Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

AmitC

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow a 5.99buck 22 oz bomber. I have high expectations because of Stone name and its price.

Pours with a very little head. Less than a finger thick. Ruby amber color. On the darker side of strong ales. Not a lot of reddish hue. But still something a lot discernible. Leaves some lacing on the glass, not absolutely mesmerizing but yes it is decent. Clear and transparent. A good amount of bubbles rising from everywhere.

Smell is a lot complex. Initial impressions of mildly roasted malt, more sweetness and caramel. Some mix of hops, that is at times resinous/piney and at times little citrus. But you have to really search for it. You have to sniff it out. Nose creates an anticipation of a much sweeter ale.

Than it actually is. Gets into my palate with a lot more bitterness than what nose gives. Nowhere near that of an IPA but still a good amount of burning sensation when it passes through the throat. That is something i appreciate here. Sweetness is there, in abundance, however it just makes the aftertaste of bitter hops go away. Nothing more. Otherwise, it is very strong on the alpha hops, for a strong ale.

Feels a lot oily when pouring. However, it is not that much oily. Resinous effect is certainly there. Body is a lot fuller and makes a punch along with bitterness. Medium carbonation helps a lot. Drink-ability is medium. A bomber is enough for a session.

Excellent brew. Reminds you of red and strong ales until it goes in. And once it enters the mouth, it gives more of a mild IPA feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 23:35:52 | More by AmitC

Toddzillamz

3.6/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Strip off your clothes, wrap yourself in an american flag, and listen to me you beer swillin' fools. Let me take you back to a time when this great country of ours was feared. When we kicked ass and took names. When we shot first and asked questions later. We created something great and nobody could take that away from us. No brits, no commies, no nobody. Well, it's been re-created in liquid form. It's legal, it's readily available, and it's bangin' good! It's called Arrogant Bastard. This brew should be sitting on every table in the good 'ol U.S. of A., and should be the beer of choice for any redblooded American from the east, west, north or south. Stone Cold Steve Austin should be entering the ring with a bottle of Arrogant Bastard in his hand, a good buzz on, and smash the bottle right over the face of his opponent. We need more scars. He should then shank the ref, and then drop the Stone Cold Stunner to the ghost of Randy Savage as he misses his mark from the top turnbuckle.

Do your duty to god and your country. Fight hard. Stay strong. Be true. Be just. But always be a bastard.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 00:43:31 | More by Toddzillamz

boxvic

Kentucky

2.35/5  rDev -44%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

I like a few ales, so I went into this expecting to like it (or at least tolerate it). It has a nice dark caramel color; and has a good hoppy smell. It poured with a creamy head. From there it went south for me. I don't want to totally dog the beer like most people do with the macro beers (which aren't all that bad); but I just cannot rate the taste for this very highly.

I'm sure most people will disagree with me, but I had to pour out most of this pint. The head hadn't even dissipated before my stomach started to hurt. I'm not sure if my stomach just didn't like one of the ingredients, or if the hops were just too strong for my stomach. All I know is I couldn't finish it.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 23:14:44 | More by boxvic

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

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

A handsome looking beer with it's ruby copper glow, tall beige head and it's gentile carbonation.
On my intial pour the head was quite tall, dense and frothy leaving a good amount of lacing.
The head lingered deep into the glass as well.

Aroma finds a fresh hop bouquet of citrus and resinous pine. Malts are present

A rich and inviting taste. Plenty of sweet malts and hints of hops. Malts are sweet grainy and with a hint of yeast. Hops taste along the line of pine but is quite sutle. Taste leans more towards the malts with hops doing the backing up.

A way to easy beer to drink. I could guzzle it down without batting an eye. Smooth on the palette and no aftertaste. Well hidden alcohol.

A pleasure to drink. I don't know why I waited so long to try it.
Drink it with Love and rockets's American dream. (be patient).

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 12:05:48 | More by micromaniac129

Mavigo

Michigan

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

The description on the bottle is hilarious, love the bashing of the big breweries, referring to the all so popular adjunct beers as "tasteless fizzy yellow beverages".

A: It pours a clear amber-ruby red with a little bit of off white head with not much lacing

S: Smells smoky, hoppy, yeasty, and like barley

T: has a very smokey flavor, extremely hoppy, can also pick up on the yeast and barley is also sweet at the same time, bitter aftertaste

M: Its a very rich, thick beer, very complex, has a warm finish with an intense after taste

O: This is a terrific beer, I really enjoyed it, im not really a fan of over hopping but this was still extremely good, has a nice balance of sweet and bitter.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 15:20:48 | More by Mavigo

gcamparone

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a Samuel Adams pint glass.

A- pours a amber-cherry clear body with a thick, cream colored head with ultra high retention and thick heavy lacing. Beautiful.

S- heavy, sweet malty backbone with pine and citrus hop aroma

T- big hoppy pine, citrus and resin notes upfront, finishes with a warming smoked malt flavor. Good balance.

M- pretty heavy, medium carbonation. Smooth

This is an excellent example of the American strong ale, and borders on an IPA in my opinion. Complex, tasty, and balanced. Must try

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:18:13 | More by gcamparone

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep, slightly hazed, copper. Big hues of red and brown. Head is light khaki, creamy, thick, and rocky. Drops to a small cap and collar. Sheets of sticky lacing.

Smell: Biscuit dough, cooked malts. Caramel malts. Big sweetness. Punches of citrus and some pine resin. Big hops masked by a bigger, chewier malt presence. Some hints of deeper sugars, like toffee. Malts are deeply bready. Grapefruit rind, faintly herbal and spicy. Lots going on, but not in an aggressive way.

Taste: Big push of earthy/herbal hop leaf. Citrus rounds out the hop profile, hitting grapefruit zest more than anything else. Some orange and leafy floral. Caramel, cooked malts. Bread crust and biscuit dough. Huge malts tempered by the hops. Some toasted edges. Pithy bitterness builds with each sip.

Mouthfeel: Moderately full body with a moderate carbonation. Dry on the back of each sip. Smooth.

Overall: This is when you take the training wheels off.

This was one of the first six beers I purchased when I turned 21. I liked it then, I like it now. Stone has always been there for me and I'm glad they helped me on my path. Two-wheels for life!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:01:34 | More by Goblinmunkey7

StoutishDan

Georgia

4.68/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Picked this brew up at Trader Joe's for only $4.50. Elsewhere I had seen it for much more than my wife would prefer me spending.

22 oz bottle poured into one of my Brooklyn Brewery Pint glass.

A - Holy mother of the beer gods, this one is beautiful! Darker than I expected. Deep, rich mahogany color. Decent head, but very sticky lacing. It's leaving nice rings after each sip just how I like it. Looks beautiful!

S - Piney and spicy hops. Very complex. Sweet and spicy maltiness. Carmel-brown sugar smell going on. Can't pend too much time simply sniffing this beer. It begs to be tasted.

T - Bitter hops. So nice, though! Very hoppy Strong Ale. It has all the right qualities you'd expect from Stone. Bold hoppiness up front and through the mid pallet 'experience' followed up with a sweet roasty carmel malt at the end, right before a flood of that sam bitterness - the roastiness sticks around.

O - Has to be one of my new favorite beers. I like the roasty flavors at the finish. My ranking out of 100 is a solid 99. Do they have six packs of this beer? Please! The 22 oz are too small.

I'm not sure if this is the case with other reviewers - and I mean no disrespect by comparing such a phenomenal beer with another brewery, but I found Arrogant Bastard to be a bolder version of New Belgium's Fall Seasonal Red Hoptober. I know I know, "it's nothing like it," I get it, but the bouquet is similar (less hoppy, of course) and the roasted barley is almost right at Hoptober's.

Maybe I'm the only one.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 01:42:39 | More by StoutishDan

ElSid

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#13

Freshness Date: None

A: A finger of off white head tops off this mahogany brown brew. Ample lacing as the head dissipates.

S: Earthy and bready with toffee, caramel, and mocha sweetness. There is an underlying pine tree aroma which comes through the malt sweetness at times but the nose is full of complex sugary sweetness

T: Round malt notes, heralded by the nose, of toffee, brown sugar, caramel and mocha espresso. The sweetness quickly transitions to a leafy, piney bitterness with intertwining citrus zest. Good warming alcohol which is well balanced between the malt and hops.

M: Chewy, smooth, and oily linger all topped off with a moderate amount of zesty carbonation.

O: The Arrogant Bastard of the Stone Brewery line really does everything from sweet, complex malt to aggressive hopping. One of the Stone brews that really showcases both strength and depth of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 03:20:42 | More by ElSid

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

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

Served on tap in a pint glass

It has been to long since my last go at the classic Bastard. This beer is a deep amber color and is extremely hazy. The head is slightly off white and really doesnt stick around too long. The nose is mostly pine, herbal and floral hops. The taste of this beer starts out with a high bitterness and an intense hop profile. There is a ton of grassy, herbal, spicy notes and a lot of pine and some lemon zest. The beer has a ton of mouth feel and helps to deliver the beers flavors. The other flavors of the beer are toffee, caramel and bread yeast. This is a classic go to beer, best fresh in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2012 15:34:03 | More by TwelveOunces

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out a hazy brownish amber with three fingers of sand colored head that lasts for about four minutes and leaves behind some pretty nice lacing patterns on the glass. Medium body and carbonation levels, somewhat crisp texture in the finish.

Smells of piney / citrus hopping combined with toasted / caramel malts in aggressive quantities. Gains a touch of cherry aroma as it warms up. Flavor follows suit, but also has a woody and brash herbal hopping aspect that creeps up on you. It is slightly out of balance in favor of the hops (on purpose) but that's sort of the target they were aiming for. For me, this feels like a nice return to aggressive beers that comforts me whenever I'm in the mood for something 'aggressive yet not completely over the top crazy".

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 18:21:27 | More by WastingFreetime

tectactoe

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

They always have Arrogant Bastard on tap at a pub close to my house. Pours a deep ruby shade of brown with a thin head that leaves tremendous lacing. I've found that many of Stone's brews leave awesome lacing, and this one is certainly no exception. The initial whiff has a floral essence with plenty of hops and flowers, which is quickly followed up by a nice helping of toasted malts and grains. The taste has pronounced bitterness from the hops up front that quickly becomes mellowed out and balanced by a deep, sweet caramel flavor with roasted barley and a hint of earthy and coffee flavors. The bitterness is nearly a whim by the end, but clearly leaves an impression on your tongue, teasing you to drink more. The mouth is somewhat thick, very smooth, and a bit creamy.

This beer contains a solid amount of malt flavor as well as hop flavor and does an incredibly nice job of balancing the two in near perfect harmony - one of the hardest tasks when making beer. This is a beer that I have had many times, and I'm sure many more times to come.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 11:57:21 | More by tectactoe

JamesMN

Minnesota

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

Appearance: Deep mahogany brew with great clarity. Foamy off-white head (almost light sand colored). Lacing seems imminent.

Aroma: Classic Stone grain bill for a hoppy beer. Light caramel malt and some slight sweet notes from the hops. Really not a big aroma here but nothing bad.

Taste: Really great bitterness that never relents. At first it's all you can taste. The hop character is piny and a little earthy but delivers big time on bitterness (probably between 100 and 120 IBUs), which is excellent for a hop head like myself. Once you get past the bruising effect on your palate, the malts come out nicely and give the hops something to stand on. Caramel (almost toffee) malt profiles emerge and do a wonderful job of balancing everything. The finish is smooth and the lingering bitterness on your palate makes sure that you won't soon forget what you just drank.

Mouthfeel: A bit above medium bodied with a good level of carbonation. Surprisingly above average to high drinkability.

Final Thoughts: Stone never disappoints me. The reputation of Arrogant Bastard and their whole line up is well deserved. A great beer that separates the men from the boys (well the macro drinkers from the craft beer consumers at least). Would I drink it again? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 03:04:39 | More by JamesMN

JamesShoemaker

New York

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

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A - this was a great looking beer. Strikingly dark orange, almost brown, with a thick head. I gave myself a generous first pour, but I was really captured by the look.

S - good. Lots of citrus and some hop character. Not too sweet or sour.

T - also good. I tasted quite a bit of woody flavor here, not the sweetness or citrus I thought I would. The alcohol content, although low, played a role, but it wasn't intense by any means.

M - this beer was definitely quaffable. I enjoyed the sharp character the semi-carbonation gave it, but it was also smooth and drinkable.

O - I'm not sure how many more times I'll get this one, but it was certainly a good offering. I'd love to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 21:29:19 | More by JamesShoemaker

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

There is nothing quite like Arrogant Bastard. I love that descriptors for the beer ended with "you probably won't like it." This might be true, though, for the uninitiated. It's quite a bitch slap on your tongue. Strong Ale is the best way to describe it. It's just so strong on your tongue - bitter and complex. I honestly can't pick apart the pieces that make up this beer. The malt and hops work together seemlessly for a balanced taste. I've never tasted sweetness in this beer, though, which some have noted in their reviews. As it warms it is a little smoother, but sweet is an adjective I reserve for the Double Bastard.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2012 17:51:42 | More by TheRealBigC

Melikeydahop

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm a big fan of Stone's IPA...and have been wanting to try this one for a while. Lucky enough to find it on tap at my one of my favorite sports bars. Poured a beautiful light reddish color with maybe a finger or less of white head. I've never had a strong ale before..so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. This beer was delicious...nice deep malt sweetness almost a cherry flavor, balanced by a good kick of hop bitterness on the finish. Nice amount of carbonation, and left an absolutely fantastic lacing on the glass..perhaps the best I've seen.

If a pompous male cherry and female grapefruit got together for a night of intense passion and produced a love child made of beer, and the cherry skipped town the next day, the grapefruit would have named her baby Arrogant.

I'll be looking for this one again. Absolute must try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 15:01:56 | More by Melikeydahop

steveh

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Okay, everyone's had it but me -- time to remedy that. Never heard of an American Strong Ale, guess I'll just have to judge somewhere between an Old Ale and a Barleywine.

A -- Poured into my Rodenbach snifter: Clear, deep cherry reddish with a dense, light tan head.

S -- Estery fruitiness -- peach-like, caramel malts back, no hops. Light peppery alcohol in the finish. Earthiness with warming.

T -- Rich, chewy caramel maltiness up front that blends into a very spicy, resinous hop flavor. Dried fruit characters in between; not quite vinous -- very smooth. Some cardboard-like oxidation at the finish along with toasted bread characters. Aftertaste is a mellow balance of the toastiness and spicy, resinous -- almost vegetal hops. Some leathery, woody characters with warming.

M -- Mouthfeel is surprisingly crisp and rather spritzy with a medium to light-heavy body.

O -- A decent strong ale. More akin to an Old Ale than anything, but drier than I look for. I wish it had a touch more sweetness to its fruit esters and caramel flavors. It just seems to be a little off-balance somehow.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 21:16:34 | More by steveh

davey101

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoy by: 09-03-12. Uh oh, its a week past that. 97 days old!

A - Dark brown almost red body with a frothy one finger light tan head. Decent lacing and retention.

S - Piney and citrusy hops with a large sweetened caramel malt backbone. Basic but inviting.

T - Again, a nice balance of citrus and pine hops with a dominant bready caramel malt backbone. Great balance of flavors and quite drinkable. Mouth feel is medium bodied, almost creamy, with great carbonation.

O - Not groundbreaking. All the marketing (You're not worthy!) aside, its somewhat of a staple to the craft beer world. Kind of a stepping stone past SNPA and Boston Lager. Its a damn tasty hopped up beer with a great malt backbone and it doesn't have to be super fresh to be enjoyed either. I've always been a fan of this beer and will continue to pick up a bomber from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 03:13:58 | More by davey101

DannyHartman

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had this beer quite a few times.... Mostly, because I like it so much.... As I pour a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass, it develops an average inch head.... The appearance is beautiful of that of a dark cherry color.... The smell also has hints of cherry with woodsy notes, as well.... The taste of the beer also has woodsy and cherry notes.... I especialy love the lingering aftertaste and feeling this beer leaves on the palate.... Overall, I love this beer.... I'd recommend it to everyone.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 23:34:42 | More by DannyHartman

RussBecker1

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 22oz. bomber into a pint glass.

A-Pours a deep cherry red with nice mahogany layers and a one finger head that stays seemingly throughout the entire pint.

S-A bit lack luster for both stone and especially one aptly named "arrogant bastard". You can smell the cherry and earthly oak elements, but the strong is not as intoxicating as I may have liked. That being said I have had bastard previously to writing a review, so knowing the nose did not live up to the massive taste may leave me a bit biased.

M-Perfection. This is ideally how a beer should feel. Thick enough to coat the palate and fill your mouth, but still surprisingly carbonated, making it much crisper and more refreshing than I would have expected. The feel cuts the huge taste just enough to make the beer slightly smoother than it would have been, which proves to make all the difference.

T-Huge astounding flavors that do not quit long after you have swallowed the sip. A harsh woodsy flavor is immediately introduced, that is cut by the sweetness of the cherry and citrus. All in all the beer certainly lives up to its name while still maintaining a good and unique flavor.

O-One of the best named beers in the world lives up to its hype time and time again

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 13:33:08 | More by RussBecker1

bourbonbock

New York

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

Poured from a 22 oz bomber bottle into a clean chalice style glass and this is what I got:

A. This beer pours wonderfully with a nice bright ruby colored body with an off white foamy head that sticks around for several minutes and reduces to a cap.

S. The aroma on this is very nice. It leads with a strong citrusy hop with piney notes and a very brilliant malt body. I can smell a slight yeast undertones and a slight bit of caramel.

T. Very intricate flavor profile that starts with a nice malt lead then comes on with a saltiness and finishes with a pleasant tang at the end that makes me want to sip again.

M. Very clean with the perfect amout of carbonation, can't get much better than this.

O. Very good beer that I don't sample nearly enough. Pick it up, you will not regret it.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 00:08:44 | More by bourbonbock

JosephBaranski

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

I had Arrogant Bastard about 2 years ago for the first time. The thing that originally caught my eye was the name. Ever since the first time I had the Arrogant Bastard my nickname became the Arrogant Bastard, Everywhere my friends and I may go if there is Arrogant Bastard available it is the beer I will purchase.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 14:50:20 | More by JosephBaranski

ILoveBeerMe

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

"You can not be serious man, a tie?!"
Robert the Bruce Vs John McEnroe. Luscious, sweet maltiness against brash, Cascadian shouts. This beer is the one that invites non-believers over towards the light. Full malteser mouthfeel with concurrent bitter hungriness.
The Jesus of Beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 14:32:21 | More by ILoveBeerMe

Patrick2012

California

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

Served in 16 oz tulip glass

A: Super dark cherry red color, dark blonde head

S: Not too much aroma but is warm smelling

T: Dark, round, Roasty, bitter taste, a little espresso or sumthin toasty like that. Simple but very tasty.

M: Bitter definitely but is a good aftertaste.

O: Kind of a classic ale the way it smells and tastes but the appearance blew me away the most, great cherry red color. seen this one a lot and finally tried it and liked it very much

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 04:01:41 | More by Patrick2012

Rons35

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a mans beer! Full of flavor and hops. If bud light is your go to beer, this is not one for you. My hat is off to Stone Brewing Co for the great label on the 22oz bottle.

This beer pours a very reddish color, with a one finger creamy head that turns to frothy, bubbly streaks down the glass.

The smell? Hops, hops, and more hops!. Overall a good smell. Very earthy, and very pleasing if you're a big beer lover.

This beer has a very aggressive taste. As I said, this is a mans beer. Very hoppy and full of flavor. A nice mix of fruits, spice, and outdoorsy flavor. This would make a great tailgate beer in this fall. Try this beer ad you won't be dissapointed. Another hit from Stone

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 00:57:58 | More by Rons35