Bombastic Brewing - Stubbornness (2025 Release)

Inspired by the timeless tradition of English barleywine, Bombastic’s Stubbornness (Silver Medal winner at the 2022 North American Beer Awards) is a bold and unapologetic expression of rich malt complexity and assertive hops. Pouring a brilliant, clear copper with a radiant ruby hue and a persistent, creamy head, it looks every bit the classic it aims to be.

From the first moment, the aroma captivates—layered with deep notes of toffee, caramelized sugar, and sherry-soaked walnuts, wrapped in pine resin and a touch of nougat sweetness. Hints of dark and stone fruits—figs, dates, and cherries—add depth and intrigue, while a subtle malty warmth lingers just beneath the surface.

The flavor delivers on every promise. Big, resinous hop character bursts forward, bringing bright citrus zest that weaves effortlessly into rich layers of caramel, dried fruit, and toasted malt. The bitterness is bold but beautifully balanced, grounding the sweetness with just the right edge.

At 13% ABV, Stubbornness drinks smoother than it should, with a full-bodied mouthfeel and a long, warming finish. As one of our tasters put it, “This makes us excited about beer.” And we couldn’t agree more—this is a barleywine lover’s dream: complex, warming, and endlessly rewarding.

Stubbornness has only been brewed a handful of times previously: twice in 2017, then once in 2021 and once again in 2023. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring our members the 2025 edition of this rare and hugely flavorful barleywine.

Enjoy it fresh to experience its vibrant character or set it aside in your cellar and let time coax out even more depth and nuance. Stored properly, you can age this one for three years, or even longer. Either way, Bombastic’s Stubbornness is a harvest worth savoring—now and in the years to come.

This one will go well with something spicy and rich: lamb biryani or doro wat, or even a burger grilled with Cajun spices. The slight sweetness makes it a great sipper all on its own, too. Frankly, there’s no bad way to serve this outstanding barleywine!

Bombastic Brewing was founded in Idaho in 2016 by Russell Mann, who was inspired by the scale of Sierra Nevada, the innovative breweryless nomadic model of Mikkeller, and the entrepreneurial spirit of early Sam Adams. After selling his retail beer business, Russell set out to build a different kind of craft brewery based on a unique partner brewing model in which Bombastic would partner with established breweries to produce Bombastic’s beers at scale.

With state legal hurdles putting the partner model on hold, Russell was joined by two co-founders who started Bombastic quite small—essentially as a nanobrewery—brewing on a 30, then 50-gallon system in a garage near the airport. Each Saturday, the garage doors rolled open, welcoming adventurous beer lovers who eagerly bought up every release. It was the beginning of something special.

While partner brewing was always the goal, early legal restrictions made the model impossible in Idaho. Russell joined the state brewers’ guild, Idaho Brewers United, and began working on the legislative front. After years of advocacy and testimony before the Idaho House of Representatives, Partner Brewing was finally legalized. On July 1st, 2019, the law took effect—and Bombastic’s first batch from their first brewing partner, Sawtooth, arrived that very day. At this point, Bombastic was still entirely self-distributed to bars, restaurants, and retailers.

Bombastic formed its first distribution partnership with Golden Beverage in Utah in 2020. This marked a new era, and additional partnerships in Idaho, Montana, and Washington followed, allowing Bombastic beers to reach even more craft beer enthusiasts across the region.

In 2023, as two of the original founders moved on to new endeavors, Russell continued to lead Bombastic Brewing, transforming it into a true family business. He was joined by his wife Sarah, son Isaac, and mother-in-law Carole, forming a tight-knit team dedicated to growth and innovation. In October, Bombastic expanded distribution into Nevada, fueled by a strong team, standout recipes, and a continued passion for craft beer.

Both fans and professional judges have embraced the bold, flavorful beers that Bombastic is known for. The brewery has racked up numerous medals over the years, including four at the North American Beer Awards in 2024 alone:

Chatter (Mexican Lager) – Gold
Shiver (Coffee Stout) – Silver
Murder (Mexican Chocolate Imp. Stout) – Bronze
Psychopomp (Maple Bourbon Barrel Coffee Imp. Stout) – Bronze

Bombastic reached a major milestone in 2024 when they joined up with their first out-of-state brewery partner, Lewis & Clark Brewing in Helena, Montana, to produce Bombastic’s first out-of-state beer. The Montana version of Shiver Stout featured all local ingredients, including coffee from Montana Coffee Traders, and marked Bombastic’s debut in shorty cans.

Bombastic also launched in Oregon with Day One Distribution in Portland, offering quarterly special order drops to fans in the Beaver State.

Meanwhile, as Bombastic’s primary brewing partner began collaborating with others (mirroring Bombastic’s own model), the brewery took the opportunity to open relationships with new brewing partners, expanding reach and increasing production capacity for this unique regional brewing company.

Bombastic Brewing’s journey has always been about bold ideas, high-quality beer, and community. With new states, new brews, and new fans joining the Bombastic family, the future is brighter than ever.