Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

Moose90

Colorado

4.11/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoy By: 03.04.13
22oz bomber into tulip

A – Dark translucent brown with copper hues. Head doesn't last long but lacing left behind is solid.

S – Sweet malts and quite hop forward. Dried dark fruits, raisins, plums.

T – Coffee, bitter chocolates and dark roasted malts. Quite dry and floral hops come through on the finish.

M – Quite smooth and crisp, dry and no cloying sweetness.

O – No idea what to expect. Lots of coffee and bitter chocolate, as well as nice dry floral hops. Nice, truly unique beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 07:24:10 | More by Moose90

kshizzle101

Washington

4.68/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from 22oz bomber into pint glass

A - dark reddish with a thick 3 inch head. thick lacing as it's drunk down

S - smells of booze, pine, caramel, with a deep malt background

T - pine hops come through strong, carmely and malty background with a strong after taste of booze. there is something sweet going on here too but i can't quite place my fingers on it - possibly dark fruits like cherry or plum

M - exactly how it should be. sticky, but very drinkable - even at 22oz at a time!

Overall - One of my favorites - I'll never get sick of this beer. Not quite perfect, but about as close as you can get.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 02:31:47 | More by kshizzle101

seagullbeer

California

4.51/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

i doubt i have the taste or sophistication to appreciate but...

A- beautiful dark amber, only slightly cloudy, nice lasting head out of bottle

S- malt balls

T- Rich strong and malty. i dont like beers that are to heavy on the malt flavor but this is really interesting and not too sweet

M- Perfect, nice carbonation and sticks around just long enough

this beer is a jerk.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 02:08:20 | More by seagullbeer

Ilafan

Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

As my beer palate has diversified, my attitude toward this abundant beer has changed. I used to recoil at its hoppiness. Now, for some reason, I love it.

Pour: Average coloring, head, lattice
Smell: Lovely! I can smell a strong, bitter grapefruit
Taste: very hoppy with a slightly pleasant tartness at the end
Mouthful: just right/balanced

Very nice beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 23:48:38 | More by Ilafan

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass, deep red brown amber with a thick tan head that lingers leaving good lacing, clear

S: heavy on caramel malt, citrus hopa, orange, lemon, honey

T: dry grapefruit hops up front, heavy sweetness of honey, fig, bitter finish

M: full bodied with good carbonation

O: solid ale that is balanced with sweet and bitter flavors

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 23:36:22 | More by M_C_Hampton

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.26/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A finger of head on a dark straw colored body.
The aroma is fairly malty/grainy with a big dose of lemon.
The taste is bold and strong. An excellent malt bill with a healthy lemon bitterness. The balance is great.
The texture is smooth and soft with moderate carbonation.
The balance on this beer allows it to be big and bold, yet still quite drinkable. An amazing ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 06:54:48 | More by Fatehunter

Bosoxfan20

Missouri

4.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured 22oz bomber bottle into Spiegelau IPA glass. Pours a crisp, deep amber with a perfect 2-2.5 finger thick cream colored head. Super thick. Fantastic lacing. Just a beautiful looking beer.

S- Robust aroma. Floral hops with some pine notes. Touch of sweetness.

T- Oh my. Fantastic balance. Taste truly follows nose. Hop forward with citrus notes. Crisp. Sweet malt base that is very complex. A number of waves of flavor rolling through here. Warm finish with a touch of alcohol, but not overpowering the terrific flavor. Dryness and bitterness lingers, but in a good way. So smooth!

M- Mid to full body. Nice and creamy. Silky smooth and velvety as it covers your mouth. Perfect carbonation

O- Simply one of my favorites. Love the complexity and feel of this beer. In this case, arrogance, not ignorance, is bliss.

22oz bomber for $5.99

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 22:09:44 | More by Bosoxfan20

inglebk

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into pint glass
1 1/2 inch head. Deep clear amber with lingering creamy head. Lacing that just won't go away. Pretty sexy.

Smells of citrusy hops and grapefruit. Sweet and bready malts. Really nice and complex aroma.

Hops hit the tongue at first, followed by the perfect balance of malty sweetness. I could definitely make a habit of drinking this stuff.

One of the most balanced beers I've tried. Mouthfeel is thick and lingering. Citrus hops stay on the tongue with a bread/biscuit aftertaste.
Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 06:01:15 | More by inglebk

Premo88

Texas

4.81/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

1 pint, 6 oz. bottle poured into pub glass

L: 3/4- 1-inch head really holds on, perfect tan head to offset murky dark caramel red. lacing is intense, especially for a head that doesn't start off as gargantuan. this beer is the definition of OPAQUE ... can't see through it; can't even see the carbonation inside it as it rises (but it's there).

S: flowers, sweet, citrusy ... and i think i smell malt, but i'm not good enough with the nose to say what I'm smelling -- i just know it's f-ing awesome. glade or febreeze should can this smell and sell it.

T: so damn bitter it makes me weepy ... goddamn is this beer good; like an English pale ale but with a very distinctive something different (grain, grass, ?what?) that is sharp the first time you drink one. but i'm drinking a second one right now, and all i taste is damn good ale. sharp bitter up front, smoother malt on the back end with everything hitting you all at once.

F: a perfect beer here. great carbonation, drinks light enough to trick you into thinking you could slam a 6-pack (and more!!!) of this. hell, i don't even know what "feel" means other than i want this in my mouth.

O: i've been stingy with my numbers so far, but damn is this about as good as it gets. it's placed in the American strong ale category, but if you handed this to me and told me it's a bitter, English pale ale or English IPA, I wouldn't be able to call you a liar (might say more about me than the beer).

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale has long been my favorite ale. Arrogant Bastard may have surpassed it ... can't say that just yet, but I can say as long as Stone BC keeps making this, I'll keep buying and drinking. Bravo!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:17:42 | More by Premo88

Joshpu

California

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into a duvel glass.

A: Poured a transparent amber color. Two finger tan creamy head. Quite a bit of carbonation.

S: Smells like a citrus hop smell. Im also getting the sweet caramel malt notes. Also has the spicy smell to it.

T: Definitely getting the hop presence, malty caramel, earthy spice.

M: Medium bodied. The hops linger for a while, more of a slow sipper for me. Feels like alot of carbonation on the mouth.

Overall its a great beer. Unfortunately this bottle wasn't as good as I remember it, although I just noticed that the enjoy by date is only 3 days away, so I should probably get a more fresh bottle to review, which I will eventually do. Reminds me of an amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 08:01:27 | More by Joshpu

fireman10

4.63/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

i am not the biggest ale fan...until now. this ale is a wonderful blend of hoppy, bitter, and full body greatness...with a slight trace of an exotic spice from some small tribal community in southern Iran that i've never heard of. At first the inexperienced drinker may find this beer a bit vulgar, cocky and downright mean...but as the offensive posturing of this beer starts to mellow down and slides smoothly down your throat, you will find yourself begging for yet another fake beating. by the fourth gulp, you will be writing love notes.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 02:36:58 | More by fireman10

TheCondor

Missouri

4.46/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

In my continuing quest to imbibe all the Beers of Fame, I consumed some Arrogant Bastard Ale. THe last Stone product I drank was Ruination, which was way too much for me. It kind of soured me on Stone products for a while. Side poured with vigor from the bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance- Pours a beautiful clear brown color with a big, fluffy, rock to finger head that disspiates very slowly, still retaining much of the head down to the last drop. Excellent lacing as well, leaves tons of residue all down the glass. Fabulous presentation

Smell - Smells so unique, especially given its appearance. Breads, toasty malts, and aggressive hop characteristics such as pine, citrus, and grapefruit collide in the nose of this brew. So unique, I hardly know how to charaterize this brew!

Taste - Outstanding, one of the best tasting beers I have had for a while. Strong hop notes up front such as citrus and pine give way to the malty, bready backbone. As the brew warms, there is a bit of dried fruit flavor as well.

Mouthfeel - Finishes crisp and bitter, like an IPA. Letting this beer warm only makes it more refreshing and drinkable. This is truly an exceptional brew.

Overall - One of the the best beers I have ever had, and I've drank quite a bit of beer in my day. Warm or cold, this beer is outstanding. I was taken aback by the beer that poured like a brown or amber ale, smelled like an IPA, and tasted like, well, nothing I've ever really had. It is a true conglomeration of styles. A hybrid of styles, done absolutely correctly. If you haven't had this brew, you need to get it.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 01:30:55 | More by TheCondor

MCain04

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

poured out of a 22 oz bomber into a spiegelau large snifter. 6 weeks fresh.

a: deep amber and clear, dark cream head of 2 fingers with awesome retention and lacing. pretty beer.

s: might just be my stuffy nose but it's not too aromatic. I get some nice piney and floral notes with some malt and a little caramel but it's not strong

t: arrogant hop bitterness overwhelms the palate. a touch of sweetness from the malt body. just very very bitter... very bitter.

m: smooth, a tad dry, a little over carbonated, crisp.

o: frequently enjoyed given availability. it ruins the palate a bit but when I'm in the mood for a bitter bomb this is an old standby.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 07:35:07 | More by MCain04

djjacobsen

4.14/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is a fun one. AB introduced me to the craft beer world. I knew little about it all. The color is a gorgeous amber brown. the smell is of nothing but earthy hops and booze. The taste follows the nose...super bitter upon a canvas of earthy notes that are centered in this American Strong ale. It is a decent jump-off point and is always fun to revisit but the Arrogant Bastard is nothing more than a well-labeled, over-marketed beer beast. I guess I'm not worthy

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 23:06:32 | More by djjacobsen

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I have to say it was the bottling that lead to the purchase of this beer, as well as being curious to seeif I had what it takes to enjoy a beer such as this. Well I do! Fantastic brew from a fantastic brewery.

A: pours a rich rust/amber color with a thick head that lasted for a minute or two with substantial lacing.

S: initial aroma after opening and pouring were notes of toast, caramel and butter scotch and aggressive hops/pine. After it has sat and opened up, nuances of dried fruit like mango, prune and apricot are noticed.

T: explodes with flavor! They weren't lying when they said this is an aggressive beer. It's been about 5 minutes since I took a sip and I can still taste the hops. But at the same time, it doesn't scare me away with the hops and bitterness and dry finish. It makes me want to drink more. Very dark chocolate is there after sitting for a few minutes, as well as burnt sugar adding to the dry, bitter flavors.

M: rich flavor and very dry and long finish.

O: thank god that the store I bought this at has a couple other Stone beers. This was definitely a 'trial by fire' beer and I believe I passed the test. A great purchase.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 23:44:35 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

ChapaTX

Texas

4.64/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Excellent beer! You have to have a taste for a stronger tasting beer to enjoy this one. Poured a darker brown color. Taste is hoppy, barley like. Not bad at all and will get again. I personally like a hoppy taste. I would say that it is just under the taste of an IPA. It also had about an index finger width worth of head on it that was tannish in color.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 12:53:00 | More by ChapaTX

Svendozen

New Hampshire

4.58/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a tulip, which I still have yet to get used to. I'll tell you, if it didn't have beer in it I would probably crawl under a table if anyone saw me drinking from a stemmed glass.

Pours a big fat, two fingered head that hangs around like your wife's annoying friend...only...in a good way. You could almost serve this head in a dish with an ice-cream scoop.

Smells like a grapefruit fruit and a pine cone had an illegitamate love child in the form of a good beer. Kind of reminds me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in the aroma department.

The taste was a big shock to me as it wasn't nearly as hoppy and bitter as it smelled. It does have the grapefruit hoppy taste of a pale ale, but it's not overpowering which is what I was afraid of. Honestly I'm a stout man, and I bought and drank this as a promise to a friend. I am truly glad that I did. This is a fantastic beer...and I will definately be buying more of it.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 07:00:59 | More by Svendozen

Kelpius

4.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of my favorite bottled beers. Considering some of its qualifying competitors come from the same company, you can't go too wrong with any Stone beer. Delightful mouth feel, superb flavor and tremendous overall quality. A bit pricey, but worth the splurge. Try it. It might become your favorite beer. If you like something a bit hoppier, try the IPAs from Stone. Seriously, a brewery we can only hope is around to stay.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 05:35:37 | More by Kelpius

barnzy78

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoy by 2/28/13
Pours brown with some reddish hues when held to a light, great frothy beige head holds good retention & leaves excellent lacing all over the glass as the head dissipates. Nose is fresh piny hops, grapefruit, sweet caramel malt, bready, pungent. Tastes are definitely bold with pungent, piny, grapefruity hops, bitter up-front, sweetness comes through as bready malt and heavy caramel, almost burnt. Slight earthiness, but the pine rides out the finish and lingers. Medium body, creamy, nice carbonation. Overall, always a favorite of mine & nice to come back to after waiting too long to pick one up!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 04:35:44 | More by barnzy78

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

The beer is very dark amber in colour. Good-sized off-white head. Good lacing.

Nose contains sweet bready malt and citrus -grapefruit sticks out. A bit of a toasted aroma.

Nice mix of sweet and toasty caramel malt and bitter, citrus hops. Grapefruit. Overall a fairly bitter beer, but the malt does provide balance. Strong flavour.

Full bodied, moderate to high carbonation level. Oily.

Overall, good. Pretty aggressive flavour, quite bold.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 15:08:15 | More by jrenihan

obrike

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I've had this many times but have never reviewed it. Mother in law brought it over as a gift.

Not sure why I had to wait so long to drink again...this one is a winner. Absolutely fantastic looking beer in my New Belgium goblet. A light brown/reddish color, lacing is sticky as hell...all over the glass.

Wonderful burnt caramel malt scent right off the bat, followed by citrus hops. A sweet syrupy scent mixed in with the hops perfectly.

Taste follows...an initial blast of roasted caramel malt followed by bitter hops. Drinks like a black IPA. So good. Not too boozy but enough of a kick to put you in a good mood. Crisp finish, medium carbonation. The backend of the sweet malt finishes this one off nicely. This is a well made beer...and many are certainly not worthy enough to enjoy it to the fullest.

Stone delivers yet again!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:01:11 | More by obrike

abeerwiseguy

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was my first taste of this fine ale from Stone Brewery.

First poured hard into a pint bar glass from 22 oz bottle, this brew was a dark mahogany brown in color and produced 3 fingers of a dense light brownish head that lasted more than a few sips leaving thick lacing on the glass. ABV on the bottle at 7.2%.

After warming a bit the aroma was dominated by both the malts and hops which from my experience was unusual as normally it is either one or the other. Some caramel and coffee hints were also noticeable.

The flavor profile was hop dominated and spicy along with a somewhat sweet wealth of caramel and toasted malts. It possesses a lengthy finish with tones of malty sweetness, caramel, and roasted coffee beans as well as palate cleansing hop bitterness. It is very well balanced, complex and a treat for the tongue.

With good body and light carbonation, and the hop spiciness perfectly balanced by the malty sweetness, the mouth feel is well above my average for strong ales I have tried.

Overall what can I say. Perhaps that perspective is a good thing. As one who “came of age” in the 50’s/60’s, and eagerly sampled the readily available US beers of that period, this beer makes me very happy. Those who have “come of age” since the 1980’s cannot fully appreciate the dramatic difference between the readily available beers I naively quaffed in my 20’s and 30’s and what is available today. And breweries like Stone are the leaders in providing such a drastic difference between then and now. They are paving the future of beer by expanding the envelope beyond what we so eagerly enjoy today.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 16:29:09 | More by abeerwiseguy

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

One of the beers that got me into craft beers, only now getting around to reviewing it. Bomber to snifter, best by 1/20/13

Pours a dark brown ruby with a finger of caramel tinged foam. Moderate carbonation with good lacing and retention. Aroma of hops, caramel, some citrus, toffee, a bit of alcohol and some sugar with a good sweet malty back. Taste of spicy hop, caramel malts, and some butterscotch. Sweet malts come through with a strong finish tying the beer together. Mouth is full bodied, good carbonation with a nice sticky finish. Overall a great beer worthy of the hype and arrogance

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 08:40:07 | More by lordofstarside

arfenhouse

California

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Very big head and very good lacing. Dark amber with off-white lacing.

S: Smells like an IPA hiding behind a brown ale. Brown sugar and grapefruit.

T: Really follows the smell. Good brown ale characteristics. Caramel, brown sugar, toasted grain/bread,, skunkiness. Very hop forward flavor that resembles their IPA. Grapefruit all the way.

M:Feels thick with medium carbonation. Dry.

O:Very well balanced beer. Sweet and hoppy brew. Flavor text is hilarious and a good read.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 09:10:53 | More by arfenhouse

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22oz bottle into pint glass , deep dark colors , 2 finger off white head with nice lacing

Smells like a well balanced ale of hops and malt with some citrusy smells to it, just sweet enough to stop the hops from over powering the beers

Taste is well balanced to me , both the hops and the malt both come out equal to me , very full bodied beer , carbonation is just right , not one flavor really over powers another , a great well balanced ale that I will be purchasing more of

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 16:41:09 | More by ubenumber2