Stone Brewery Double Bastard Ale

This past week Stone Brewery released their tenth edition of the Double Bastard Ale, a doubled up version of their popular Arrogant Bastard Ale. I have loved the Arrogant Bastard for many years now and the Double Bastard is just that much better. It pours are golden copper color with a thin white head that dissipates quickly. The nose is kind of sweet with notes of caramael and cane sugar with a slight bit of citrus from the hops. At first taste the Double Bastard comes across well balanced between the sweetness of the malts and the bitterness of the hops, but as the beer lingers the hops really start to show through. I get flavors of caramel, dark chocolate, anise and citrus and since this beer is 10.5% ABV the flavors are intense and dominating.
$6.99/22 oz. Bomber

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Glenrothes Select Reserve Single Malt Scotch

For 125 years, The Glenrothes Single Speyside Malt has been recognized by distillers as one of the finest of all single malt whiskies. It is the long and careful maturation in cask that forms the distinctive character of The Glenrothes. Glenrothes challenged John Sutherland, their Distiller, to find some exceptional casks to bottle as his 'Select Reserve'. This is the first non-vintage statement whisky produced by Glenrothes, as the vintage bottlings tend to sell out quick. The yougest vintage in this bottling is from 1998 making this Glenrothes available year around. The result is a whisky with aromas of dried fruit, coconut and vanilla. Followed by delicious ripe fruits, fresh citrus flavors with oak-infused vanilla and a hint of spice, plus a typically creamy texture on the palate.
$44/750ml

Rating: 9.0 out of 10