Stone Double Bastard Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 10.5%

Intro: The bottle states, “Warning: Double Bastard Ale is not to be wasted on the tentative or the weak. Only the Worthy are invited, and then only at your own risk.” The commentary may be a bit cheesey, but it might scare off those not knowing what they’re getting themselves in to, as it should. This popular strong ale is an annual release that ages well and lives up to its name.

Description: Pours a hazy dark amber with big white head. Packs in tons of caramel malt, some brown sugar, tobacco, and dark fruit. Carries a moderate sweetness and is a bit rough throughout. Finishes with a sneaky balancing bitterness that comes on strong. Alcohol presence is there, but not overwhelming. As advertised, this is one huge beer. It was tough for even Jeanne and I to split this one together. A year old bottle of this with less bitterness might be fantastic, and great for a meal.

Verdict: Buy It
Availability: Currently available in 22oz bottles around town.

Brewery Website
Ratebeer Info
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Commercial Description/Press Release:

Known as the bigger, meaner brother of Arrogant Bastard Ale, Double Bastard Ale is an aggressively hopped, intensely malty American Strong Ale that will send fizzy yellow beer drinkers running for the hills.

In the interest of full disclosure to satisfy the FTC’s new law, this review was of a sample bottle received from the brewery.

Thanks to shyzaboy on Flickr for the photo link.