Bastard In The Rye
Arrogant Consortia

On tap at the Richmond, VA brewery, it pours dark brown amber color with a tan head that faded slowly and left minimal spotty lacing. It smelled and tasted spicy and sweet with the rich malts blending nicely with the rye. There were herbal notes, tea leaf, caramel, booze, and floral accents complimenting the malt and rye combo. Much smoother than expected, this was a fine sipper with oaky and whiskey flavors trailing with each sip. Really tasty and enjoyable.

 

 

Had this at the Stone Oakquinox 2014. Was my first foray into barrel aged ABA. This was slightly better than the bottled version they put out that was in bourbon barrels. Still pours a deep auburn color like the base beer, but with less off white head, this is down to about a 1/4" depth. The aroma was less hoppy than normal and had a very slight whiskey bent to it, but yet more than the aforementioned bottled bourbon barrel one. Whereas that was like 90 days in the barrel, this feels like it might have been 120-150 days.

Taste is almost into malt bomb territory, which is hilarious kind of given that this beer marketed itself as a big ass hoppy monster. So much caramel and toffee to it now. Really almost transforms it into lite barleywine territory, and I can dig on the nuance and variation here. Its not the ultimate in barrel aging or anything, but man if it doesn't temper the high ibu nature and bitterness of this beer.

 

 

 

 

Pours dark with a nice head. Snifter. Exceptional from start. Nice rye with a nice hops to a barrel finish. I would definitely have this again. Not a bad price point either.

2014 Bottle. So much rye!! Must get more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smell, look and pour look incredible, but for me the taste didn't quite 'wow' me...still a really great beer, but was hoping for some more oomph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not bad, pretty good for the style. Would buy again if I could find it..

 

 

Picked up a 500 ml bottle from Stone Liberty Station in early September for $14.00. Bottled in May 2014.

Beer poured a dark reddish brown with a nice off white head that is leaving some lacing behind.

Nose is vanilla and hints of whiskey.

Taste is a very interesting blend of citrus and pine finishing off with some sweet hints of rye.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly smooth.

Overall this is an experiment that went quite well. I was a bit skeptical when purchasing but the interplay with the hoppy bastard and the barrel is very good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muled back from the lovely burb of Carlsbad, CA where I spent the better part of a month slaving away for The Man. 500ML bottle split with my wife after consuming copious amount of Darkness. I might be slightly drunk.

The pour is a ribald darkest orange, carbonated like a beer. The barrel dominates the nose, whiskey, with a touch of vanilla & spices, faint bark of pine. Appealing.

Bastard in the Rye has a bite like a two year old girl (that’s a whole different story, though). Healthy dose of bastard, bready & piney & malty, then we transition gently into the rye whiskey. Warm alcohol & the spiciness of the rye blend into a strong bitterness & smoothing caramel. The finish is all barrel, wood & rye. As it warms, the whiskey takes over & dismisses the beer like an unwelcome cornerback. I am having no problem sucking this down through a crazy straw.

This is a barrel bomb, no doubt. It takes Jon Snow & turns it into something different but very interesting in the mouth. Very good beer that border on excellent.

 

'14 Batch #5

A: Pours a dark mahogany with a nice tannish, creamy head and good lace retention

S: A lot of whiskey, vanilla, toffee, a hint of clove, dirt, leaves, wood

T: Similar to the aroma but some dry/bitter hop character is present. Def some alcohol heat and some toasted nuts, coconut, burnt toast and chocolate.

M: Medium-Full, creamy, smooth

 

 

Bottle date May 2014

Pours a murky mahogany with foamy beige head

Nose: lots of whiskey (rye in there) and toasted dark fruits, earthy rye spice, toffee. Really nice

Taste: starts off with some dried caramel and toffee, vanilla. A flash of cocoa in there with some oak, whiskey notes of leather and wood and some coconut, with some big peppery rye lingering at the end

Feel: medium bodied, spicy, rich, toasty, easy drinking

Really enjoy this. A great strong ale, especially for rye whiskey fans as the rye is really there. Big brash and complex, yet seems balanced to me and drinks nicely. Wish this would come back!