Double Bastard 2009

Double Bastard 2009
Stone Brewing Company
Escondido, Ca
10.5% ABV

C. Pretty Clear
H. Dark Red
N. Sweet almost like candy then a nice hint of hops lingering around there

Cerveza Chica; Upon first sip of this beer all I can think of is holy hops! The hops literally attach my tongue like a bastard. This beer is definitely incredibly hoppy but fortunately isn’t overly bitter. I am not a huge fan of really hoppy beers, but this one had a sweetness to it so I could deal with it. You can definitely tell that this beer is higher in alcohol because it is not something you can drink very quickly. It is definitely not a session beer and you sure as hell can’t chug it. The bottle says “the bastard shall set you free”, and I think I get pretty close to that. If you like hops then I would definitely recommend trying this beer on for size.
Score: 4.07

Ferm; Well, this was a beer that I highly anticipated ever since I heard that it was coming out down here this year. All I could think was Stone is making their version of Double Dead Guy (one of my favorites). Well this is probably the fifth time I have sat and drank this beer, but the first time I have actually written while drinking. I love this beer, but it seems like every time I drink it I get something new from it. The inconsistency brings me back every time for an additional sip. Now with that said I think I was pretty wrong in assuming that it was like Double Dead. This beer starts out with a perfect harmony of malt and hops then leaves a bastard of a lingering bitterness on your tongue. I love it. Stone did make this bad boy ready to cellar, and I have had one in that state since November. One of the good things I love about all stone beers is that they never let you down. This is a great beer from a great brewery. Pick it up if you can still find a bottle lying around! Worth a few tries!
Score; 4.3453

Overall; 4.20765