Las Vegas Weekly

October 26, 2011 · 12:41 PM

Are two bastards better than one?

By Ken Miller

Stone's Double Bastard Ale--you know you want it.

Ask anyone. I’m a Stone whore. Have been since I first tried their IPA during a screening of The Big Lebowski at a buddy’s house. I’ve pretty much tried every product of theirs I could get my hands on—Levitation Ale, Ruination IPA, Smoked Porter, Cali-Belgique IPA, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Imperial Russian Stout—and have rarely been disappointed. Their emphasis on the hop, and finding ways to tweak it for maximum flavor, keep me coming back every time.

Their signature product, Arrogant Bastard Ale, is in a class of its own among American strong ales. Stone is pretty fixed on its selling point—that you are not worthy enough to drink it. Simply translated, this beer could care less if you don’t like it. Go back to your yellow, fruity beers, wimp. I took to AB immediately, and find it a mainstay among my current stable of Beers to Savor.

If you’re like me, for god’s sake, get over to the Freakin’ Frog in Las Vegas right now—they currently have Double Bastard on tap.

Double Bastard is a special Stone product that’s only released every November. This particular keg at the Frog has been on the shelf for nearly a year, so as to let it mature, something stronger beers greatly benefit from.

You probably don’t need me to tell you this, but it’s everything an AB lover would envision—incredible color, high alcohol content, intense flavor, smooth aftertaste, and a very sad feeling once the glass is empty.

My favorite Stone product? No. That title still goes to Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale on tap. But if you’re a Stone fan like me, this is as good as it gets at this time of year.

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