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Double Bastard Ale
Arrogant Consortia


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Arrogant Consortia
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
Ranked #24 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,787 - Avg:
- 4.26 | pDev: 10.8%
- Reviews:
- 2,144
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 03, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 27, 2001
- Wants:
- 526
- Gots:
- 1,421
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class


Notes:
First release: November 1998
Originally brewed to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Arrogant Bastard Ale, Double Bastard Ale debuted in November 1998 as an amped-up version of that already aggressive beer. A huge malt bill and an unreasonable amount of hops make this ale one that will be appreciated by only a few, and that’s just fine with us. We didn’t brew this dark amber monster to please anyone other than ourselves.
Originally brewed to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Arrogant Bastard Ale, Double Bastard Ale debuted in November 1998 as an amped-up version of that already aggressive beer. A huge malt bill and an unreasonable amount of hops make this ale one that will be appreciated by only a few, and that’s just fine with us. We didn’t brew this dark amber monster to please anyone other than ourselves.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by griffinwelsh from Texas
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Strong biting ale. Light copper color. Thin smooth consistency. A better big brother to the regular arrogant B*@tard ale.
May 04, 2022Reviewed by tekstr1der from New Hampshire
3.85/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This stuff is rugged. Not my favorite style, but apparently a good representation of it. Just too much hop bite and burn for me to truly enjoy. Definitely a fun time trying it out though!
Mar 16, 2022Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
4.2/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.2/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
this is a good one. taste like a big hoppy loaf of raisin bread, in the best way. big and beautiful and surprisingly clean. I could drink this one all night, until I pass out
Dec 09, 2021Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.21/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2016 vintage
Here we go, beer number 666. And a 101oz bottle at that. I paid over $100 for this but I think it’s gonna be worth it splitting this thing with my boy. Let’s unlock the mini padlock and pop this baby open!
Pours murky reddish brown with 2 fingers of tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing
This has definitely lost its' intense hoppiness over time, but this honestly smells great now, like a lightly hoppy barleywine. I'm picking up on aromas of sweet brown sugar, molasses, toasted pecan, earthy hops, caramel, golden raisin, and light toast
Where it was charmingly old in aroma, this is a bit too old and faded in taste. It's not necessarily bad but it's showing significant age. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting earthy hops, fusel alcohol, caramel malt, and light fig. The swallow brings notes of brown sugar, toasted pecan, brown bread, and nutty malt
A medium full body pairs with very mild carbonation, resulting in a smooth yet slightly hot beer. Finishes mostly dry with a mild earthy bitterness
It's not the best beer in the world, but I'm still happy to have gotten this big bottle. I'll have to see how I feel after finishing the big ass bottle
May 15, 2021Here we go, beer number 666. And a 101oz bottle at that. I paid over $100 for this but I think it’s gonna be worth it splitting this thing with my boy. Let’s unlock the mini padlock and pop this baby open!
Pours murky reddish brown with 2 fingers of tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing
This has definitely lost its' intense hoppiness over time, but this honestly smells great now, like a lightly hoppy barleywine. I'm picking up on aromas of sweet brown sugar, molasses, toasted pecan, earthy hops, caramel, golden raisin, and light toast
Where it was charmingly old in aroma, this is a bit too old and faded in taste. It's not necessarily bad but it's showing significant age. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting earthy hops, fusel alcohol, caramel malt, and light fig. The swallow brings notes of brown sugar, toasted pecan, brown bread, and nutty malt
A medium full body pairs with very mild carbonation, resulting in a smooth yet slightly hot beer. Finishes mostly dry with a mild earthy bitterness
It's not the best beer in the world, but I'm still happy to have gotten this big bottle. I'll have to see how I feel after finishing the big ass bottle
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.75/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11%. Hazy reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Strong aroma of American hops, piney notes, also caramelized orange marmalade, some alcohol. Very hoppy flavour, medium sweet, caramel and alcohol. Bitter finish, hints of solvent.Warming mouthfeel. There’s plenty of hops in this one (surprise, surprise), but this is probably not where you go when you look for balance.
Mar 19, 2021Reviewed by janubio from Spain
4.75/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
65 cl. bottle, bought at The Situation some years ago. Served at home in a snifter glass. Pours a hazy brown colour, small head with short retention. No lacing.
Boozy aroma, caramel, dried fruits,licorice, molasses, hops, pine, some citrus.
Medium to full body, creamy texture, no carbonation. Dry sweet and hoppy finish,
Taste of caramel, licorice, molasses, chocolate, hops, citrus.
A beast of a beer.
Dec 19, 2019Boozy aroma, caramel, dried fruits,licorice, molasses, hops, pine, some citrus.
Medium to full body, creamy texture, no carbonation. Dry sweet and hoppy finish,
Taste of caramel, licorice, molasses, chocolate, hops, citrus.
A beast of a beer.
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
4.07/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A 22 fl. oz. bomber, bottled on 15th October 2015. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A cloudy murky rusty orange brown colour with a thin orangey beige head that disappeared quickly while leaving some nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, citrusy orange peel, citrus pith, caramel, orange hard candy, bourbon and dark dried fruit like raisins.
Taste: Sweet malt, caramel, toffee, light bitterness, grapefruit peel, citrus pith, dried dark fruit, bourbon, piney hops and some light spice.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation and a touch boozy.
Overall: A good balance between sweet, bitter and spice. While not overly boozy, it is a sipper, and a nice one at that.
Dec 03, 2019Appearance: A cloudy murky rusty orange brown colour with a thin orangey beige head that disappeared quickly while leaving some nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, citrusy orange peel, citrus pith, caramel, orange hard candy, bourbon and dark dried fruit like raisins.
Taste: Sweet malt, caramel, toffee, light bitterness, grapefruit peel, citrus pith, dried dark fruit, bourbon, piney hops and some light spice.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation and a touch boozy.
Overall: A good balance between sweet, bitter and spice. While not overly boozy, it is a sipper, and a nice one at that.
Reviewed by StanleysCup from Maryland
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2004 release purchased at Stone’s Liberty Station facility back in 2016; I figured its time.
L: copper-sepia hue with nary a bubble to be seen. Looks like a glass of iced tea.
S: plenty of booze evident at first whiff but upon a second and third visit, I can sniff out some prune/raisin and a bit of a hop bite. Resembles a Scotch Ale or dubbel.
T: this beer delivers as advertised; a heavy-hitting hop bomb cloaked in a ton of malt. The aging effect is evident as there is plenty of sugar on each sip. The prune-raisin combo is omnipresent and increasingly dominant with each sip.
F: this is a mildly viscous, smooth beer. Virtually no alcohol burn and minimal carbonation. Goes down relatively easy for a 10% ABV.
O: worthy of the wait and neat to be able to drink a 15-year old brew that was intentionally set aside for future consumption by a world class brewery.
Nov 28, 2019L: copper-sepia hue with nary a bubble to be seen. Looks like a glass of iced tea.
S: plenty of booze evident at first whiff but upon a second and third visit, I can sniff out some prune/raisin and a bit of a hop bite. Resembles a Scotch Ale or dubbel.
T: this beer delivers as advertised; a heavy-hitting hop bomb cloaked in a ton of malt. The aging effect is evident as there is plenty of sugar on each sip. The prune-raisin combo is omnipresent and increasingly dominant with each sip.
F: this is a mildly viscous, smooth beer. Virtually no alcohol burn and minimal carbonation. Goes down relatively easy for a 10% ABV.
O: worthy of the wait and neat to be able to drink a 15-year old brew that was intentionally set aside for future consumption by a world class brewery.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle. 2011 dated release.
Cloudy, medium amber colored body. Pinky finger width of off white, creamy head. Leaves extensive patterns of lacing.
Aroma of caramel malts and bourbon barrel.
Taste is heavy with hops, along with the caramel malts. The bourbon barrel is there but not too prominent. Big piney hops.
More than medium mouth feel. Very good carbonation.
Some chunks come from the tail end of the bottle. Very powerful combination of the heavy hops and the caramel malts, together with the barrel treatment. Close to a lava lamp show with the descending and ascending chunks. Beautiful body color and tight, long lasting head.
Aug 10, 2019Cloudy, medium amber colored body. Pinky finger width of off white, creamy head. Leaves extensive patterns of lacing.
Aroma of caramel malts and bourbon barrel.
Taste is heavy with hops, along with the caramel malts. The bourbon barrel is there but not too prominent. Big piney hops.
More than medium mouth feel. Very good carbonation.
Some chunks come from the tail end of the bottle. Very powerful combination of the heavy hops and the caramel malts, together with the barrel treatment. Close to a lava lamp show with the descending and ascending chunks. Beautiful body color and tight, long lasting head.
Reviewed by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington
2.06/5 rDev -51.6%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.06/5 rDev -51.6%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I could tolerate the single (like a double), but this is so cloyingly boozy and abrasive even after eighteen months bottle aging, I don’t know if there’s anything good in there worth aging longer to find.
May 31, 2019Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana
4.23/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: The beer is coppery amber in color. Light tan carbonation that retains around the rim with no lacing.
S: Strong barley malt aroma is awesome. Sweet caramel and alcohol notes with a touch of hops.
T: tastes like a malt bomb explosion of high alcohol sweetness. Caramel and brown sugar up front. Then the self-proclaimed unreasonable amount of hops pokes through. Noticeable alcohol warming and vodka-like aftertaste. Moderate bitterness and hops balance out the sweetness making this a well-balanced, if unusual concoction.
M: Body is fairly light and syrupy, like a day old coke.
O: I think this beer is awesome. That being said, I like aggressive, in your face flavors. Your mom will hate this beer. But isn’t that a reason to try it?
Jan 30, 2019S: Strong barley malt aroma is awesome. Sweet caramel and alcohol notes with a touch of hops.
T: tastes like a malt bomb explosion of high alcohol sweetness. Caramel and brown sugar up front. Then the self-proclaimed unreasonable amount of hops pokes through. Noticeable alcohol warming and vodka-like aftertaste. Moderate bitterness and hops balance out the sweetness making this a well-balanced, if unusual concoction.
M: Body is fairly light and syrupy, like a day old coke.
O: I think this beer is awesome. That being said, I like aggressive, in your face flavors. Your mom will hate this beer. But isn’t that a reason to try it?
Double Bastard Ale from Arrogant Consortia
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
6819 ratings
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