At least one sailor taking part in combat operations against Iran knows a thing or two about arrogant bastards. Or, at least, is familiar with the beer of the same name.
First spotted by Jared Keller, the author of the Laser Wars newsletter, the photo was published to the military’s image and video database on March 1. It is one of several shots that capture the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln on the opening day of Operation Epic Fury, which began on Feb. 28.
The photo, taken in the pilothouse of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, shows two sailors as they observe flight operations. The one on the right, who appears to be a Navy commander, given the black oak leaf on his tan flight suit, can be seen sporting a distinctive gargoyle patch, one that is identical to the art used for Stone Brewing’s Arrogant Bastard Ale.
The brewery uses gargoyle imagery for its logos, with the stein-holding, slightly buzzed gothic guardian adorning the Arrogant Bastard Ale, which also has the motto “Hated by many, loved by few” on its cases. The deep red ale works very hard to earn its title and is hoppy in a way that suggests that if it were a person, it would think bitterness was a personality. This, from Stone Brewing’s website, sums it up:
This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory—maybe something with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made at an independent brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless seltzer / fizzy yellow beer / whatever-the-hell will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multimillion-dollar ad campaigns make all that junk taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.
Right up there with slightly out-of-regs facial hair, unofficial morale patches are common enough sights among forward-deployed sailors, airmen, soldiers, and Marines. Sometimes they make waves, like when the Navy posted a photo of a helicopter pilot’s patch depicting the Tusken Raiders from “Star Wars” alongside the words “Houthi Hunting Club.” Other times, they capture an inside joke or a reference to some core part of military culture, like another Abraham Lincoln sailor who proudly rocked a patch showing his inclusion in the “E-4 Mafia.”
At their heart, morale patches offer a rare moment of individual expression while in uniform — a chance to have something that is yours in a sea of tan, navy blue, grey, or olive drab. At least until someone with more rank on their collar decides they’ve had enough of that and tells you to take it off in the name of uniformity, cohesion, and half a dozen other buzzwords.
As for the arrogant bastard aficionado out there on the Lincoln, one can probably assume that he does indeed have the sophistication to appreciate an ale of such quality and depth, and given that he’s an O-5 aboard a carrier actively engaged in military operations, the chances are low he gets any meaningful flak for wearing a beer patch.
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