Double Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pretty menacing look amber. A little bloody even with hints of rust and cinnamon. But you can still see some medium bubbling. The head is strong and noble, leaving a thick, bready, filmy foam as well as sporadic lacing. The aroma is a spicey mix of hops, sudgey amber malts, and alcohol. The red grapefruit aroma with this beer is pretty good. The taste was a little discouraging. Was good, but a little stronger than I was hoping. The alcohol was integrated with the hops and malts very well. Sometimes I think it cut out some of that dry amber malt smack I just love. The Grapefruity hops and alcohol were ok. Or at least make up for some of my dissapointment. The palate is cleansing and has a nice burn to it. Keeps the chest a little warm actually.

Not exactly what I was hoping for, but still pretty good. I think this beer has some aging potential.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2006 03:39:28 | More by scruffwhor

TheLongBeachBum

California

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

2006 Release – Double Bastard. 10% ABV.
Sampled: Fresh

Appearance: Strikingly clear dark blood red brown body with a polished mahogany look. Dark tanned head sits proud and lasts. Resilient carbonation throughout. This one looks feckin’ good.

Nose: It is all here, and whilst it is high profile it sits low on the Arrogant Bastard chassis but projects the needy cunt stained twat juices that it induces from the off. Spunky hair laden labia still entice and effortlessly draw one into a pace that you don’t need to be at unless your tongue is on Gene Simmons overtime.

Taste: Transient raucous malt. Old red eyes is back. Red from the night before the night before. They’re only red from all the tears that I should’ve shed. They’re only red from all the women that I could’ve wed. Old red he died. And every single landlord in the district cried. An empty bottle of whisky laying by his side. A lazy little tear running from each eye. They could never be blue. I was that dude and will be one day. I feel one with this brew.

Mouthfeel: Hot toasty malts. Belligerent hops. This is Stone. Coarse but always one to fall asleep in. A lovable rogue…..reminds me of the heady Beer Engine days..oh..happy times.

Drinkability: After a few years of trying this monster I think I have grown accustomed to its strength. Maybe. Even so, this is such a marvelous malty hop bomb when fresh and still so graciously hoppy and aggressive, even when you know what to expect. It’s so fucking hard to put this one down though….like a Sado-Masochist you just go back for more! Gargoylian Quaffability. I really should not have drunk a whole Bomber of this in like 25 minutes right?! Deja-Vu...

Overall: A refined brute……if this was a car it would be the twin turbo-charged Bentley Arnage T, refined yet with a punctual awareness.

Arrogant Bastard has left the building.…..Double Bastard better be on door duty.

I love Double Bastard.
Double the Pleasure – and almost half the price of Oaked AB.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2006 09:24:20 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brownish copper color....impressve looking...little head...nose is malty and seet...dark fruits...cherries...plums...also some excellent molasses/brown sugar notes....body is firm, full and it exhibts a slightly spicy mouthfeel from the alcohol..definitely a sipper....big beer all the way..

Very tasty...sweet dark fruits and brown sugar dominate....alcohol spiciness slices into the sweetness(the alcohol spiciness feels almost like grain alcohol at times )....closes with a late piney hop feel...

Outstanding beer....feels like a BW to me...a standout....

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2004 05:38:35 | More by ZAP

jrallen34

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I drank this from a bomber into my Rochefort chalice.

This bastard pours a very dark copper almost amber, that is pretty clear. The head is very nice rising about 2 fingers and lasting for awhile. It is medium tan with good lacing.

The aroma is medium in strength and dominated by hops only. I can't pull anything else out.

The taste is pretty mild, I was expecining a big explosion of flavor. I get mostly hops with alcohol. The aftertaste is very bitter.

The feel is good, drinkablility suffers a tad.

Overall, prett decent. Its like an ipa on steroids not totally my thing but I see its mass appeal.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2010 01:22:55 | More by jrallen34

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked up this bottle at Thirsty's in East York, PA. I shared this ale w/ octopus87- bomber split into two snifters.

A - A dark amber and ruddy brown mingled liquid w/ a big and rocky cream head of about 2 fingers which settles to tiny bubbly film.

S - Rich malt aromas and earthy deep piney hops w/ a strong alcoholic nose. Very much like pine cone's intensity in the scent w/ a hint of booze coming in close second.

M - This malty strong beer has a nice smooth sweetness which surrenders to sharp and bitter feeling on the tongue. Mildly carbonated and intense alcohol textures create a whirlpool of hoppy bold feelings and an astringency of many grapefruits.

T - Almost off the bat the hops jump and hold the tongue hostage in a very aggressive taste of piney and sharp w/ a nice supporting flavor of strong ale w/ sufficient malt to keep the flavor from becoming too bitter to stand. An aggressive bitterness w/ slightly sweet malt and dry acidic finish. The acohol warms all the way down and the hop taste pummels the palate in a true hop assault.

D - Not a very drinkable ale, but you knew that already since it is "Double Bastard" and that indicates an extreme beer - Strong ale in the truest sense. The taste is very over the top and should probably always split this unless you can handle super ball sized wasabi. It was a very intense beer before bedtime and I think this works best with a hearty meal for instance Shepherd's pie

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 18:39:06 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

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

22oz bomber, I think this is from kmpitz2

2004 edition

appearance: an intimidating bottle from stone...a beautiful pour into my snifter...a rich royal amber, its shines brightly, a large creamy dark beige head forms and leaves fabulous lacing....very impressive appearance

smell: very potent aromas, sweet alcohol soaked dark fruits, thick sweet malt, huge creamy caramel, still a lingering green hop bite, slght pine aroma, brown sugar...glorious

taste: amazingly smooth, alcohol does not hide in this one, alcohol soaked dark fruit, cherry, fig, brown sugar, sweet heavy malts, grapefruit/pine hop sting still evident, evidence of oak and other woodiness, very strong all around

mouthfeel: very creamy, alcohol warming sensation abundant, hop bitterness lingers

drinkability: very good, moderation is key

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2006 23:17:05 | More by dirtylou

Bitterbill

Wyoming

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

This one pours a clear red with a 1 finger head of foam which shrinks during the session to a fine layer with lots of lacing.

The smell is very malty with lots of caramel. Nice. There's also a fairly faint, compared to the malt, nose of hops.

The taste has notes of caramel malt up front followed by some fruit(black cherry), and citrus and piney hops and a pretty big dose of alcohol.
Lots of warming during and after the swallow.

The more sips I take, the less I notice the alcohol and now I'm able to really start focusing on the flavours and man, it's so tasty and so well balanced that I don't want the bottle's contents to leave. *Very* nice sipping Strong Ale and with its creamy smooth mouthfeel and nicely done light carbonation, this is certainly a great brew worthy of its reputation. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 20:37:08 | More by Bitterbill

cokes

Wisconsin

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

Flames shoot forth from the fiery crimson pool of magma. Tan smoke fills the area overhead, but clears after several moments.

Charred aromas emanate outward. Crackling, sticky pine, engulfed apricots, charred pinapples, blackened caramel and seared brandy-drenched woodchips.

This is not a blisteringly hot inferno, but rather a creeping, encompassing torch. It wiggles its way into the oral cavity and ignites explosively.

It consumes all of the sweet kindling left unattended. Brown sugar scorches. Pineapples dance and sizzle on the grill. Plums shrivel and burn. Toffee melts and bonds with the teeth. Cotton Candy wilts and liquefies. Oranges turn brown, then black, then ashen gray. Mangoes do the same. So do limes. Raisins are reduced to a pile of dusty, glowing orange powder. A fruit-laden smoke fills the mouth.

The blaze rages and moves further back on the tongue. Roasty and toasty yet, but the conflagration has reached the hops. Citrus and tropical fruits leave their jellied resin behind. Pine trees are combusted, leaving behind a messy residue of clinging sap. The woody bark is fuel for a tempest that is rapidly gaining strength.

The wall of fire reaches the entrance to the esophagus and detonates in a fantastic alcoholic blast. The ensuing push floods the throat and mouth with a sticking Port shrapnel, as everything else is incinerated. The Port gains heat and becomes cognac. The cognac gains heats and becomes pure ethanol.

The blood is heated by this thick, but airy, semi-adhesive burst of fire. The warmed blood travels to the brain, where it first ignites the pleasure center. The face reflects the increased temperature and becomes red and the mouth draws up in to a smile. Affect is heightened. Flights of imagination and verbosity are common. Next, the sensory-motor complex is set ablaze. The eyes burn red, mirroring the status of the interior. Sirens reverbrate and hum within the ears. Balmy impulses are sent via the nerves to the outmost extremities. The whole body has been consumed. The brow emits sweat beads in an attempt to cool, but it is too late. The "old brain", source of the body's basic functioning, is overcome. The enflamed person becomes increasing sleepy and disorientated. Verbals cease, except for the basest formation of language, exemplified by mutterings such as: "This is fucking awesome, man", and "Holy shit!"

The eyes close.

The ears ring louder.

The smile continues.

The fire ventures onward and outward from the limp body.

(2002 Release, courtesy of feloniousmonk.)

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2003 08:47:37 | More by cokes

beertunes

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a semi-cloudy orangeish-mahogany with over an inch of light tan head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was mostly bitter hops with some sweet malt undertones. There was also a bit of yeasty spice hiding in there. On the tongue, alcohol was the dominant taste, followed by hops, malt and spice.

The body was pleasingly full, but a bit too sticky-sweet. Drinkability was good, but a little rough due to the alcohol taste.

Overall, a decent beer that's much better than the original AB. Certainly worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 06:15:50 | More by beertunes

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2006 vintage, sampled fresh. I bought it as soon as it hit the shelves in Ohio.

Poured into pint glasses, ruby red color with juicy tan head (but with no retention, it poofs away as quickly as it appears). The aroma is barley winish IPA, hoppy with a medicinal strength. The flavor is aggresive and burning, filled with grapefruit and alcohol.

Really nice but not my favorite Stone beer. I wouldn't say I'm wimping away from the DB, it's just that Stone 10th and even Ruination are so much better tasting.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2006 03:16:50 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

22oz bottle chilled and poured into my oversize wine glass

A: Gorgeous deep ruby red with a frothy and lacy head

S: Potent. Hoppy with a blast of pineapple up front. Well balanced with the malt backbone coming through. Dried figs, maybe? Just a hint of alcohol as it warms up

T: A blast of piney hops that is ridiculously well-balanced. The malt backbone reveals tons of caramel and sweetness. There's hints of dark raisins and dried figs in there. The finish is long and bitter.

M: Silky smooth with the right amount of carbonation.

D: Something this strong and so tasty has to approached with care. This is definitely a sipper disguised as a quaffer.

4.5/4.5/5/5/4

**Edit 29 Nov 2011**
It's been 3 years since my review, and while I haven't drunk as much of this beer as I thought I would, I still remain very impressed with it. I'm taking my scores down to better reflect the changes in my palate. However, the succulent, juicy blend of hops with pine, pineapple and grapefruit with dark caramel, a little cocoa and a mild sweetness. The flavors on the palate are the same as the nose would suggest, and while this is boozy, this never gets overbearing. The alcohol does hinder the drinkability, but split two ways, this is perfect.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2008 03:35:36 | More by DefenCorps

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber from the 2010 vintage pours a medium copper color with a cap of tiny-bubbled tan head. Retention pretty good, lacing not so much.

Piney, juicy, tropical and oozing caramel. Just dripping with malt and hops, the cool thing about the aroma is the balance and heft of the two battling for ultimate supremacy...sorry had to get my Wu-Tang quote on.

Taste somehow seems smoother than the ABV and hoppiness would indicate. It is sweet. And it definitely is bitter. Big beer, syrupy and clingy and the lupulin glands seem to make permanent residence in the pockets of my tastebuds. Resinous finish lingers longer than any beer I can remember. Mouthfeel is full till it's spillin, but damn, it is easy to drink! I like this better than regular bastard, easily. I could see this aging well, but I like it rough and leafy right now. Fun ride and really not all that difficult to polish of the bomber by myself, surprisingly. Well done Stone, well done...I have not had a beer this strong and so good in quite some time.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 01:10:43 | More by twiggamortis420

bark

Sweden

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2007 vintage.

The colour is deep brown with a tint of red; the two finger head is firm and beige. Lots of lacing occurs.

The medium strong smell is very hoppy (but not very bitter) in an American citric way. But at the same time, there are large quantities of lightly roasted hops to balance the hops: The grapefruits are mixed with plums, raisins and candied oranges. There is some alcohol too, but not as much as one could think.

The taste is very balanced: loads of dried fruits (plums, raisins, figs) and walnuts, some sour hints of lemons, lots of round sweet flavours. Fruit candy, fresh vegetables, grilled meat and an impressive balanced and luxurious feel. The aftertaste got a warming alcoholic flavour, dried fruits, very elegant bitterness that keeps in the background. The finish reminds a little of fine Scottish lowland whiskey and Christmas desserts.

The carbonation is mild, yet refreshing. The liquid is thick and creamy.

Does this style get better than this? I think it is hard to imagine such a beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 21:32:33 | More by bark

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

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

22 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint. 10.5% ABV, Age at Cellar temp (55°F) or below. 2009 Release.

Thanks to sweemzander for this bottle!

A - DB pours out quietly with some viscosity. Hazy brown amber in color, it's topped by a dense light khaki head with great retention and minor patchy lace clinging to the glass.

S - Double the bastard, double the malts I suppose. This one is both a hop and malt bomb. Tons of gooey caramel and toasted dense bread make up the heavy amber malt nose. Lots of earthy hops come though in support as well. Decently balanced and really strong.

T - What a punch in the mouth even at about a year old. Thick roasted amber malts, sticky caramel, and dense bread really come out strong with an almost minor dark fruity alcohol kick to it. No booziness but the alcohol is definitely there. Strong earthy and floral bitter hops kick the end into high gear.

M - Massively full-bodied and rich with a smooth and throat-coating viscosity, the alcohol isn't so much tasted as it is felt in the finish that's got a lot of warming sensation. Largely bitter and sharp too, the mouthfeel of Double Bastard is pretty complex.

D - Still drinkable for how rich it is, this strong ale is double the bastard to you when the bottle is finished I'm sure. A nice beer with good profiles going on here.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 17:18:36 | More by BeerFMAndy

francisweizen

Australia

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

*Update*

The 2002 is currently tasting like the 2001 did last year. It has a darker, murkier, reddish-brown colour and a smaller head with less retention. This 2002 version which has been aged for about a year and a half is definately more barley wine in style than the 2003 IMO. The mouthfeel is chewier and creamier than the 2003 and the drinkability may be a notch better as well. If I were to rate the 2002 it would probably get a 4.8 or a 4.9.
Cheers!

2003: This years DB is a light red colour with a lovely, light beige creamy head. The aromas are all heavy roasted malts, citrus hops (cascades?), alcohol, and more. The taste is super rich and enveloping. I can taste various types of hops, nice heavy malts, a bit of booze, and some more undistinguishable flavors, all in a very perfect harmony. This has to be the most "balanced" version of DB to hit the shelves yet. Truly a wonderful brew that has a great creamy mouthfeel and the ultimate drinkability for a "strong ale"

CLASSIC

2002: This is an excellent beer that pours a super clear dark reddish colour with a nice, fluffy, white head. This beer has aromas of alcohol, malts, hops, and other things. The taste is very alcoholic, very malty, very hoppy, very everything. The mouthfeel is slick and SUPER creamy and smooth and the drinkability is great for such a strong brew. This beer will certainly knock your socks off with its 10%abv and super intense flavors. This was very good, but to this BA it did not live up to the greatness of regular AB. This was just TOO big, and too alcoholic. It did not have the wonderful citrus-y flavors of the AB and the hops were a little less pronounced.
Still, A classic!
Cheers!
-F

Thanks to Hyuga for the sample...beer mail me will ya!

2001: Sample provided to me by EyeChartBrew. It has a darker, murkier, reddish-brown colour and a smaller head with less retention. The aromas are more pronounced, alcoholic and less hoppy. This 2001 version which has been aged for about a year and a half is definately more barley wine in style than the 2002 IMO. The flavors meld together nicely and make a very nice sipping brew. The mouthfeel is chewier and creamier than the 2002 and the drinkability may be a notch better as well. Actually the 2001 reminded me more of a Thomas Hardys Ale than a Stone brewing product. If I were to rate the 2001 now it would probably get a 4.8 or a 4.9.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2003 04:44:19 | More by francisweizen

nickfl

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Half a finger of light brown head on top of a slightly hazy, dark reddish-brown body. The head settles quickly and leaves thick lace.

S - Moderate aroma of pine scented hops mixing with dark malts to give off a distinctive barleywine note of mustard and pepper. There are some sweet malt notes as well; toast, toffee, and caramel.

T - Thick, rich toffee and caramel malt at first, followed shortly by velvety pine hops. Sugary malt in the middle, lots of caramel and toffee with a bit of red apple yeast. Gets spicy towards the end with more of the pepper/mustard notes from the aroma and a nice, strong wave of bitterness to push back the malt. This beer lingers on the tongue long after the last sip with notes of peppery tobacco, coffee, and mouth-coating hop bitterness.

M - Thick, chewy body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat sweet finish.

D - This is a big one! At first, I was a little underwhelmed, but a few sips in, it started to open up. The is that of a classic, mustardy, American barleywine and the flavor is a complex interaction of caramel malts and dark, bitter hops. It reminds me in many ways of Brooklyn monster, except this tasting requires me to take down a whole bomber of this big, intense beer. Seems like this would be well worth laying down for a couple of years to mature.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 05:51:16 | More by nickfl

tpd975

Florida

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

06 vintage on draft at the Stone kick off party.

A: Pours a nice golden hue with a solid one finger head. Good retention and lace noted.

S: Wow have the malts come out with a bit of age. Nice sweet caramel undertones with strong notes of burnt brown sugar. The hops are there no doubt but not overpowering. They are now a nice combination of tart citrus, sweet pine, with notes of pineapple.

T: Holy malt, I like this one. Very similar to aromas. Nice brown sugar sweetness up front which turns to sweet pine. Hints of citrus poke thru but the finish is nice and sweet with tones of pineapple and peach.

M: Full bodied, thick, and clingy.

D: Ended my day with this one. Nice way to finish things off. A great big welcome to Stone. Florida needed you.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2008 23:30:00 | More by tpd975

smakawhat

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2010 release poured into a pint glass, giving off a massive head from the pour as big as your fist if not bigger. Somewhat brown/tan/honey to tight cream colored head that will not go away. Very dark red brown body but also kind of cloudy. Excellent retention with the head falling evenly throughout the glass.

Kind of a closed nose on this but an interesting one of chewy malt and burnt spices. Fruity mush bananas also. Unfortunately it's not very open and easy to enjoy.

Taste though is a big improvement and a surprise. A giant rush of cinnamon comes through first with sweetness and sugars, even some nutmeg. Hop bitters come next and some lime astringency feel. Silky in the mouth, and some banana comes through in the taste also.

This is quite good, but the nose leaves me a bit disappointed. I would easily have this again but I would have to be in the right mood for it, it isn't something I am going to be dreaming about or reminiscing about for much or if at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 04:08:16 | More by smakawhat

FosterJM

California

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

223rd review on BA
bottle to stone pint

2010 release

App- A murky hazy brown color, almost like melted milk chocolate but a bit lighter. Very little head formed as well.

Smell- So complex on the nose. Runs the gamut from malt, hops, citrus, bread, chocolate. Smells change every time you bring the glass up for a sip.

Taste- Huge malt and caramel in each sip. Get a bit of hops at times but very faint. So flavorful and complex. Each year just gets better and better.

Mouth- Medium bodied with a medium carb level. Its a bit dry at the finish but very good.

Drink- I feel worthy now. No real explanation needed. Just a very good very BIG beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 05:57:59 | More by FosterJM

bluejacket74

Ohio

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

Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a brownish/red color, with about an inch off-white head. It smells very nice, like caramel, hops, cherries and a bit of a spicy smell. It tastes very hoppy, like grapefruit, pine and some malt. Overall the taste is very strong and hoppy, and a bit harsh at times. The mouthfeel is almost syrupy, it's on the thicker side and it's full bodied. Drinkability is good but not excellent. I don't think I could drink more than one of these at a time, but I would definitely drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2007 00:58:22 | More by bluejacket74

LilBeerDoctor

New York

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed on 4/24/08. Bottle, 2007. Pours a deep red/amber/brown color with a small white head that dissipates quickly. Aroma of caramel malt, some floral hops. Flavor mainly of malt, some floral and piney hops, faint grapefruit notes. Delicious! Thick mouthfeel, so this is a sipper, but is one of the most balanced American strong ales. Sweet, but not too sweet and thick, but not too thick. Excellent, best ASA I've had to date. I love this beer! (Oh yeah, also the label is awesome!) 8/4/9/5/17 (4.3/5)

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 20:59:40 | More by LilBeerDoctor

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cracking the bottle, the escaping gas made the sound of a big wet smoochy kiss. Either that, or I’ve become a little too attached to my beer these days and need to get out of the house more often.

There is much hype surrounding this beer, but you can’t drink a bottle of hype. Beyond the mythos and hyperbole, this is truly, ultimately a world-class beer. It features a profound malty fragrance that is very sweet and bread-like. The brew itself is clear until you spill the yeasties. It has minimal carbonation and a deep honey-garnet color.

This one sat in my fridge for two months, which probably wasn’t a very healthy idea. It wasn’t very healthy for the potato salad that sat next to it either. But I was still able to taste everything this big fat Bastard aspires to be. It is muscular and profusely malty with a full-bodied mouthfeel, an alcoholic undertow, and an understated but complimentary bitter finish. It lacks a bit of lace and the head fades quickly, but the potato salad more than made up for this.

And as for that “You’re not worthy!” stuff, let me tell ya. Even the mighty Double Bastard isn’t half the full-blooded sonofabitch that I am.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2004 05:16:05 | More by RedDiamond

AgentZero

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Thanks to mikey771 who hooked me up with this one.

A - Brown colored (was expecting lighter) with a nice three finger head. Slow dissipation and exceptional lacing. Very nice looking brew, especially when poured into the glass.

S - For a second there I almost thought I was catching a whiff of scotch. Citris, hops, and I get a lot of alcohol on the nose.

T - Wow, much fuller flavor than I would have guessed, even after smelling. Caramel comes through very strongly on this one. Very sweet, and finishes quite bitter. Some dark fruits on this, alcohol comes in, but nicely. A little too bitter and too sweet for my liking.

M - Syrupy, full bodied. Carbonation is there, but you lose it in the fullness of this brew.

D - I couldn't finish the whole bomber. Very thick becomes hard to drink about 3/4 of the way through. Solid, but there's a limit to how much of this I can get down.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2009 21:15:55 | More by AgentZero

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

i would borderline call this a barleywine. pours a murky auburn color with a foaming tan head and just a little suspended sediment. smells quite hoppy, piney in that regard, with plenty of sweet malts backing it up. flavor is sort of like avery's hog heaven, but perhaps switch the intensity of the hops with the sweetness of the malts in these two beers, thats double bastard. lost somewhere between imperial ipa and a barleywine. lots of spicy sweetness in the finish. feel is very thick, almost milkshake-like. pretty solid carbonation and a decently disguised alcohol content. this would be a brutal bomber to drink alone, good thing i had eager mates! i think i still prefer the regular bastard though.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 19:33:25 | More by StonedTrippin

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 650ml bomber poured into tulip 29/4/13 cheers Rutager for sending the bottle

A clear red shade of amber with a few bubbles streaming up the side of the glass, a short lived two finger foam leaves just a few polka dots of lace

S burnt brown sugar and caramels are strong, slightly nutty, with just a little booze, some candied fruit but I can't quite pick it out, has some liqueur aspect I can't really place and a little bourbon

T a little pine I didn't smell and some citric hops, seeing how this from 2011 I can only imagine what a palate wrecker this would've been fresh, the caramels are still strong but the bourbons gone, I know this isn't BB aged but I could smell it

M a little syrupy with low carbonation, a little sticky on the lips with a little grit on the gums, pine and rind on the finish with just a little heat

O I think I may have caught this one in between being a fresh hop bomb and well aged barley wine, pretty solid stuff but a rare situation where I want a young or old bottle to compare to this one in the middle

went down smooth for a big beer, I think this one could fit into a few styles depending on its age, well worth trying and I'll look for both fresh and aged bottles in the future

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 06:11:55 | More by wordemupg