Arrogant Bastard Ale - Bourbon Barrel
(has 5 batches)
Arrogant Consortia in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Brewed at/by: Stone BrewingStrong Ale - American Rotating
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Score
7.34
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Ale Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels
I awake from a slumber that’s been anything but peaceful. I don’t take kindly to idling and I am anything but neutral. Life has nothing to do with killing time, and the knowledge that months have passed since the onset of my sequestering in this pitch-black oaken tomb (albeit a barrel flush with brilliant aromas of vanilla and char) does not sit well. But then comes a tingle followed by rejuvenating warmth, signs that something is different…something has changed…and for the better.
I feel stronger yet somehow more nimble and refined. I feel even more self-assured, and my vision for what is good and right, honest and true, is as laser-sharp as the brawny, bawdy, liquid Arrogance that shall further advance my battle against all things mediocre and geared toward the lowest common denominator. I have been born anew and, in the process, anointed with vibrant, inspiring, previously unexperienced character, all while maintaining everything I am and have always been—bold, bullish, unadulterated, and yes, Arrogant.
Are you Worthy of quaffing a beverage of this intensity, irreverence and quality craftsmanship? Not likely, but for those who “get it,” I know my time in this bourbon barrel has not been wasted. Cheers to you, enlightened imbiber. On second thought, cheers to me!
I awake from a slumber that’s been anything but peaceful. I don’t take kindly to idling and I am anything but neutral. Life has nothing to do with killing time, and the knowledge that months have passed since the onset of my sequestering in this pitch-black oaken tomb (albeit a barrel flush with brilliant aromas of vanilla and char) does not sit well. But then comes a tingle followed by rejuvenating warmth, signs that something is different…something has changed…and for the better.
I feel stronger yet somehow more nimble and refined. I feel even more self-assured, and my vision for what is good and right, honest and true, is as laser-sharp as the brawny, bawdy, liquid Arrogance that shall further advance my battle against all things mediocre and geared toward the lowest common denominator. I have been born anew and, in the process, anointed with vibrant, inspiring, previously unexperienced character, all while maintaining everything I am and have always been—bold, bullish, unadulterated, and yes, Arrogant.
Are you Worthy of quaffing a beverage of this intensity, irreverence and quality craftsmanship? Not likely, but for those who “get it,” I know my time in this bourbon barrel has not been wasted. Cheers to you, enlightened imbiber. On second thought, cheers to me!
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7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8
Sampled from the tap at El Bait Shop. Pours a clear dark amber brown with a tan head that lasts throughout the beer. Aroma has bread, pine and sweet grain notes with a bit of bourbon and oak supporting. Flavor has more bitter pine with grains and caramel as well as a bit of bourbon/oak underlying.
Tried
from Draft
on 15 Nov 2015
at 19:16
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle. A- Bourbon, pine, citrus, oak, boozy. A- Copper red color, clear liquid, off white head. T- Oak, bourbon, pine, citrus, bitter, boozy. P- Full body, average texture, average carbonation, aggressive finish. O- Let me start off by saying I hated the regular Arrogant Bastard. It was just too much. Granted I did have it early on in my craft beer days. This was phenomenal though. Very aggressive but the bourbon aging added a new dimension that managed to make this beer strong and big yet smoothed it out enough to really be able to enjoy it. A lot of complexities going on in here.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Nov 2015
at 11:01
8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 9
From a 355ml bottle on 31/10/2015 (shared by Butz with thanks). Pours a very dark amber with a medium head. The aroma features light caramel malt with a touch of bourbon. The flavour is huge by comparison.There’s heaps of sweet caramel and toffee, the bourbon flavour is quite pronounced, and the bitterness is huge, resiny, sticky and lingering. Medium bodied with modest carbonation. I don’t tend to fall in love these barrel aged brews but this is a ripper. Full of class and character, it comes across as bigger than 7.9%.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Oct 2015
at 00:19
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 10
Thanks! caeser. 355 ml. bottle sampled @ ZZT XIII. Near clear copper, some tanned bubbles. Nose is surprisingly big on the hop, raw pine resin, herbal, lightly vegetable pine resin, good amount of bourbon, surprisingly nice balance. Taste is very hop forward, herbal, bitter, raw pine resin, strongly bitter, also big syrupy caramel malts, finish is mellow complimentary vanilla, oak & light bourbon. Chewy, malty, very dry. Much nicer than the regular. More balance, evened out & the barrel works surprisingly well, complimentary, good balance.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Oct 2015
at 14:33
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Caramel colour, white head. Aroma of bourbon, caramel and vanilla. Sweet flavour, vanilla, caramel and brown sugar. Sweet finish, malts and bourbon.
(from 35cL bottle @ ZZT XII, ’Getting Joes’d to it’ Oirschot. Thanks for sharing, caesar!)
(from 35cL bottle @ ZZT XII, ’Getting Joes’d to it’ Oirschot. Thanks for sharing, caesar!)
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Oct 2015
at 09:49
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle @ ZZT, small sample. Clear copper color, short frothy head. Aroma of biscuity malt, cookie, slight bourbon and vanilla, bit grassy hop. Soft bitter taste, cookie and biscuity sweetness. Base beer is a bit too bland to carry the bourbon. Ok stuff though.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Oct 2015
at 03:19