GA release.

Pours a cloudy dark copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes slowly but eventually settles into a thin ring around the glass. Lacing is sticky at first but near the end there's not much of it.

Smells very good. Big malt sweetness up front followed by a bigger piney hop aroma. It smells like a big beer.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Malty sweetness followed by a slight citrus hop flavor and ending with a piney and bitter finish. The flavors meld flawlessly and the only hint of the alcohol is the warming sensation. Very nice.

Mouthfeel is great. It has a great thickness to go along with very subtle carbonation. Incredibly smooth.

Drinkability is also great. I wouldn't guess that it was 10%, and I could easily drink a few of these.

Overall, this was my introduction to Stone and it did not disappoint. The hops were still big even after the two years of aging. I'm excited to try a more recent version of this to see how it stacks up.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2008 04:58:25 | More by glid02

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an absolutely lovely burnished red-brown-gold colour with a thick head of yellowish white bubbles, which cascade up and then down in the glass. Very pleasant indeed. Lacing is great, and it looks as thick as a elephant sandwich. Very nice indeed.

Oh yeah, masses of hops. Extremely pungent, but they veer to the side of sweetness. Lots of pineapple, pear, musk and passionfruit, and not nearly as much pine resin or citrus. Very rich and mellow for a high hoppy beer. Very nice again.

Thick and full on the palate, initially sweet, crescendoing with hop bitterness mid palate, and then declining to a very mellow rich toffee sweetness on the back. Perhaps just a light hint of heat on the back, but it's very subtle. The lovely toffee note on the back is what makes this for me. It makes it more than a highly hopped ale - it gives it gravitas and complexity. Very nice. Mouthfeel very smooth and delicious.

A classic American craft brew. Peppered with the wonderful American hops lusciousness, but with a deep complexity underlying this. This is not simply a beer brewed to the extreme for the sake of it. There is a clarity of purpose and a wonderful structure to all of the big flavours. Once again Stone has given me an extreme, but philosophical American beer experience.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2009 04:22:47 | More by lacqueredmouse