effervescent refractions

For my first Stone brew Arrogant Bastard seemed like a natural choice especially as a base for the double and aged variants. The standard Stone bottles have a great personality and attention to detail, it was a joy to crack open and pour. The hue reminds me of a dark chestnut color that shines red-orange in the light. A frothy pale yellow head sits uncomfortably above the liquid and leaves sparse bubbly lacing on the glass. The aroma first strikes as powerful and very hoppy, with grapefruit dominating the first whiff. With closer inspection a blend of cherry, red apples and banana strike the nose while coffee, cream and a slight woody note provide a soft balance. Sweet fruity malts hit the tongue initially but soon the hops override the main flavor with a touch of smoky spices. I’m not a big hop nut myself but I enjoyed the change from my usual Belgian preference. The aftertaste leaves a long Sahara-dry hop flavor that sticks to the back of your tongue forever and encourages another sip. As far as hoppy beers go, I do appreciate the complexity but it is always hard for me to enjoy the overpowering bitterness.