Bastard Day

Yesterday, the Bier Stein hosted Stone's Bastard Day, a celebration of Arrogant Bastard and its many derivatives. I had the chance to check it out.

I'd forgotten how crowded the Stein becomes on weekend nights - by the time I arrived around 5:30, there was nary a table to be had. Thankfully some friends had come earlier and saved a seat!

There were 6 Bastards on tap:

- Arrogant Bastard. The original. I vividly remember the first time I tried this beer - a few years back at a nice beer bar in Houston with a friend. I couldn't believe how bitter it was, or that beer could be so flavorful. And it still holds up - Arrogant Bastard is malty and quite hoppy, with a long, slow bitter finish.

- Double Bastard. My favorite of the night. At 11%+, it's a boozy, malt-forward sipper probably best classified as an especially hoppy barleywine. Unlike many high-strength beers, the alcohol isn't overwhelming.

- Lukcy Basartd. A blend of Single, Double, and Oaked Bastard, Lukcy comes across as a slightly stronger Bastard with a definite oak note. Very interesting.

- Bourbon Aged Bastard. Smooth, with prominent caramel/floral whiskey notes. Bastard lends itself surprisingly well to the mellowness of oak and whiskey.

- Crime.
- Punishment. I'll take these two together. Simply put, these are the most intensely spicy beers I've ever tried. Crime is based on Single, Punishment on Double. Both were made with several varieties of peppers. Punishment, especially, leaves a lingering, whole-head burn that lasts far longer than it should. Neither are enjoyable to drink as beers; the real fun here comes from coaxing unsuspecting friends into having a sip, and watching their faces.

After the Crime & Punishment, I needed some relief. Fortunately, Erin, the local Stone rep, delivered in a big way: she had a 3L bottle of the 12.12.12 Vertical Epic on hand and was freely passing out samples. I remember 12.12.12 initially being way too winter-spicy. I'm pleased to report that a couple of years of aging has mellowed out the spices and brought the creamy roast of the malt further forward. For those who may have a bottle waiting, I can assure you it'd be a great idea to crack it soon.

It was great to be able to try (nearly) all of the Arrogant Bastard series at once. Stone's commitment to quality and experimentation have continued unabated since the first Bastard came out in 1997. Here's hoping that spirit continues to drive them.