Double Bastard In The Rye
Arrogant Consortia

Double Bastard In The RyeDouble Bastard In The Rye
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From:
Arrogant Consortia
 
California, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
12.7%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.21 | pDev: 9.26%
Reviews:
121
Ratings:
310
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 26, 2023
Added:
Aug 03, 2015
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  88
First release: October 2015
Much like the lacerative muther of a beer that is Double Bastard Ale, rye whiskey is not for everyone. Most are not emotionally or otherwise equipped to appreciate its unbridled intensity. So to sequester Double Bastard Ale in rye whiskey barrels is to conceive an experience that no doubt will be treasured by only a select few. It takes a special breed of exceptional depth to thrive under such demanding conditions and emerge with such stunning vibrancy. Namely, Double Bastard Ale. Something this sublime should never be quandered, however. Those plagued by even a smidge of self-doubt should look elsewhere. This rare treasue is strictly for those possessing the capacity to appreciate that man y will shun. Just like l do.

Drawn off unfiltered.
Aged in Templeton Rye Whiskey Barrels.

CELLAR NOTES
This beer is a close relative of Southern Charred, Double Bastard Ale's bourbon barrel-bolstered incarnation. This one is just as mind-blowing and intense, yet with elevated spice and vanilla character from the barrels. Rye whiskey melds midpalate with Double Bastard Ale's colossal hop and malt presence,Chorred, adding dimension to the beer's already deep, caramel-like flavors.
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Ratings by zee3are0:
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Reviewed by zee3are0 from Virginia

4.46/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Outstanding meal pairing. Sous vide then pan seared elk filets demanded a classy IPA. This fit the bill.

A - 1/4" head that quickly dissipated. The reddish color was reminiscent of Southern Charred .

S - Only the faintest hints of rye smell to draw away from the standard smell of Double Bastard.

T - The rye does come through in the taste, though not boozy. If anything, it helps cut the boozy flavor typical of a Double Bastard; the barrel notes and the caramel and oak temper the boozy malt before the hops come on strong. Ends with a typical Stone Brewery bitterness.

M - No nasty filmy mouthfeel. Goes down smooth with a full body.

O - Pricy. Other than that indictment, nothing terrible to say about it. It wasn't earth-shaking or mind-blowing, but I would drink it again in a heartbeat, especially with a nice steak.
Jan 02, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled since 2015. Tasted in 2023.
Nose is very sweet and tobacco like. Color is very cloudy brown. Taste was initially flat then it builds warmth and slightly bitter across the palate. Very barley wine like.
Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.34 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by dms1767 from Nebraska

Oct 19, 2022
Photo of rand
Reviewed by rand from California

3.08/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
500 mL bottle into a snifter

I’m at a loss with the good reviews here. I thought maybe my bottle was oxidized, until I read some previous reviews shared the same experience. My only conclusion is that some members haven’t had artisan barrel-aged brew, or they’re overrating due to Stone’s name recognition. Either way, if I wasn’t reviewing this beer, drain-pour.

Brew has a murky, rusty, appearance, with no apparent effervescence. Its nose is its most redeeming quality. I could really pickup the Templeton notes, and thought I was in for a barrel-aged treat. Then it hit the palate - no bottle-fermentation…as flat as a pancake. Flavors are minerally, rusty and simple. I can pick up aspects of the original Dirty Bastard ale, and I think therein lies the problem. Dirty Bastard is basically an extra hoppy strong ale. It doesn’t lend itself well to aging, because when the hops die off the beer becomes cloying and weird…like an old IPA. I’m not surprised this was a one-and-done batch.
Aug 29, 2022
Photo of jtormey1
Reviewed by jtormey1 from Maryland

4.74/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2015 Double Bastard in the Rye- stored in cellar; 12.7%

Appearance: Poured red-brown (chestnut as described below); thin head that disappeared quickly.

Odor: Caramel, vanilla, burnt orange, little booziness

Taste: Fantastic! Get some hoppiness; little spice from the rye, but definitely the big malt tastes of the double bastard

Mouthfeel: Thick; good carbonation

Overall: Fantastic beer; sorry it's gone and wish I had more in the cellar. One of the best barleywine/barrel aged beers out there.
Dec 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.26 by QuakeAttack from California

Oct 23, 2021
Photo of Sludgeman
Reviewed by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Consumed on Easter 2021. $20.99 for a large format corked and caged bottle. 12.7% ABV. Poured into a small-stemmed tulip.

Almost flat! A bit of a medicinal take. Definitely arrogant bastard on rye! I had this beer properly stored for about a year who knows how it was handled prior to my acquisition. 3.5

A – Opens with a very small pop, like a finger in your mouth pop. Pours a hazy brown/dark amber. Good viscosity on the glass, with a beige head, but almost none present. Lots of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. 3.5

S – Aromas of spirits (but no overwhelming), brown sugar, vanilla, and some very minor spiciness. 4.0

T – A strong ale, malty with some average bitterness. Lasting spirits heat in the finish but I would not describe it as hot. 3.75

MF – Heavy body, semi-dry finish. Not well carbonated, warming, coating, smooth. 3.75
Aug 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by mmilyko from Nevada

Nov 16, 2020
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Reviewed by titty_mcbitty from Tennessee

4.94/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
2016 Bottle (13.5% abv).

A: Whoa! This one pours a very opaque chestnut color, creamy looking, with a quarter-finger's worth of khaki head.

S: The aroma is pretty soft. I get vanilla, caramel, and malt.

T: Incredible. Sweet raisins and caramel, marble rye bread, honey, toffee, walnuts, leather, oak, whiskey. Coffee and bitter chocolate peek through in the background. Just wow.

M: Fluffy, velvety smooth! Oily thick but slick... leather, burnt oak, and caramel linger after the swallow.

O: I've never had a beer that hit me with so many flavors at once. This one is just so complex and balanced. THE best "strong ale" out there in my opinion, though I'd liken this 2016 bottle to an English barleywine. It's really just an incredible beer.
May 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.34 by BKotch from Texas

May 08, 2020
Photo of travolta
Reviewed by travolta from California

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Light khaki head, color is brown and rusty. Head is foamy with good retention.

Nose: Sweet caramel syrup up front, sugary maple syrup, loads of brown sugar and a touch of vanilla.

Taste: Whiskey right up front, not overly syrupy until the finish. A bit of alcohol heat at the end. A bit of wood and spice throughout.

Notes: Charlie turned 18 months today!
Apr 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by fossage78 from Massachusetts

Feb 23, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Jan 15, 2020
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Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
My brother gifted this to me at Christmas in 2016 and I have been hanging onto it for the past three yyears. I have grown to love the bottle art. Nose is big brown malt and whisky. There is no head after four years, just murky brown density.

Wow, this is thick and still a little aggressive after all this time, at least initially. I get dark fruit, spice, smoke, honey, vanilla, oak, black pepper, and pine sap. The texture is very impressive and coating despite the obvious thickness and high abv. Overall, this is complex and measured yet massive and boundless. It is really good stuff, barrelled and extra aged. A treat for only those rarest of ocasions, like a Jet three game win streak.
Nov 25, 2019
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Reviewed by BeardedWalrus from North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2015 batch, pours dulled ruby red, with a solid two fingers of tannish head. Smell is malty, brown sugar, molasses and piney hops. Tastes of malt, oak, vanilla, fresh molasses, ripe dark fruits, and spicy rye notes. Mouthfeel is super sticky and coating, definitely stays on the tongue for a while. While I never had the opportunity to taste this fresh, I would certainly say it has benefited from four years of aging.
Jul 31, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Jul 13, 2019
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Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle. 2016 vintage.
Slightly cloudy, amber brown colored body. One finger of ivory colored head, which dissipates to an interrupted cap and ring. Leaves behind a few spots of lacing but most slide back down into the body.
Aroma of caramel roasted malts, plus spices and vanilla. The whiskey barrel expresses an aroma also.
Taste is spicy, with thick caramel malts, honey and vanilla, and piney hops. The barrel notes interact well with all. Overall, more sweet than bitter.
Mouth feel is like honey, which coats the mouth. Good carbonation.
Ambrosia-like and nectar-like, reminds me of what would be served to the gods, for the beneficial purposes of cleansing and reinvigorating. Striking appearance, mouth feel that demands swirling and savoring of the liquid, and a complex taste that allows the different flavors to both express themselves and to blend together for a real drinking treat.
Jun 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by GRG1313 from California

May 29, 2019
Photo of RoyalT
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan

5/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Appearance – The head is surprisingly big for the style and ABV. It’s a beautiful brown sugar brown in color with layers upon layers of puffiness. The ale is a menacing dark brown in color and thick as pond water. It’s dingy and dark. The combination of this big, layered, puffy brown head and dark, dingy brown body is my ideal expectation of what an ABW should be.

Smell – The big, hoppy BW nose from the original DB is fully in effect here. This is downright barleywine nastiness, extremely powerful and sharp. There is no mistaking what you’ve opened here. Big wine, big barley, and a fresh herbal compliment of allspice and maybe a bit of cinnamon and parsley. The sweetness is pure raw sugar cane.

The nose is more open than in the original DB. I recall having to let that ale sit for nearly an hour to get the full aroma, whereas this nose is huge straight from the fridge. What’s amazing about the aroma that makes this a perfect 5.0 is the balance. Massive hops, massive malt, massive wood, massive herbs, but everything in unison. It’s nearly impossible to find balance with so many big players but Stone managed it perfectly with this effort.

Taste – The nose comes over exactly at the taste, fortunately. It tastes a little sweeter than it smells, but otherwise replicates the nose. This is the gold standard for American Barleywine. Huge, nasty, almost rank, with a dirty pond scum type of heaviness that you look for in the style.

And then comes the rye. I favor rye whiskey over single malt so they are preaching to the choir here. But without sounding too bias, the uniqueness of a rye compliment on an American BW, the first that I’ve sampled, is a massive success. They go together like PG & J. And though I am usually not a fan of oaking beer, this way the barrels smoothed out this flavor profile is remarkable. This is truly a masterpiece on all levels.

Mouthfeel – What Stone has accomplished in this area is nearly beyond measure. BWs aren’t known for being smooth, even among their most ardent supporters, but this slides down like silk. And although it is extremely hoppy with probably massive IBUs it is not harshly bitter. It even has a sweet finish, probably due to the expert aging.

Drinkability – Beers this big and this strong with so many big, intimidating flavors are not meant to be quaffed down but I’ll be John Brown if this isn’t the case. If I hadn’t been passing the glass around to friends demanding that they try it I could have downed the entire 500ml bottle myself inside of 10 minutes. The oak treatment, which again not normally a fan, was pulled off perfectly here. The combination of massive hopping, huge malts, giant sweetness, all smoothed over with the oak aging makes this one of the most dangerous ales on the planet.

Comments – I felt like royalty drinking this ale. I’ve only rated six beers a perfect 5 with over 2,000 reviews including the original DB but this is the best beer that I have ever drank. Beer literally does not get any better than this. I wrote this review in 2019 on a 2015 vintage which seemed to be just the right time to pop it.
May 19, 2019
Double Bastard In The Rye from Arrogant Consortia
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 310 ratings