I like Stone's ales. They keep the same quality as Deschutes, sometimes even exceeding the Oregon brewery, yet are a whole lot cheaper. Pick up a Stone reserve and it will run you half the price.
Oaked Arrogant Bastard is not a special reserve, but it's definitely special. In the way that it's good. It is, not surprisingly, similar to the regular Arrogant Bastard, but aged with oak chips. This gives it a bit deeper of a flavor.
It pours to a nice head that is slightly tanned, with a deep slightly amber color. The nose is pretty sweet, possibly with hints of brandy and citrus.
The flavor is kind of heavenly. This is an incredibly drinkable beer: The oak leaves hints of smokiness to the flavor, with a nice citric taste to it. It's hoppy, but not in a crazy manner, and incredibly refreshing. A nice bitterness lingers for a bit.
It's too high on alcohol to be a session beer -- 7.2% ABV -- but grab a couple for sipping on the porch, and you'll have a good summer.