Arrogant Bastard Ale
Arrogant Consortia

ChristopherCurtis from New York

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Clear amber with orange hues, crackly tan hockey puck of foam. Hypnotizing carbonation.
Smell: Herbal, spicy, sourdough, faint tobacco.
Taste: Chilled. Sweet, bitter, golden raisin, rye toast, ash, marmalade, dry. Complex
Feel: Feels like victory.
Overall: Neckbeard nectar.

Nov 27, 2020

TedHead from Illinois

3.66/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a dark red copper with a slightly tan head. Smells like caramel malts with hoppy floral smell and slight dark chocolate notes. Taste is like roasted malts and notes of coffee sweetness followed by apparent hop bitterness. Goes down very easily with little carbonation. Overall I expected a little more. It's very balanced in hops to malt and sweetness to bitterness-everything is very middle of the road and nothing in particular stuck out to me.

Sep 29, 2020

BNSlums from Washington

3.15/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

S: malty, buttery caramel hints, subtle juice
L: dark amber to mahogany, pours a very thick tan head that settles over time
T: surprised by the initial spice but quick to fade, caramel toffee notes, nutty
F: full bodied and oiley, a beer you could chew on but not a meal beer
As far as ales go, at 7.2abv this is a solid choice. Their marketing campaign feels like a personal attack, however. Well done.

Sep 27, 2020

THE_VANDAL from Arkansas

3.81/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A woody, nutty, and molasses-like sweetness on the pour that moved on to the mouth. Coffee oils accompanied a pecan pith-type bitterness, lasting well after the swallow. Warming alcohol flush after that first swallow. Admittedly, a bit heavy for my tastes, but one that a big malts fan will relish.

Sep 26, 2020

bret27 from California

3.51/5  rDev -16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 yrs or so since I last had this.
Now comes in a tall boy for $3.49.
About 2 months old.
Very dark clear amber, tan creamy head.
Smells like spicy grassy hops. Maybe not super fresh. Malt-woodsy.
Tastes like a hoppy amber. Kind of resiny rye-ish.
Medium.
Overall: doesn’t stand out anymore. I honestly have no idea if the recipe is changed but it does taste like a macro version of a microbrew.

Sep 23, 2020

RDWHAHB_Tom from Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

9/19/2020

Info: aluminum can, Bottled 6/18/20, BBD 10/07/20, 40*F at sea level
Glassware: Pint glass...

L: Rich, deep, cloudy caramel-amber. Thick, pillow-y tan head with wonderfully-uneven hills of foam. Opaque, glue-like lacing.
S: Mildew-y, buttery yeast. Grass, mint. Booze. Leather.
T: Scotchy black pepper, charcoal. Roasted, biscuity malt. Lemon, grapefruit.
F: Lively, crisp then chewy. Lots of zing on the tip of the tongue.

Overall: This beer *is* an arrogant bastard upfront, but it mellows into a sweet, butterscotch finish. Rude, buttery-yeasty nose; scotchy, peppery, buttery taste with muscular grapefruit bitterness; bite of pepper on the tongue, but it all mellows out into a sweet, buttery, minty warmth. Strong, but still personable, ale!

Sep 19, 2020

OldmanCothran from California

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

L: Pours a rich cloudy molasses color, thick stout-like head that thins but holds
S: Earthy, malty, bitter
T: Really tasty and drinkable for such a high abv brew, nice blend of malt sweetness, hop floral and a distinct bready bitter finish
O: A solid go to, holds up with heavier grub, high abv makes it a once in a while one for me, but a regional classic

Sep 18, 2020

spicyhopdaddy from California

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A watery amber ale. It's dark and smells like caramel, but it's not heavy at all. Very easy breezy. Would be great for a rager. Cool night in the woods, PNW, house party, smell of damp wood and cigarette butts. Sip to savor, or chug it and go dance.

Sep 01, 2020

snaotheus from Washington

4.11/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2020-08-21
16oz can served in a can-shaped Flat Stick Pub glass. Canned 06/03/20, Enjoy By 10/01/20. Kudos to the "Arrogant Consortia" for including both. It somewhat mortifies me that I've never reviewed this beer. This was once a go-to for me.

Anyway, pours a rich caramel color, fairly clear, with a big head that fades fairly slowly and a healthy amount of carbonation to support it. Smell is vaguely hoppy, a little toffee, some pine sniffing straight from the can. Overall, fairly muted.

Taste is slight toffee sweetness just for a bit before a burnt caramel and slight dark roast coffee wave bowls me over. Bitterness builds up in west-coast IPA style. Coats the mouth in bitterness, with that toffee and burnt caramel drifting around the palate keeping things interesting.

Mouthfeel is medium or a little thicker. Overall, this beer is a classic. It's even better than I remember thinking it was.

Aug 22, 2020

Peach63 from New York

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours copper with a 1 1/2 inch thick, foamy tan head. Heavy lacing, which clings to the mug.

Aroma of roast malts, caramel malts, coffee, nuts, toast, pine tar.

Taste follows nose: Roast malts, caramel malts, coffee, nuts, toast, pine tar. Slight woody taste. Resinous. Excellent bitterness.

Medium to full bodied, moderate carbonation. Dry, bitter finish.

This is one of the best beers out there.

Aug 04, 2020

Mister_Faucher from Washington

3.9/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

19oz can served in a nonic glass. Canned on 06/25/20.

Look- Clear darker copper color. Solid light khaki head that slowly recedes to a thin foam cap, nice lacing. Light carbonation streams visible.

Smell- Sweet malt, caramel, grapefruit peel, coffee and raisins, toasted nuts and grassy/herbal hop notes.

Taste- Similar to the aroma. Sweet malt and caramel, coffee, raisins and toasted nuttiness followed by grapefruit rind and a very intense herbal hop bitterness.

Feel- Heavier side of medium bodied, sticky and fairly dry. Medium carbonation on the tongue.

O- Pretty nice if you can get past the overwhelming bitterness. As for me that bitterness is a bit too much for my tastes.

Jul 28, 2020

OK_Denise from Oklahoma

3.84/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Maybe my taste buds are wimpy, but I just did not think this was a outstanding Ale. There is nothing wrong with it, but the initial taste and finish are just a bit strong for me. Perhaps that is just part of the style, but it sort of diminished the overall appeal for me. The hoppiness is just a bit too much for my taste. Anyway, it is not anything bad so if you like this style then go ahead and give it a try.

Jul 26, 2020

TheBricenator from Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Look: Dark ruby-red leaning towards brown, clear, and with a HUGE billowing beige head that leaves big, sticky lacing clinging to the glass
Aroma: Rich dark malts (non-roasted), earthy hops, pine sap, some raisins, a little alcohol heat, and warm brown bread
Taste: Brown bread and pine explode out of the gate, earthiness joins in along with some dark fruit notes. Some fruity esters move in and out of frame before a huge hop bite along with some alcohol close things out
Mouthfeel: Medium-high carbonation, slick and thick mouthfeel – viscous but not over the top. Very dry on the finish
Overall: Damn this beer is awesome and still a huge, palate-wrecking, and tasty concoction. This is the beer that got me into ‘microbrew’ (read: craft beer) 15 years go and also taught me not to be afraid to challenge the palate. Big, bold, unabashed, unapologetic, and thankfully unchanged over the years. Awesome stuff. The perfect beer to have someone try if they scoff at the ‘finger-tilting craft beer’ that you are drinking instead of falling in line with the masses

Jul 20, 2020

JacobusFavier23 from Texas

4.11/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For someone whose been into craft beer drinking for 5+ years now, it's a sin that this is my first time drinking this beer. Pouring this into a pint glass.

L-Dark amber and three finger headed rocky pour. Nice bubbles lively dancing through the beer. The head stays there but dissipates to a lacy foam. Looks incredible.
S-Smells of sweet roasted malt, hops and licorice. Biscuit is also there, and maybe some imperial soy sauce. Very nice.
T-The taste is bitter hop forward for sure. The hop is very piney, but at times citrusy, which is super enjoyable. Wheat and cracker is in the flavor as well. Just solidly crafted and very drinkable for a strong ale.
F-Medium bodied mouthfeel. Enough carbonation.
O-A solid beer at all levels. Crafted extremely well. I don't get the "harsh" aspect everyone says about it. I found it delightfully drinkable and well made.

Jul 01, 2020

Steve555 from Wales

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rich mahogany in colour, good head retention, foamy copper head. Smell of raisins and caramel, taste of burned malts, caramel, lemon rind, and spades of hop bitterness that cancels out the ethanol. Yet despite the bold flavours this is surprisingly thin and drinkable. Not sure how their bourbon barrel aged could be so disgusting yet this is a class beer.

Jun 19, 2020

harrypowers from Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a transparent reddish brown with a small short lived head.

Smells of hops and malt. Has a mildly bitter finish.

Medium body and carbonation.

Nice that it comes in a bomber sized can.

Very enjoyable!

I thought that this was a Stone beer. But I see that it is from its own brand. Is this new?

Jun 17, 2020

IPAs_for_days_13 from Texas

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

This beer pours a nice dark amber, almost mahogany in color, with a nice golden head. It smells dry, heavy on the malt & hops. Now for the best part... The taste of this beer is off the hook. It is a perfect mixture of malt & hops, it's very dry, but crisp & rather high in carbonation. The feel is raw & course. Leaves a bitter aftertaste, but it's quite nice. Overall, there is no beer that I can compare to this, it is very unique & provides a great drinking experience.

Jun 04, 2020

sjdevel from Utah

4.59/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

LOOK - really dark copper - tons of foam - 3-4 finger head from a 16oz. can - great head retention - very clear even though dark
SMELL - malty and rich - caramel - this has the red ale 'funk / tartness' - some dark fruit
TASTE - bitter bite of hops upfront - sweet rich caramel and dark brown sugar rushes in - that nice red ale tart/funk that is just hard to describe, it's in there - maybe some black cherry, figs, and dates - nice charred wood aftertaste when the others fade - slight occasional vinegar hints - very flavorful, rich, dark, and earthy
FEEL - riding the line of medium and full bodied - stays nicely active/carbonated - a lot of interest in the feel category - a bit oily
OVERALL - A very flavorful brew here - nice and powerful - very rich - I have had a few of these in the past but just never rated here - this is a well balanced brew between hop bitterness, rich malt and sweet caramel, fruitiness, and some woodsy/earthy woodiness - one of the best and most consistent brews around.

May 30, 2020

JoePhysics from Ohio

4.56/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It wasn't long after I first discovered craft beers that I ran across the Bastard. A family member from Cali thought he would disrupt my palate with an evil concoction. Upon tasting it I knew I had found the ultimate potential of hops. Serving it to others for their first time is entertaining. It is now my gold standard for what can be done at that edge of the brewing spectrum. I've got 5 cans in the frig right now here in Ohio. Please send more...

May 30, 2020

faraday326 from California

4.07/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The pour is A+ beautiful. Deep, rich, mahogany with a nice head. The nose is lighter than I hoped with faint hops. The flavor is way stronger. It's a punch of a malty dark ale with a pile of hoppy bitterness and floral in the finish. It's not an 'easy' drink but it's a good one, if you like the hoppier side of ales.

May 16, 2020

Kmoney357

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

This is an excellent beer. Given the rating that this site gives it, it is actually loved by many and hated by few. It is not for pansies though. It has a very strong flavor that the average beer drinker would not appreciate in my opinion.

Apr 30, 2020

WilliamGustin from Nevada

3.69/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Alright, drink this when you know you deserve it. Not for everyone. Harsh, strong, kinda burnt, bitter caramel flavor. Absolutely pour this into a glass! Dark, rich mahogany color with 2-3 finger head and beautiful lace. As with many beers, this actually improves a bit as it warms up. Drink it cool, not fully chilled. It gets a bit of spice and a better glow that way. Matches well with rich flavors - steak n’ potato or maybe a peanut butter dessert matching. Overall, not my usual, but a good arrogant punch in the mouth when you know you need it!

Apr 13, 2020

bc4stx from Florida

4.9/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

You little s#*t, you tried to put a fruit wedge on my beer. Well, piss off, my hoppy ale will punch you in the face with taste and finish. Keep your fruity slices for yellow beer, mine is is an in your face, slap down and wake up, eye-opener that delivers everything your carbonated water could never be. So, call be an Arrogant Bastard, please!!!

Apr 07, 2020

ASKasten

3.39/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Very dry. Immediate strength and bitterness once it hits your mouth. Aftertaste lingers with a pungent taste. Sharp and harsh flavor. Not for anyone that prefers a sweeter brew.

Mar 30, 2020

bbtkd from South Dakota

4.04/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Arrogant Consortia Arrogant Bastard Ale, 7.2% ABV. Pours deep red with a four-middle-finger beige head that left lots of foamy lacing. Nose is malt and toast. Taste is a hint of sweetness, before it's beat to a pulp by extremely bitter hops. Excellent dry mouthfeel, overall excellent. Not a fan of extreme bitterness, but can't deduct for that because I knew going in that's how an arrogant bastard rolls.

Mar 14, 2020