Head to Head: Stone Double Bastard vs. Stone Arrogant Bastard
Welcome to another Head to Head challenge.
Style: American Strong Ale. View the Top American Strong Ales
| Beer | Stone Double Bastard | Stone Arrogant Bastard |
| Brewer | Stone | Stone |
| Country | America | America |
| State (if Applicable) | California | California |
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.
I think the double really comes into it’s own if it’s aged…it’s a 10.5% brew for pete’s sake! It needs time to mature and blend. The prominent phenolics/alcohol presence will temper with a year (or better still two or three) in the cellar.
Dave said this on September 11, 2009 at 12:11 pm |
haven’t had the oak aged arrogant yet, but between the two, i’d say arrogant is the more drinkable of the two, however, that is not to say that double is not an absolutely impressive strong ale on its own. what i like is that if you drink them back to back, one reminds you of the other. same grapefruity finish and to me that really tastes amazing on a summer night in front of the bar-b-que. the double bastard definately has a more medicinal aftertaste, but then again, most ales over 9% are that way. gotta love the old double bastard buzz, though!
servile666 said this on December 17, 2008 at 10:10 am |
I would have thought this would be a no-brainer. I haven’t had the opportunity yet to try double bastard, but I’ve had arrogant and oaked arrogant. The oaked lost something for me, but it’s still a great brew. Very nice review here. Also, I love Houblon Dobbelen, though I’ve only had it once.
lemasney said this on November 12, 2008 at 9:57 am |