Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

makoshark

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I liked this beer so much I got the appropriate glassware from Stone Brewing. Of course the marketing is a great starter for this beer, but there is much more to this beer than just the marketing!

It pours a clear amber beautiful tan head. The aroma is a very strong hop and malt smell. I love strong hop beers, and this one gives you the hops along with very complex flavors. This beer is not for people who don't like full flavor in their beers!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2004 16:11:52 | More by makoshark

Ave

Iowa

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow, what do you say about this beer? It is amazing in almost every way. Looking at it, it is a beautiful thing, deep amber, thick fluffy head. Smelling it, it smells like caramel, maple, bread & fruit. Tasting it… leaves me speechless. This is what beer aspires to be. Thank you Stone, & extra thanks to Mntlover for the trade that made this smile on my face possible.

If aged & served well, this could easily be a straight 5 beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2005 23:46:34 | More by Ave

nlmartin

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer was served on tap at Eulogys in Philly. The beer was served in a pub glass.

Appearance: The beer has a dark amber nearing crimson coloration. The head was thin and off white. The beer left some streaks down the side of my glass.

Smell: The beer has a toasted maltyness. The maltyness helps bring in waves of aggressive grapefruit and pine cone resin. The beer has a good spicey alcohol aroma.

Taste: The beer produced great loads of citrus zest, grapefruityness, and pine trees. Tucked up underneath all this is a great big caramel malty backbone. The alcohol combines in the flavor to bring a spiceyness to the beer. This isnt as aggressive as I remember it; however, it is still a Arrogant Bastard.

Mouthfeel/ Drinkability: The beer is full bodied. The beer has lingering hop oilyness. The beer is pleasingly complex. This beer was oddly very smooth on draft. This is a very drinkable bastard. I dont think I would try to make an evening with Arrogant Bastard. But Arrogant Bastard is a great beer to have on any evening.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2006 11:00:45 | More by nlmartin

kimcgolf

Georgia

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a great beer, from the name to the label, and best of all, the beer itself. Pours to a hazy, orange-red color, and a tan head that lingers throughout the entire beer, leaving excellent lacing up and down the glass. Strong aroma of citrusy hops, mostly grapefruit, stays stready throughout. Hoppy bitterness at first is nicely balanced by a hint of malty sweetness at mid-glass. Finish is an excellent, smooth bittersweet. I was looking forward to this beer, and once again was not disappointed by Stone.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2006 16:42:49 | More by kimcgolf

EPseja

New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On the eve following the first frost in Westwood, NJ for the autumn of 2006, the Arrogant Bastard finally finds its way to my lips... if only to take the chill out of the evening air.

Served from an exquisitely screen printed 22oz bomber at just below cellar temperature into a Duvel tulip -- my tasting glass of choice.

A - Medium brown coming out of the bottle, transforming into a very lightly hazed, smog-filtered sunset blazing red-orange. The airy, tan colored head explodes toward the upper flare of the glass, rising a good three inches before sitting put. The bubbles below the head's surface range from tiny to huge, and they all buoy up the rocky, fluffy and inconsistently bubbled crown. The lacing immediately sets up, leaving sticky, volcanic crags etched against the sides of the glass. If my words didn't give it away, I'll say it plainly: perfect.

S - West-coast hoppiness presented as an orange-blossom wreath atop a Cascade mountain pine tree with drippy sweet malt-sap covered pinecones. Warm and chilly at the same time, earthy and heady. Wonderful!

T - Superbly round, warm and supple mudium-toasted maltiness starts you out as it hits the tip of the tongue. A transformation then takes place that squeezes out a flowery, honey-laden juiciness as it continues on towards the back of the tongue where the hops begin their dance. A bitterness starts to grow that just falls short of ruining the delicate balance... everything remains in check. The aftertaste is that of toasted pretzel sticks and hoppy bitterness that works together to tell your brain that it's time for another sip as your belly warms and your inhibitions slip into the shadows.

M - With only a trace of tingle on the tongue, the beer flows into the mouth, like the low grade angle flow of water across a sheet of glass. It grows ever so slightly in the mouth to become a creamy, frothy delight as it slips and slides down the gullet and into my eager stomach.

D - There is no denying that this beer is worthy of every accolade it has thus received from all other raters, and now me. Smooth and delicious, but full of bold and assertive flavor -- as well as alcohol! Be careful. This beer may be good, but it's still a Bastard.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2006 00:59:10 | More by EPseja

EagleAg

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had heard alot about this beer from some of my buddies and said I had to try it if I liked flavorful beers. It certainly did not disappoint.

The beer poured a deep amber, reddish color with nice head the faded slowly and left a nice lacing down the glass.

The smell of hops was evident along with a slight sweetness. There is a fruitiness that comes through as well.

The taste is bold to say the least. The first thing that hit me was the almost overwhelming sense of hops but it transforms into a slightly sweet caramel flavor. As you drink it the hops tone seems to dissapate a little to let you get some of the more delicate undertones that are missed on the first drink.

This is a lightly carbonated and feels rich in your mouth. Very smooth and gets smoother as you drink it.

Definitely lives up to its warning that this is not for the carbonated macro brew drinkers. This will definitely be something I get again and again.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2008 04:26:22 | More by EagleAg

DunDun

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is my first review and I just had to say something about this beer. At 21 I have already developed a bitter taste for brews. I'm always searching for something I haven't tried yet that will leave my mouth tingling from bitterness. Once I saw this brew said "You're not worthy" I knew I had to try. It poured almost a brown which was cloudy with bubbles rising from the depths instantly. I chilled it to a near freezing temperature because I love cold brew, this might have made it more stronger tasting but I loved it. I can barely describe the taste because it changes so much so fast. After a swallow an immediate hoppy bitterness congregated on my palate. A fantastic beer! And still as my pilsner glass sits it is covered from top to bottom in the thickest lacing I've ever seen. A must do for any beer connoisseur!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 00:54:56 | More by DunDun

OldeEnglishD

Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was really looking forward to this beer as I had heard so much about it. Let me tell you it didn't dissappoint! Everything about this beer delivers, from the excellent deep coloring to the great head of foam, to the complex series of flavors. Every sip brought a new nuance of flavor that kept me wanting more. The only drawback to the beer is that it is slightly heavy to be a session beer, but it is definately the first beer I will grab when I start off the night.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2009 20:13:10 | More by OldeEnglishD

WTBash

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a really great beer. It pours a thick red-brown color with and eggshell head. the smell is complex, almost distractingly so. It has rich aromas of citrus, pine, and malt. Taste-wise, its bitter but in a way that detracts from the beer; the hints of fruit and barley come through brilliantly. It's thick as to be expected, and its very drinkable for a strong ale. Stone thought it would be a good idea to add double of EVERYTHING and it works amazingly well. Perhaps the only reservation I have with the beer is a blatantly (if not provocatively) condescending ad campaign, which fits.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 04:35:19 | More by WTBash

Floyd12

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a mug.

A- Deep copper color beer with a large sticky and frothy off white head with great retention that left lacing all down the side.

S- STRONG hop aroma with fruity and floral undertones which attempt and almost succeed in masking the high alcohol content.

T- Very ful and rich taste witha medium body. A toasted and caramel undertone with a malty sweetness that balances the alcohol bite. Al matched with the fruity hoppy taste.

M- Very smooth with mild carbonation.

D- Very drinkable if you are sophisticated enough to enjoy it. Large bottle and high alcohol conent means you can't knock back 6 or 7, but you will greatly enjoy what you do drink

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 01:28:56 | More by Floyd12

Luigi

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours out deep hazy almost dark red amber color. A massive creamy head, three finger in size. Lacing around the glass is consistent and the retention of the head last until the last drop.

The aroma is rich with hops! Sour citrus and pine notes, yet the sweet malt and alcohol pulls through.

Rich flavor of intense hops. Sour citrus and bitter pine hops dominate. But at the same time the malt in this ale still makes is presence. Finishes dry and hoppy, mostly the pine notes but the citrus lingers on the palate.

Full bodied and dangerous to drink haha! Slightly slick on the tongue.

Over all this Ale is Arrogant and perfect for arrogant bastards like me!! Major thumbs up!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 05:02:07 | More by Luigi

Shiredave

New York

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Damn this stuff is good! For a hop head like myself, this beer approaches perfection.
Slightly hazy, deep ruby color with slow, lazy trickles of carbonation. Frothy, pale tan head that left thick, clumpy lace at the top of the glass. Strong aromas of citrusy hop and fresh wort sweetness and ....more stuff. Initial flavors of juicy plums and cherries with maple and brown sugary grain that quickly blends easily with intense hop flavors of fresh oranges and ground pepper. This beer is aggressivly and arrogantly hopped yet still achieves just amazing balance. The strong, bitter finish is softened by left over roasty sweetness that makes you suck at the roof of your mouth to suckle every drop. I can honestly say I enjoyed this bottled version just as much ( tho, side by side taste test would be cool) the draft I sampled at the now infamous Blind Tiger 12, 12 @ 12 NYC Stone event. Now... the oak aged Arrogant Bastard.....that was a special thing indeed.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2003 21:33:21 | More by Shiredave

wailingwench

New Mexico

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Foam factor: Poured a beautiful crimson brown with a white billowy head that entertained me untill the last drop. I could stare at a pint of this all night, it's that pretty.

Skunk Factor: Big, bold, and complex. Floral hops with malt undertones gave way to citrus.

Tongueland: Mr. Tongue danced for joy. It is amazing to see a tongue do the Electric Slide. Anyways, the comlexity of this beer was amazing. Started off similar to one of my favorites, Wailing Wench (my namesake!!!). Bold hops overpowered with malt kicking in, and finally hops again. It felt like there was a boxing match in my mouth. Arrogant impressed me as if finished like an Ellicotville Pale Ale, all grapefruit. This fools your pre-frontal cortex into thinking that you are merely drinking grapefruit juice, and thus, can drink as much as you want.

I feel like a crack addict. I know that Arrogant is on tap not even 2 miles from my house. Arrogant is so good that I had to hide my wallet and car keys in order to avoid a bender. I have thought about walking, and would have been down at the bar drinking, instead of writing a review, except for the alligator filled moat that I built to keep my butt at my house, and not down at the bar.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2004 19:43:53 | More by wailingwench

kmcnair

California

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Sampled on tap at my house, from the kegerator. Booyah.

Bastard pours a rich redish brown color and makes a thick offwhite head. Head retention is great and laces the glass nicely all the way down. Smell is rich and inviting. Heavily roasted and malty aromatics fill my nose. Flavor opens up bitter and spicy, and then the rich and roasted character appears again with a nice layering of hop flavor and finishes with a malty sweetness. This beer is so unique, the flavor profile is really unlike any other beer I have ever tried. Mouthfeel is medium to full and leaves a slight sticky coating on the throat, warming as it goes down. Arrogant Bastard is incredibly tasty, drinkable and in my opinion a nice session beer... cause frankly you can't drink much else after the havok this wreaks on your pallate.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2004 05:42:34 | More by kmcnair

Jacobob10

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Great appearance. Pours out a ruby color with a light tan head. A slight amount of lacing left on the glass, but great head retention. The aroma was full of caramel and molasses combined with citrus hops. Reminded me mostly of grapefruit. This is a full bodied beer with a creamy/chewy texture. Lively carbonation with a light alcoholic finish. Very heavy on the palate, but it coats your mouth very well. I would definitely want to try some more of these. But be careful, this beer will leave you a little tipsy!

Overall, a superb domestic brew with a lot of complexity. A must try!

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2004 01:44:46 | More by Jacobob10

Morningstar

Washington

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I really love this beer. The first time I tasted it, I knew I would enjoy this ale for many years to come. I really like crisp taste it has. Definitely a beer to enjoy after a long day. It goes well with chicken and buffalo wings. It's well worth the search for a store that carries it.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2005 03:16:53 | More by Morningstar

SwillinBrew

California

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of my favorite brews so i thought i'd finally review it. Had on tap at Heroes in Fullerton.

A - a beautiful rich mohogany copper with a solid finger of bone white head. Nice lace down my glass. Color is really fantastic.
S - Mmmm, you will salivate. A wall of crisp grapefruit hit your nose then leans over towards a sweeter malt on the end... but the grapefruit is still present.
T - More grapefruit and you definitely know the hops are still here. Citrus grapefruit invade your tonge leading towards a milder sweet plum or dark fruit flavor. A great taste for damn sure.
M&Dr - Mouthfeel is solid with perfect carbonation that is ever present like scrubbing bubbles, not harsh but smooth if you can believe. I can drink this until i fall like a fresh cut tree. Way to go Stone.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2005 00:53:28 | More by SwillinBrew

danielocean03

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz. bomber with a nicely written label. Pours a rich dark cherry color that is amber at the edges. Thin off white head falls quickly to light lacing that sticks to the glass as I drink. Aroma is sweet and malty with some floral and citrus hoppy notes present as well. Smells of caramel/molasses and slight hints of alcohol sting the nose appropriately. Tastes rich and hoppy, nice malting holds it all together, very well balanced with a bit of a bite present in the tail from the 7.2% abv. Mouthfeel is exceptionally smooth and slick, goes down great with a perfectly matched level of carbonation making this brew very drinkable. Would definitely seek out again, very well done beer, I love it.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2006 01:05:48 | More by danielocean03

TheLiterati

California

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I’ve enjoyed this ale on several occasions and thought it was high time that I actually review this brew.

Pours an absolutely lovely mahogany with golden highlights, with a rich, tan, two finger high head that dissipates slowly and hangs around in a slightly diminished state for the entire time this brew sits in the glass.

Smells overwhelmingly of grapefruit, with some amazingly scorched, woodsy undertones. Taken individually, none of these aromas would be particularly pleasant, but they work quite well in concert in my glass!

Tastes of big, bad hops with all the characteristics of the aroma translated to the flavor. This is a beer that tells you what it’s made of right up front, and dares to deliver. If you’re a hophead, you will not be disappointed.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth and velvety, with just the right amount of effervescence to tickle the palate and leave you absolutely begging for more.

Arrogant indeed!

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2006 04:36:22 | More by TheLiterati

orcasteve

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

mega malty, then hops take your toung on a wild ride, all beers should strive to be this one, this is world class, this is great beer, and a great bottle, any bottle that talkes crap about "fizzy yellow" piss beer is ok in my book, and this delevers the tast to back up the crap the bottle talks. GREAT, GREAT, GREAT BEER!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2008 13:18:16 | More by orcasteve

gmuller

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Off-red copper, almost soil colored.

Smells hoppy, green, earthy.

Tastes exceptional, medium bodied, perfectly balanced hop to malt flavor. mouthfeel not too think, not as thin as some of the other Stone brews.

Very drinkable beer as long as you can handle the alcohol content all night long

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 23:50:45 | More by gmuller

tlinner

New York

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the best. Like any truly exceptional IPA, Arrogant Bastard uses it's hops as a keystone, not a monument. The bitter flavor is bold, but there's also citrus, malt and some spiciness. This is the IPA upon which I judge all others. Plus, the diatribe on the back label is absolutely hilarious.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 00:59:24 | More by tlinner

rootbeerman

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into Duvel glass

A: pours dark brown with a finger thick dark off white head, laces on glass very well.
S: dark cookie like malts, citrus hops.
T: smell and taste go together with this beer. the sweet malt balances well with the bitter grapefruit of the hops.
M: thick but not syrupy. medium carbonation
D: ive had this beer both on tap and in bottle, i think it drinks better from a tap, but is ok from a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 08:04:51 | More by rootbeerman

SkitzIrish3

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Dark woody brown with a modest creamy head.

Caramel and toasted malts, floral and fruity hop aromas. Fantastic, I was just smelling it for a while.

Sweet, caramel and toasty malts give way to aggressive hop bitterness, not something to underestimate. A bit grainy and dry with the finish. Medium mouthfeel, and a little sticky.

Arrogance is bliss…heavy malt and hop flavors along with a decent ABV makes for a solid brew, personally leaving little to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 00:31:57 | More by SkitzIrish3

bluesfan1181

Missouri

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation - A 22oz bomber into a snifter glass.

A - Pours a nice amber/dark red color with a 2 finger off white head.

S - Smells strong of hops, spiciness, and alcohol. Citrus notes also come through all the hop power.

T - The front has a strong, bitter, citrus hoppiness that tickles the senses and warms the soul. The back is caramel malt flavors with a nice alcohol finish.

M - Full bodied with mild carbonation. Your mouth will explode from the powerful hop flavor.

Overall this is a really good beer. Great hop character and a great name. It fits me very well. (nose in the air)

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 18:16:01 | More by bluesfan1181