Stone Double Bastard Ale

4.2/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled in 2009. Pours hazy dark brick red color with a nice 2 finger dense khaki head with awesome retention that reduces to a thick cap that lasts. Decent amount of lacing on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big caramel, molasses, dark fruit, pine, spiciness, grape, biscuit, toasted malt, a bit of chocolate, orange, and light booze. Some nice and interesting aromas, quite a bit different with 2 years on it than when I had it fresh. Taste of big caramel, molasses, dark fruit, pine resin, spices, biscuit, toasted malt, light chocolate, and citrus. Quite strong bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, biscuit, molasses, pine, and spices on the finish for a while. Medium carbonation and quite full bodied; with a very creamy and slick mouthfeel as expected. Alcohol is fairly well hidden with a warming on the finish and a bit of booziness. Nice balance of flavors and bitterness. Fairly smooth drinking, but is still very much a sipper. Overall this is an excellent brew with 2 years of age on it. Still quite bitter with good hop presence, but the malt definitely shines out more.

Quite a bit different than I remember fresh last year. I have another 2010 bottle and an bottle 2011 as well, so I will probably try out the 2010 soon, as well as the 2011 to compare. As it stands from last years review, I enjoy a fresh bottle a bit more.