Head to Head: Stone Double Bastard vs. Stone Arrogant Bastard
Welcome to another Head to Head challenge. Today we have two American Strong Ales from America. Both are from the Stone Brewing Company in California. The first is Double Bastard and the second is Arrogant Bastard.
As usual the tasting was done blind.
Price: Winner – Tie
Double – $9.00 (22oz bottle)
Arrogant – $9.00 (22oz bottle)
Appearance: Winner – Tie
Double – The color is reddish orange and the beer has a small off-white head.
Arrogant – Again the color is reddish orange with a small off-white head.
Aroma: Winner – Arrogant
Double – The double has a very sweet aroma. It has bubblegum, molasses and has a hint of citrus.
Arrogant – This beer is a bit less sweet with aromas of grain and pine dominating.
Taste: Winner – Arrogant
Double – The taste starts bitter and ends bitter. The alcohol is very apparent.
Arrogant – This starts with a lightly sweet flavor and then the bitterness starts to build until it strikes a good balance.
Body/Finish: Winner – Double
Double – The bitterness of the taste continues to come through in the finish. So much in fact that it is hard to tell when this beer ends.
Arrogant – The finish of this beer is less intense but still very flavorful. The finish is also slightly fizzy.
Overall: Winner – Arrogant
It is clear that Stone set out to make a stronger version of Arrogant Bastard in the Double Bastard. While they succeeded in making it higher alcohol and more bitter little else was improved. In fact most of the balance was lost. I am not suggesting that the Arrogant is bland and boring just that it has sweetness, and bitterness. Each element compliments the other and adds to the experience. I have also tried the Oaked Arrogant bastard and again felt that the normal Arrogant is one of the best American Strong Ales I have had. Pick up a bottle and give it a try. In fact if you can get all the versions do a Head to Head. I found it very enlightening.
I am beginning to feel that it might sound like I am bashing the “hop bombs”. In isolation I really like them. But in the head to heads they seem to lack dimension and to me this counts against them. I will say that one of my fellow tasters has fallen in love with the “Hop Bombs”. Ever sense he ate hops while we were brewing our Imperial Stout he says he cannot get enough. And before you go and say I just don’t like heavy hop beers check out my glowing review of the Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel. Happy drinking.
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