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Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
1/2 Keg
$239.99
+DEPOSIT
*Price, vintage and availability may vary by store.
*Price, vintage and availability may vary by store.
Product Highlights
California- American Strong Ale- 7.2% ABV. "Arrogant Bastard Ale is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth." [from the Stone Brewing website]
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Product Details
OVERVIEW
Subtype / Style
American Strong Ale is an unofficial style that encompasses many of the unbounded creations coming out of American craft breweries. Most brews in the American Strong Ale style are uniquely American and aptly described as “strong.” Samuel Adams Utopias, at 25.5+ percent ABV, is one example of such a beer.
Other beers are given this style name simply because their flavor characteristics don’t fit within another existing beer style. Strong consumer appeal can create demand and inspire other brewers to create their own interpretations, and in time, a new officially identified beer style is born. American Black Ale is one such example – with the name recently bestowed on it by the Brewers Association and adopted by BeerAdvocate.com – of a hoppy, dark-colored beer with caramel and roasted malt character. American Imperial Red Ale, on the other hand, represents brewers taking an existing style – in this case, American Amber/Red Ale – and amping it up with assertive hops and higher alcohol. It’s a good idea to enjoy these strong drinks with a bite to eat. The best American Strong Ale food pairings will vary, depending on the style of the specific beer you’re serving, but hearty dishes and strong cheeses are a reliable match.
Unconstrained by a narrow definition of appearance, aroma, flavor and strength, American Strong Ales are exciting to explore. Keep an eye out, though, as many of these beers are only available on a special-release basis.
Producer Story
Greg Koch and Steve Wagner founded Stone Brewing Co. in 1996 with their first beer, Stone Pale Ale, considered very hoppy at the time. But the two were on to something: The hoppy style took off, and by 2005, Stone Brewing had outgrown its original San Marcos, Calif., facility and moved to a much larger brewery in Escondido, Calif. In 2014, Stone Brewing announced plans to open a brewery in Berlin, making it the first American craft brewer to independently own and operate a brewery in Europe. Today, Stone remains one of the nation’s “Fastest Growing Private Companies,” according to Inc. magazine.
Renowned for its hoppy beer, Stone Brewing released Stone IPA for its first anniversary in 1997. Brewed with Columbus, Chinook and Centennial hops, Stone IPA is very hop-forward and helped define the West Coast IPA style. Now available year-round, Stone IPA’s 6.9 percent ABV keeps it true to style, with a huge hop aroma, flavor and bitterness throughout. Its noticeable malt character is balanced by generous dry hopping, which gives it a crisp hop flavor.
Stone continues to brew Stone Pale Ale, along with Stone Levitation Ale (Amber/Red Ale), Stone Ruination IPA (Double/Imperial IPA), Stone Smoked Porter, Arrogant Bastard Ale (American Strong Ale), OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Cali-Belgique IPA (Belgian IPA) and Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (American Black Ale/”Black IPA”).
Stone special releases include Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, Double Bastard Ale and Stone Imperial Russian Stout, as well as Stone Anniversary Ales, plus other treats and collaboration beers brewed with other breweries.
Source: Stone Brewing Co.