The beer pours a thick, dark amber color with a light, fluffy head. A thin stream of carbonation slips up the sides of the glass; overall an ordinary looking beer.
The scent of this beer is rather unassuming; there are sweet, malty notes that dominate. It smells pretty thin all-together and not very complex.
The first sip is quite a surprise; hoppy bitterness is the first thing you can taste and only after another sip do I notice the bready malts and a lingering sweetness on the back end. This is a very flavorful beer but not as complex as I expected. After reflecting on the sip, there's molasses sweetness intermingled with the bitterness that pervades the taste (perhaps a mix of hoppiness and roasted malts) but not a whole lot going on other than that.
The mouthfeel is substantial; almost sticky at times. Not overly carbonated, which adds to the doughy feel.
I bought a bomber of Arrogant Bastard for $4.99 plus tax. You can purchase 4 packs of the oaked version widely for approximately $11.99 plus tax but the 22oz bottle format is the only way to get the regular version. It's a great beer so although bombers aren't an excellent value, I highly recommend giving it a try.
Score: B+ 3.75/5
