Stone – Arrogant Bastard Ale

Brew: Stone Brewing – Arrogant Bastard Ale

Location: Escondido, CA

First Impressions:  I’ve been wanting to try this brew for a few years now but have never gotten around to it. Finally, I had my chance at a local bar this last weekend. It’s marketed as the type of beer that will put some hair on your chest and is too bad ass for the “Normal” American to like, or even try for that matter. This damn brew sure is arrogant and cocky, be sure to check out it’s own website for Christ sake. (http://www.arrogantbastard.com/)

Aroma: It smells pretty decent, enticing, above average. A blend of hops and dark roasted malts.

Overall Taste: This brew is aggressive so you’re either going to love it or hate it. Personally, I didn’t like it, but I can see why some people enjoy it. I would go as far to say that I’ve had better brews by Stone such as Levitation Ale and Stone IPA. The flavor was strong (and unpleasant) and drinking it led me to one conclusion…. “I don’t need anymore hair on my chest, Stone Brewing Company!”

You might also like: Arrogant Bastard Ale OAKED, Reaper’s Mortality Stout, Left Hand’s Oak Aged Imperial Stout

Price: 4.00 / Draft

ABV: 7.2%

Calories: 316

Grade: C

New Holland – Dragon’s Milk

Brew: New Holland – Dragon’s Milk

Location: Holland, MI

First Impressions:  I’ve had the Mad Hatter (IPA) and Sun Dog (Amber Ale) by New Holland Brewing and was modestly suprised by how good they were. So, I figured I’d give the audacious brew called “Dragon’s Milk” a try. It poured a very dark drown color with little head. This brew appeared to be very strong.

Aroma: The scent was filled with just about everything: vanilla, caramel, coffee, chocolate, oaks….etc. My first thought was “hmm…this is going to be a very complex brew”.

Overall Taste: This brew is literally a melting pot of flavors. In fact, I would like do see how New Holland Brewing Company manages to get all of the different flavors inside the bottle. “Let’s just make one big batch of beer and throw as much stuff into it as we possibly can.” From my point of view, their was just way to much going on in my mouth with this brew.

The few things which this brew is good at is its after taste and hiding it’s high alcohol content. Besides that, I would stick to letting the little baby dragons drink this stuff.

You might also like: Great Lakes’ Edmund Fitzgerald, Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout, Brooklyn’s Black Chocolate Stout

Price: 5.00 / Draft

ABV: 10.0%

Calories: 248

Grade: D+