It’s that time of year again! The guys over at Stone Brewing have come up with their new batch of Double Bastard, an American strong ale that’s double the fun of the traditional Arrogant Bastard.

The vibrant coppery brown of this beer suits the style and lends the head its caramel tinge. It has great lacing to match and a nose that captures the sweet malts in the form of caramel and brown sugar. The taste captures the hops and has a good malt backing that balances the flavor to create an even-toned punchy-but-smooth brew. It definitely doesn’t lack in bitterness, but at the same time the light body and medium carbonation make it easy to gulp down anyway. Pair this with bar snacks like salty nuts or nutty cheeses.

I had Double Bastard on tap for the first time this year and think that could factor into why I liked it so much. Regardless, I still highly recommend it. Fans of especially bitter beers won’t be disappointed but others who really dislike beers might find this doable.

Photo credit: craftbeertime.org

• Tag: american strong ale, beer review, craft beer, double bastard, stone brewing