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Arrogant Bastard Ale | Arrogant Consortia
Brewed by:
Arrogant Consortia
California, United States
arrogantconsortia.com
Style: American Strong Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
At Arrogant Bastard Brewing Co., we believe that pandering to the lowest common denominator represents the height of tyranny—a virtual form of keeping the consumer barefoot and stupid. Brought forth upon an unsuspecting public in 1997, Arrogant Bastard Ale openly challenged the tyrannical overlords who were brazenly attempting to keep Americans chained in the shackles of poor taste. As the progenitor of its style, Arrogant Bastard Ale has reveled in its unprecedented and uncompromising celebration of intensity. There have been many nods to Arrogant Bastard Ale...even outright attempts to copy it...but only one can ever embody the true nature of Liquid Arrogance!
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 10,898 | Reviews: 3,139
3.27/5 rDev -21.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.86/5 rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.61/5 rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.83/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Consumed in 2006.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Consumed in 2006.
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3.99/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a fresh tall call into the test glass
A - Mahogany backdrop with excellent clarity. Carbonation is steady, A solid pour creates a pillowy off white cap.
S - Burnt sugar, earthy grains, none of that sweet stuff here.
T - Dark toast, earthy hops a bit of light brown sugar.
M - Medium to hefty on he palate, with a sweet start that quickly morphs toward the bitter side. Finish is slick and forever
O - A fine offering, with not as big a bite as I expected. Water is surprisingly soft, and that helps
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a fresh tall call into the test glass
A - Mahogany backdrop with excellent clarity. Carbonation is steady, A solid pour creates a pillowy off white cap.
S - Burnt sugar, earthy grains, none of that sweet stuff here.
T - Dark toast, earthy hops a bit of light brown sugar.
M - Medium to hefty on he palate, with a sweet start that quickly morphs toward the bitter side. Finish is slick and forever
O - A fine offering, with not as big a bite as I expected. Water is surprisingly soft, and that helps
511 characters
2.5/5 rDev -39.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
I just bought one of these 1pt 3.2oz size one evening after work. Downed it over 30-40 min and had to go lay down for over an hour to sleep. It's strong. Maybe I'm a wimp. No other beer has done this to me before. It is not a good beer at all. The taste is bad. I typically buy expensive Porter beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
I just bought one of these 1pt 3.2oz size one evening after work. Downed it over 30-40 min and had to go lay down for over an hour to sleep. It's strong. Maybe I'm a wimp. No other beer has done this to me before. It is not a good beer at all. The taste is bad. I typically buy expensive Porter beer.
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2.52/5 rDev -39.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5
2.32/5 rDev -44.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 1.5
I've had this before, but it's been quite a while. I remember it as rather harshly bitter, but it now seems so much worse than before. Without mixing a sweeter ale with it I wouldn't have been able to finish it. It's a bastard of a beer alright.
Never Again!
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 1.5
I've had this before, but it's been quite a while. I remember it as rather harshly bitter, but it now seems so much worse than before. Without mixing a sweeter ale with it I wouldn't have been able to finish it. It's a bastard of a beer alright.
Never Again!
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3.52/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Have to be honest, I'm not into really strong, bitter beers.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Have to be honest, I'm not into really strong, bitter beers.
60 characters
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.14/5 rDev -24.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
4.34/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2.87/5 rDev -30.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I hate to rate a beer and bring it's rating down. But this is garbage. Maybe it's because I don't drink STRONG American Ales. But I just don't like this beer. Im kind of pissed off that i even bought it. It does have hints of coffee and the color pours like a stout. Overall, I have to force myself to drink this trash. Shouldve read the label and knew better!
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I hate to rate a beer and bring it's rating down. But this is garbage. Maybe it's because I don't drink STRONG American Ales. But I just don't like this beer. Im kind of pissed off that i even bought it. It does have hints of coffee and the color pours like a stout. Overall, I have to force myself to drink this trash. Shouldve read the label and knew better!
361 characters
3.87/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Canned 12/10/18
Pours a dingy, deep, clear brown with ruby hues and topped with a thicker head of off-white froth; nice retention here, and the glass is left caked with soapy lacing and a steady collar on the surface.
Aromas of dense, earthy hops accompanied by tons of pine with a firm, sappy caramel malt backbone; dark bread crusts and heavily toasted tones linger all around, almost to the point of giving dried wood impressions; building in intensity without becoming especially overwhelming, you can tell the bouquet here is a sign of things to come.
Taste shows bready, heavily toasted caramel malts (resembling an imperial red ale almost) nearly overwhelmed with a firm hop punch and tons of prickly, herbal/earthy pine tones; fairly one-dimensional, but the hops burst to a level of expressiveness against the malt backbone that add depth to the upfront simplicity of the profile.
Mouthfeel battles between a sticky malt and the massive, drying hop presence that ultimately overwhelms it; robust, prickly, sticky body with a present but tempered medium carbonation; unabashedly aggressive, a palate wrecker really, but there’s an unexpected (and unusual) drinkability coming through.
This can be one-dimensional, but it does one-dimensional pretty well; the hops are aggressive and expressive, and the malt profile is comforting in its place in the background while rearing its head as a balancing foil to the hop aggression. A unique kind of strong ale, and one I’m finding very drinkable in spite of its intensity.
1,535 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Canned 12/10/18
Pours a dingy, deep, clear brown with ruby hues and topped with a thicker head of off-white froth; nice retention here, and the glass is left caked with soapy lacing and a steady collar on the surface.
Aromas of dense, earthy hops accompanied by tons of pine with a firm, sappy caramel malt backbone; dark bread crusts and heavily toasted tones linger all around, almost to the point of giving dried wood impressions; building in intensity without becoming especially overwhelming, you can tell the bouquet here is a sign of things to come.
Taste shows bready, heavily toasted caramel malts (resembling an imperial red ale almost) nearly overwhelmed with a firm hop punch and tons of prickly, herbal/earthy pine tones; fairly one-dimensional, but the hops burst to a level of expressiveness against the malt backbone that add depth to the upfront simplicity of the profile.
Mouthfeel battles between a sticky malt and the massive, drying hop presence that ultimately overwhelms it; robust, prickly, sticky body with a present but tempered medium carbonation; unabashedly aggressive, a palate wrecker really, but there’s an unexpected (and unusual) drinkability coming through.
This can be one-dimensional, but it does one-dimensional pretty well; the hops are aggressive and expressive, and the malt profile is comforting in its place in the background while rearing its head as a balancing foil to the hop aggression. A unique kind of strong ale, and one I’m finding very drinkable in spite of its intensity.
1,535 characters
3.5/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A rather confusing flavor overall, this beer hides its 100 IBU well, but it's still rough and strong, as to be expected for the style. It takes a certain situation or setting to enjoy this beer fully, as it's not something you can enjoy every day of week; which leads to it's lower than average score from us.
309 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A rather confusing flavor overall, this beer hides its 100 IBU well, but it's still rough and strong, as to be expected for the style. It takes a certain situation or setting to enjoy this beer fully, as it's not something you can enjoy every day of week; which leads to it's lower than average score from us.
309 characters
4.63/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
16oz can. Brewed 1/02/19
Poured into English pint glass producing an inch of fluffy off white head, with light lacing on side of glass. Color is deep copper hue with some light filtering through. A bit darker than I expected.
Nose gives up a red ale scent, caramel, a bit of hop. Toasted malt with a bit of biscuit.
First taste reminds me of an imperial red ale. Big, bold taste. Flavor melts to a smoot malt background ending with a slight bitter finish and a delightful alcohol warmth.
Medium mouth feel with just enough carbonation to tickle the tongue.
This beer sets the bar for a year round strong ale. A bit in your face but for a beer that’s available year round, a superb choice. If you are looking to shake up your taste profile and are a fan of ales, than you need to try this one. Nothing fancy. No barrel aging, no coffee, no gimmicks. Just a kick ass ale with a depth and complexity to keep you coming back.
927 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
16oz can. Brewed 1/02/19
Poured into English pint glass producing an inch of fluffy off white head, with light lacing on side of glass. Color is deep copper hue with some light filtering through. A bit darker than I expected.
Nose gives up a red ale scent, caramel, a bit of hop. Toasted malt with a bit of biscuit.
First taste reminds me of an imperial red ale. Big, bold taste. Flavor melts to a smoot malt background ending with a slight bitter finish and a delightful alcohol warmth.
Medium mouth feel with just enough carbonation to tickle the tongue.
This beer sets the bar for a year round strong ale. A bit in your face but for a beer that’s available year round, a superb choice. If you are looking to shake up your taste profile and are a fan of ales, than you need to try this one. Nothing fancy. No barrel aging, no coffee, no gimmicks. Just a kick ass ale with a depth and complexity to keep you coming back.
927 characters
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed as part of BJCP training, 22B American strong ale. Enjoy by 4/09/19
Pours a huge frothy tan dense head with great retention and lacing, clear but dark ruby copper color
Nose brings hops out front, citrus, pine, then malts, toasted reddish malts, plenty of caramel and toasted bread crusts, almost coffee like roast
Taste big sweet like malts, rich reddish toasty malts, toasted bread crust, plenty of caramel and a little toffee, hint of malt derived fruit, big hops, very bitter to balance the big sweet malt, hops again bringing citrus, pine, and spicy flavors, a touch of warming alcohol, drier medium full attention, huge bitter spicy piney hops, touch more alcohol
Mouth is fuller bodied, just a touch of warming but smooth alcohol, astringency gets a little high but not too much, fairly high carbonation
Overall def within style although less of the new world hops but that's more likely because this beer came out long before there were many new world hops and essentially defined the style. It's in its own world of beers, enjoyable but almost undrinkable
1,078 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed as part of BJCP training, 22B American strong ale. Enjoy by 4/09/19
Pours a huge frothy tan dense head with great retention and lacing, clear but dark ruby copper color
Nose brings hops out front, citrus, pine, then malts, toasted reddish malts, plenty of caramel and toasted bread crusts, almost coffee like roast
Taste big sweet like malts, rich reddish toasty malts, toasted bread crust, plenty of caramel and a little toffee, hint of malt derived fruit, big hops, very bitter to balance the big sweet malt, hops again bringing citrus, pine, and spicy flavors, a touch of warming alcohol, drier medium full attention, huge bitter spicy piney hops, touch more alcohol
Mouth is fuller bodied, just a touch of warming but smooth alcohol, astringency gets a little high but not too much, fairly high carbonation
Overall def within style although less of the new world hops but that's more likely because this beer came out long before there were many new world hops and essentially defined the style. It's in its own world of beers, enjoyable but almost undrinkable
1,078 characters
3.98/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Arrogant Bastard Ale from Arrogant Consortia
Beer rating:
4.15 out of
5 with
10,898 ratings
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