Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

charlzm

California

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Consumed July 14th, 2012 at The Daily Pint, Santa Monica, CA.

Beer comes out of the hand pump a deep reddish-brown with a fine, two-finger yellow/tan head.

Oak is strong in the aroma. In fact, that's all I'm getting. Cask ales are not noted for their strong aromatics, though, so this shouldn't count against it.

Strong toffee flavor up front with significant oak. Vanilla and chocolate also present. Alcohol note in background as well.

Slightly thicker than average mouthfeel. Prickly on tongue despite being a cask beer.

This beer is a whole different animal with oak age and tamed hops. I'll drink this on cask any time I see it.

Serving type: cask

07-20-2012 22:11:04 | More by charlzm

dunit697

California

4.8/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I didn't even like arrogant bastard on first drink, It flew over my head, adding oak was engenius, and radically increases the beers drink-ability. The serving from a cask makes that flavor even more inviting and knocks it out of the park. The consistancy was a little runnier from cask but nothing that should deter you from trying this amazing beer.

Serving type: cask

01-22-2012 22:21:46 | More by dunit697

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Gravity poured from a cask at Foutainhead into a pint glass.

Appearance: My cask pour is a full, deep brown color with a hint of amber toward the edges. It is dark and mostly opaque, allowing just enough light through to let deep amber hues bounce off the glass. A rocky tan cap is evidence of the cask pour.

Smell: A complex aroma for sure. Sweet caramel malt also has some toasted bread, with grapefruit and pine hops shining through from the base beer. A bit of spice and vanilla compliment the woody oak nicely.

Taste: Yet another beer where I enjoy the cask version a bit better. The toasted bread and caramel malt sweetness combines with the vanilla, spice, and oak to add a great depth. The oak and spice flow into the grapefruit and spicy pine hops effortless, all while allowing for a lightly bitter, somewhat oak, and fairly clean finish.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation is very much on the light side, with just a few soft bubbles to stimulate my tongue. The body drinks a little bit lighter than I remember from the tap version, which is to say medium/full, with a little bit less emphasis on the dry oak flavor. Very smooth.

Overall: Somehow I like this even better than the tap version of Oaked Arrogant Bastard, which is quite an accomplishment. The nuance and depth that each flavor takes on in the cask version is incredible.

Serving type: cask

11-08-2011 21:01:06 | More by KickInTheChalice

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

"This go around we'll be gravity tapping a cask (firkin) of Stone Brewing Co.'s Arrogant Bastard Ale aged on American Oak. This is a unique opportunity to try a real ale version of a Stone signature beer jazzed up with extra oaky bells and whistles" - CBX

Well its 12:30AM and I was told to drink this same day, I'm not going to say no..

A - Pours a hazy/semi murky mahogany color with a nice half finger of dense head that slowly dissipates to a thin lacing over the top of the bear. Lacing hugs the glass and doesn't let go!

S - Smells of sweet dark malt and oak, brown sugar and some earthy tones from hops

T - Tastes like a party, I just pooped, pissed and puked at the same time. Big bold oaky/smokey flavors, very woody. Hops make a brief appearance at the finish, dry finish as well. I almost want to say chocolate flavors coming through as well

M - The most amazing part (ok one of them), gotta love the firkin. Soooo so smoothe, carbonation is mild, full bodied.

O - Overall this beer is BIG, delicious, smooth, and sexy

Serving type: cask

09-28-2011 04:57:41 | More by MacQ32

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

when i breathed in a snoot full of the aroma comming off of this beer i couldnt place it at first. after my first sip i realized what it was. the grapefruit flavor came through like a laser beam. the rich caramel color and sour bitterness make this beer very unique. i really appreciate the complexity of its flavor.

Serving type: cask

12-22-2010 13:51:31 | More by mattkoon

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A deep amber that show cases both mahogany and ruby highlights...the head is a creamy tan color and stands about two fingers...nice lacing

S - A hop bouquet focusing on the floral and citrus hops...lots of bright orange and grapefruit...there is a faint malt presence

T - The malts really come into play in the flavor...they were really hidden in the nose but they pair nicely with the assertive hops in this one...they play a role but they aren't the star...the hops are definitely the star with the orange, lemon, and grapefruit flavors really standing out...I could not detect the oakiness as much but I'm guessing it pairs with the malts and blends together to take the hops down in bitterness...the ending is neither bitter nor sweet...it's solid

M - Medium bodied...the cask added some creaminess but I wanted a lingering bitterness

D - This one was good but I think I would take a regular Arrogant Bastard...the hops are perfect in this one and the oak only shines through to take the hops down a notch

Serving type: cask

10-20-2009 13:02:59 | More by thain709

opwog

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

This was cask conditioned "American Oak." I have to say that I was not a big fan of the Oaked Bastard when I had it in the bottle, but I thought that I should still give this one a shot.

Alas, I am still not a fan of the Oaked Bastard on cask either, but for completely different reasons. Where I found the bottled version to be too tight and overly strong with the wood taste and feel, I found the cask to actually be a nicer balance of wood to hops and malts. The head was better and lasted quite a while for a cask. But the biggest problem here is that I think that Bastard is a a beer in any form that has to be served cold. Many beers are fine (or even better) at room temperature, but Bastard is not one of them (IMHO). Overall, as I said before, the balance of elements was better on this one than other Bastards, but that still doesn't mean that it is well balanced across the horizon of all ales.

Serving type: cask

08-10-2008 19:02:31 | More by opwog

mentor

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cask pull at the Falling Rock Taphouse (Denver). Presented a half-finger light-brown head that clings and keeps hanging around. Super cloudy brown (reddish) liquid. Smells caramel with light bourbony oak. Dark oak, american. Touch of alcohol sting in my nostrils. After sitting a while, the piney hops became much more apparent.

Tastes super-creamy mouthfeel, but light body. Delicious oak character. Vanilla and a touch toasty. AB hop umph is absent or covered. Dry woody finish. Touch of bitter and grassy, perhaps that's the hops beginning to show themselves. After sitting a while, I get a hint of hazelnut and chocolate. A settled piney hop flavor, like this beer has been aged. Nearly absent carbonation.

Okay, this last 1/3 of the beer has sat at least a half hour. Oranges early in the taste. Esters are low, which was deceiving, as the mouthfeel sets up an expectation. Just a little bit of alcohol heat. Touch of cherry sour. Cascade hop smell and flavor. IMO, this beer was fairly disappointing. Needs more sweet and some esters to accompany the mouthfeel and fill out the beer.

Serving type: cask

05-19-2006 18:48:46 | More by mentor

freed

Oregon

4.63/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at the horse brass. "Can I have a glass of that"... "we only serve it in glasses"... "That's what I asked for"...

A lovely goblet arrived filled with a color that, now that I've heard it referred to enough, can be safely described as garnet. The deep ruby glow was capped by an simple foam swirl.

The aroma was slightly spicy and malty with the same aggressive hop nose you'd expect from Stone. Very nice.

The taste was a very slow, rich complex malt present. The oak seems to have smoothed out many of the flavors, possibly even concentrating them. The hop bitterness is great, and doesn't detract from the mingling of flavors.

As nice as it was, a glass was appropriate, and I feel the number of days that I'd prefer this beer are quite few.

Serving type: cask

11-16-2004 17:22:07 | More by freed

oggg

California

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cask @ Real Ale Fest 6/04 Carlsbad

This beer is a hazy/murky brown, with a big bubbled foam. The aroma was just slightly hoppy, with some malt, and the smell of wet wood. On tasting, I got a restrained bitterness coupled with sweet malt and a mild roastiness. It seem to change on me and was sometimes sweet, sometimes dry. I'm not good at picking out vanilla. I just couldn't get a hold of this beer -- not clean enough, not hoppy enough...

I almost wet my pants when this beer appeared at the festival, but I was sorta disappointed when I finally got it.

Serving type: cask

06-18-2004 05:15:42 | More by oggg

Gusler

Arizona

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cask @ Real Ale Fest
Oh my grannies bustle, this was my second most favorite at the Real Ale Fest, just a tad behind the Russian River OVL Stout, in fact I had several samplers of this to be sure I was able to judge its character lol.

A somewhat hazy brown, the head a tan crown that was creamy in texture, the lace a thick coating upon the glass, with the nose sweet with the aroma of malt and Oak, hints of alcohol and bubble gum, yummy is a good description. Start was ambrosial, thick with malt, the top moderate to full in its feel. Finish was moderate in it’s a acidity, the hops delightful, quite dry and a bit of a tummy warmer, one damn fine beer in this old dawg’s book.

Serving type: cask

06-15-2004 17:50:14 | More by Gusler

Shiredave

New York

4.9/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is a work of art. I was lucky enough to try this at the Stone 12 beers event in NYC and it was in the opinion of many I was with, the "Best in Show". It had the same intense blend and balance between the sweet, slightly roasted malt, explosive citrus and firey hop flavor and bittering, but an added deep, smokey roundness that mellowed and softened it into someting incredible. I had 3 and still tried all 12 beers. Thank God for trains. An absolute taste treat for the hop lover. Lets hope the Stone boys keep putting thier Bastard in oak and sending it east!

Serving type: cask

03-20-2003 21:52:20 | More by Shiredave

cretemixer

Indiana

4.65/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Oak aged on cask at the Chicago Real Ale Festival. It’s clear auburn in color and there is really no head to speak of. Smoky aroma with an aggressive hop note. Citrus and coniferous hops are the first taste, but very smooth. There is a nice roasted maltiness too. I have not had this in the bottle yet, so I am not sure how much I can attribute to the oak aging. A very nice balanced beer.
It was one of the first beers they ran out of at the fest and rightly so. I was duly impressed. I can’t wait until Stone makes it to stores near me. I am craving my next one already.

Serving type: cask

03-19-2003 19:15:57 | More by cretemixer

danieelol

Australia

4.26/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a lovely amber with great head and lacing.

Smell is English-style malts and a waxy pine melon lemon from the hops. Do get some floweriness from the oak coming out.

Taste is as I remember it from the original- really strong bittering hops without huge hop flavour. Luckily I like that sort of thing.

There is malt and some hops. Oak provides some chocolatiness; which is great, and also added astringency; which I also enjoy.

Overall a fantastically enjoyable Strong Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 11:51:02 | More by danieelol

ksimons

New York

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-a dark amber with a fingers worth of fluffy cream head

S-caramel malt, light grapefruit hops, vanilla

T-caramel malt backbone with sharp bitter hops and vanilla with a bit of oak

M-medium body, medium carbonation, leaves a slight bitter aftertaste

Overall a really nice, interesting, complex beer

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:18:25 | More by ksimons

jamescain

Texas

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass. Best by date of 5/13/13.

Pours a cloudy orange-red with a thin off white head that fades into a thin lacing. After a while in the glass the chill haze subsides and the beer clears up. The aroma is pretty muted, the hops may have faded at this point. Its malty with notes of caramel and some woody-vanilla hints. The taste is not as assertive as regular AB. I'm wondering if the oaking mellowed it out a little bit, or if it was the age of the beer. Its a relatively chewy malt bomb. Toffee, bready, caramel and oak are the predominate flavor profiles. The body is medium-thick but not syrupy. There is a slight tannin finish to the beer, presumably from the oaking. I like this beer but I'm not a fan of the tannins. Although I can't complain since the 4-pack was only $5.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 16:23:21 | More by jamescain

TheCondor

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

After having had Arrogant Bastard (and loving it), I was excited about trying the Oaked version of this fantastic brew. Side poured with standard vigor from the 12oz bottle into my Boulevard glass, co-sponsored by the KC Royals. 1st Place in the AL Central, in case you didn't know. While I write, its' snowing in KC, making me want to go to Stone Brewery and relax in 75 degree weather.

Appearance - Pours a beautiful deep ruby red color with a nice one finger that dissipates slowly and leaves excellent lacing. Very impressive presentation on this brew, and of course Stone kills it on the packaging. Always a pleasure.

Smell - Malty sweetness is certainly strong, with a bit of hop character. A hint of the oak can be detected, as well as some spiciness and booze. A fairly complex nose, albeit not very strong.

Taste - What the nose lacks, the taste makes up for. The oak is certainly prevalent, with a nice malty spicy sweetness making up the majority of the drink. There is a little hop character in there as well.

Mouthfeel - This is one of my favorite parts of this brew, in that it is so smooth and you get a touch of the alcohol at the end. Nothing overwhelming, but it is there, and I like that. It doesn't let you forget you are drinking alcohol. Leaves a nice, smooth, sweet taste on the palate. I would say it is a medium-heavy beer.

Overall - While I did not like this beer to the extent I like the standard Arrogant Bastard, it is still an excellent beer no doubt. I would highly recommend it, although I would also recommend you drink the original first for a control group (comparison purposes). Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:37:58 | More by TheCondor

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep ruby color with a huge two full fingers of puffy off-white head. The foam doesn't take too long to settle, but when it does there are big rocky bubbles along the edges of the glass. Tons of lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is malty, spicy, and boozy. I get a touch of caramel, leather, and tobacco in this beer as well.

T: It starts out sweet with malt and caramel. As it moves to the middle I get vanilla, spice, caramel, and leather in there. It's also a touch earth (dirt and leaves). That may not seem appealing, but it is nice. The back end brings on the booze along with more caramel and vanilla.

M: Full bodied beer. Sweet and spice envelop the palate right away. It's hefty but it's overly sticky or chewy. Nothing too lingering after the beer is gone.

O: Very good beer. The vanilla in the beer shines through thanks to the oak aging. It's pretty darn delicious. I may revisit this beer if I'm in the mood for a smooth well balanced woody beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 21:13:25 | More by trxxpaxxs

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.61/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured into snifter. Deep gorgeous ruby red, with a full white head that leaves lots of lacing. Smells hoppy like an IPA, but with a thicker malt presence. Taste is similar to the smell; hops up front, solid malts through, but a sweet woody oak finish that sneaks in at the last second. Mouthfeel is pretty full, but smooth. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 03:39:22 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

kagent777

Utah

4.31/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into my perfect pint glass. This is the first commercial beer I have had in a while because I have been enjoying my homebrew.

Appearance: A gorgeous deep amber with a very well retained two finger tan head. The only negative are the yeast floaties that I can see swimming around in the carbonation.

Smell: Oak barrel "funkiness" and pin hops.Caramel sweetness bring it all around.

Taste: The taste really follows the smell. Bitter with the oak barrel note up front. A solid maltiness with a touch of sweetness as it finishes. The strong 7.2 ABV is hidden very well.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is solid with the taste going all over the mouth. This beer has a slick sort of feel. The carbonation is good and the body is sizable for the style.

Overall: I do like the oak treatment the they added to Arrogant Bastard. It adds a layer of complexity to an already very solid beer. The only downside is the added expense. A solid treat now and then.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:00:53 | More by kagent777

drrone

Arizona

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Pours a nice dark amber with 1 finger of tan/beige head that slowly faded with almost no lacing.

S - Not very strong, but intriguing and it draws you in. It has a nice malt nose, with some caramel and pine breaking through. The wood is subtle, but definitely there. Hops, but they seemed faded (I'm not sure, but this my by due the fact that I had an Enjoy By a couple of hours earlier).

T - Great taste! The hops are definitely there, with a great sweet malt base. Caramel, vanilla and smoked wood creates an interesting complex.

M- Medium bodied, easy to drink. The alcohol is there, but I find it nice to drink. Little carbonation.

O - Pleasantly surprised by this beer. I like the original, but the oak added to it more than I thought it would. Still a good hop hit and aggressive, but adds an interesting element to a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 01:16:26 | More by drrone

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.83/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

The Cave, Glasgow (330ml, £2.80):
Mid to dark brown colour with a clear body and a bubbly, off-white head that also leaves some nice lacing.

Mild, hop filled aroma with a bit of caramel and a nice amount of spice too. There is a good mix of toffee and some light grapefruit backed up with citrus and an oak type aroma.

Fruit and spice along with some oak and caramel from the nose. Again some medium strength hops make an appearance along with some spice and grapefruit. There is a nice, wooden oak flavour towards the end.

Smooth with a tiny amount of grain that is barely noticeable. There is some spice and a good, oaked wood feek and a lot of depth to the mouthfeel.

Quite nice, a touch more oak filled and spicy than I would have like but the beer did not suffer for this. The beer was very smooth and highly drinkable despite the relatively high abv. and the strong taste. There was a good malt taste to the beer that complimented the initial early hop one beautifully and went down a treat; a strong but very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 10:57:48 | More by flyingpig

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.49/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Purchased in Attleboro, MA.

A- Pours a deep amber, clear body with a thick, gushing off white head that reduces very slowly and leaves chunky, sticky foam 1/2" thick on the sides of the glass. Very appealing.

S- Very floral with citrus zest, a big malty caramel backbone, oak barrel, and pine sap.

T- The oak chips really punch you in the face the second this beer hits thee tongue - lots of vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch upfront. This progresses into an aggressive hop bite with lots of pine, resin, citrus, and floral notes. The finish is borderline astringent. All of this is sitting on a medium-heavy roasted malt backbone that gives it subtle notes of toffee, chocolate and caramel.

M- Medium-heavy body, medium carbonation.

Overall a hugely complex beer. The oak chips really take this beer to a whole new level and add a lot of nice flavors. I could probably only drink one of these in a sitting but it's good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 23:56:47 | More by gcamparone

Matthew_Phoenix

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

Had this out of the bottle and poured into a glass earlier this month and haven't gotten around to reviewing it until now. Bought a 4-pack and got it for my friends b-day. I thought it would be cool for us to share a beer together. This is my first review, here we go!

A-The beer looks flawless and the bottle is incredibly cool and funny. Has a pretty large, tan colored head and it seems like it stays forever. The beer is a deep copper color, almost amber. looks great.

S- Smells different. You can really smell the oaked and wood flavoring and it is for sure the strongest and primary smell. There might be some sort of citrus thing going on too from what I remember as well as the hops. Might be some sort of bready sent going on. Not to bad, but once again, mainly oak and wood.

T- Wow! The taste is pretty much like as my friend put it, "Like drinking a liquefied tree!" There is a heavy wood presence here. Not a lot of booze taste here, which is good. Hops are noticed here, but not overly powerful. The taste finishes dry, but not too dry. The taste lingers for a very long time afterwards. Even after chewing a stick of gum, I was still able to feel it on my mouth. Overall, a very aggressive and strong taste, but I don't mind.

M- Not a whole lot of carbonation, which is a good thing. Most beers are too carbonated and it takes away from the other qualities of the beer. The mouthfeel is heavy without a doubt. Like I said before, the taste stays with you for a very long time.

O- A very big and bold beer. Tastes very different and unique in a good way. I have never had anything like that before. My friend couldn't stand it because he said it was like drinking a tree. While he was right, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Overall, a very pleasant experience, if you get the chance to try this, don't pass it up!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 03:12:36 | More by Matthew_Phoenix

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Gorgeous-looking beer. Dark red-mahogany color with a fluffy bone head of dense sticky foam. Lacing is amazing and thick. Retention is ridiculous.

Toffee malts, American oak, some booze, grapefruit and sappy hops, mild raisin. Nice.

The oak is huge. Super woody and dry and piney, which develops the hop profile even more. The flavors are just... massive. A step-up from regular Arrogant Bastard. Elements of the floral and the citrus compete with the big oak and toffee breadiness. Very enjoyable.

Dextrinous and chewy. Medium-big in body. Lots of trapped bubbles exploding upon drinking. Busy.

Very good strong ale. Better than Double Bastard, in my opinion. Easy toslug sip and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 04:18:12 | More by thecheapies