© 2015 popsonhop

Tasting: November 20, 2015
Style: Ale
Beer #: 859
ABV: 12.5%

In a 2014 post on Stone Brewing’s Southern Charred, I asked the “desert island” question about beer. If you were stranded on a desert island, what beer would you like to have along? The rules were that it had to be available in your area and you’d have to be able to buy it by the case. In that post, I said – Sculpin IPA, Bourbon County Brand Stout (there was a time you could buy it by the case) and Double Bastard by Stone.

Double Bastard comes as a surprise to people and they are equally surprised that it sits in my top fifty beers. It may be the only beer that you’d find in my refrigerator at any given time. In fact, I have two in there right now. To me, Double Bastard is just a totally interesting ale with the triumvirate of appeal – woodsy, bitter and sweet. To me, Double Bastard is a great change of pace beer.

I was thrilled when they offered a variant of Double Bastard called Southern Charred – 96 points in 2013 and I’m excited to hold a couple bottles of this beer – Double Bastard in the Rye.

Nice cork and cage presentation on this odd-sized bottle – 500 ml. Double Bastard in the Rye the expected base qualities of Double Bastard – the woodsy, bitter and caramel sweet. You can easily pick up the barrel influence in the form of vanilla and more wet oak. A tad bit boozy but I’d expect that to mellow over time. A nice addition to the bastard family – 93 points.

Wow, this is one heavy bottle when it’s empty. I guess part of the size deception.

Double Bastard (2010)

PS, I’ll note that I did find a 2015 Southern Charred at a beer store in Pennsylvania. I had thought that the 2013 was a one and done offering.