Old Chub - Scottish Style Ale - Oskar Blues Grill & Brew

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

How long CAN I keep this up?

It poured with a finger's worth of deep tan/light brown head with lots of CO2 bubbles, low retention, and great lacing. The nose was very chocolaty, which I found interesting for a Scottish-style ale. The color was a deep, dark brown with garnet highlights. The mouthfeel was thick and creamy, almost milkshake like. Speaking of which, that is what it reminded me of - a quality chocolate milkshake. It was rich with chocolate flavor in the mouth and on the tongue. The finish continued with the chocolatiness, but the extreme finish had a light smokiness. My, oh my! This could make me rethink my stance as an avowed hophead.

Serving type: can

03-09-2008 00:43:25 | More by woodychandler

jasonjlewis

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Initial head is pretty decent and clings to the glass fairly well. Nice black color.

Smell is amazing: strong roasted coffee with licorice and roasted chocolate malt, chocolate malts, and caramel malts with a very faint hop backround. DAMN! What a fucking smell.

Taste is smooth roasted cofee with some roasted and unroasted chocolate malts. Caramel malts are in the forefront with the strong roasted cofee flavor that finishes with just a hint of black licorice. Holy balls this is a good beer.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth

One of the best sessional beers I've ever had. Didn't even know it was 8 percent abv. You have to try this beer. I bought a six pack of this in colorado. WHY DIDN'T I BUY A CASE?

Serving type: can

10-19-2007 07:16:32 | More by jasonjlewis

RedBear84

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from glorious can into tulip. This nearly dark brown bear had a fine creamy almond-colored head of medium duration. The nose was a faint caramel chocolate that was also evident in the flavor although i felt there was licorice there as well. The pallet feel was like velvet with little hang. I'll have another.

Serving type: can

06-23-2012 21:22:57 | More by RedBear84

Newglarusguy

Wisconsin

4.88/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Drink beer from a CAN? You must be mad, sir! Or so I thought, when I saw this staring unobtrusively from the beer cooler at Lone Star Liquor Company in Breckenridge (cool name, by the way). But the guy behind the counter swore by it, so I bought a sixer. Whoof. This is one damned fine brew. Pours that deep, satisfying ruby-mahogany color you'd expect. You can smell the malt. Tastes delicious, malty, sweet, just a background trace of hops (those Scots emphasize the malt over the hops). But be careful: at 8% abv, this beer will sneak up on you! I can now safely say, Drink beer from a CAN? Why yes, I believe I will, thanks!

Serving type: can

02-15-2007 01:44:25 | More by Newglarusguy

WildRage

New York

4.88/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I absolutely looove this beer. The guys at the office call Old Chub a 'fight in a can,' because it has relatively high ABV, but is extremely drinkable. Before you know it you're 3 beers in.

Old Chub is a relatively heavy beer, and loaded with dynamic, and somewhat sweet flavors that mask the alcohol very well. Its one of the only scotch ales that I can drink 3-or4-or 5 of in a sitting

Serving type: can

11-21-2010 05:35:42 | More by WildRage

EnojysAnyBeer

Colorado

4.85/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

//Reviewed on 3/24/09. ENJOY BATCH #28 CANNED ON 01-06-09 CHUB THE ONE YER WITH

This beer has won my heart with all its absurd qualities.

A- Dark, opaque brown color in my cervoise (looks like a fat, short flute or a tulip without curves) and slightly translucent, brown/garnet color in my mug. Decent head with great retention and splotches of lacing.

S&T- Rich smokey flavors of burnt and caramelized malts and a pinch of bitter hops on top of a sweet, slightly doughy malt base. I kept seeking through this beer for imperfections, but could find none. Perhaps the alcohol is a bit strong if you're not into that, but it is really quite tame for a 8.00%ABV.

M- When it's on my tongue I feel like swishing it through my mouth as it is so creamy and thick. However, there is carbonation and I quickly swallow and want some more

D- Take care with this beer. I drank it with some friends without telling them it was 8% and one of them got extra smashed saying "it's just like drinking water and I'm thirsty"

Even though it's a seasonal, the beer will stay pretty fresh for a long time at 8%. I think I will stock up on this beer

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2009 23:48:50 | More by EnojysAnyBeer

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.83/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Easily one of the best canned beers I've ever had.

Great dark brown/red color that lets an intense light show great clarity. Big fluffy tan head that retains all the way down the glass.

Impressive smell of raisins, nuts choclate & rum (makes me think of the holidays.

Thick malty sweetness and faint hops bitterness entagle themselves from the front of the tounge to back of the throat with a omnipresent sweetish yet balanced aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is thick and chewy. Carbination ain't quite there.

Heavyness which gives all the flavor only detracts from the drinkablity in minute amounts.

Serving type: can

09-16-2005 04:35:59 | More by russpowell

jaluria

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Though I do enjoy Scottish ales, they have never been one of my favorites. Well, that has changed since having this beer.

Poured a dark brown (almost black) color with a soft and relatively thin mocha colored head. Just a touch of carbonation seems to have been added to this beer; giving it a slightly higher viscosity and consistency. Rings as well as spots of lacing were left behind in my glass. Aromas of chocolate, freshly ground coffee beans, blackened toast, and syrup seemed to come out. These aromas blend together so well, they almost create a singular scent; one of roasted or smoked sweets; absolutely enticing. The taste was just incredible with the roasted/smoked flavors pushing through ever so slightly behind the sweet malt flavors. A touch of hops added balance and contrast. Over time, the chocolate flavors (dark and milk) seemed to intensify, adding another element of sweetness. The texture was creamy and smooth without being overly porous or milky as is sometimes the case. Neither from the taste nor the aroma would I have known the ABV of this beer was 8%...completely hidden in the sweet flavors. Having had one can, I longed for another one, but decided not to since this beer is not available in my area.
I'm definitely going to have this again and again; perhaps next time with a biscotti or semi-sweet pastry.

Serving type: can

07-07-2006 12:42:57 | More by jaluria

tmitch75

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Can is a cool design with a nice tartan-type pattern on part of it. Beer is a deep brown color with very thin head. Looks like you'd expect for the style.

Sweet caramel smell with awesome peaty smoky aroma.

Taste is HUGE. Chocolatey sweet with peat, smoke, wood, vanilla, and resinous piney hops. Very complex and ridiculously tasty.

Medium to full body and very smooth. Like an awesome milkshake... in a can!

Ridiculous beer here. I love it. I love the style, and this just might be my favorite Scottish Ale ever. Hats off to Oskar Blues for creating such a beast and for putting it in a can. Wow.

Tasted on 5/12/08. Trade from DHermit (thanks man, I obviously liked it!).

Serving type: can

06-17-2008 03:47:00 | More by tmitch75

Zodijackyl

Connecticut

4.78/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz can with no freshness date.

Pours a very dark brown that blocks light towards the middle, but is a rich, dark shade of brown at the edges. Rich and creamy dark tan head, very substantial.

Smell is a ton of dark, roasted malt with some caramel in there, a cream-ale-like milky/lactose aroma, and a touch of chocolate and coffee. Did I mention that there is so much malt that you can't see through it?

Taste is very full and very smooth. Dark roasted barley and caramel malt are up front, while the caramel blends in to a milky but unsweetened chocolate finish with some coffee flavor too, while retaining the dominance of the malt. The milk flavor is thin, seemingly skim, and similar to malted milk ball candy in how it blends with the chocolate and malt. The chocolate is sweetened by the malt and the milk, but not by sugar, and it is not unnaturally sweet. The malt is the dominant flavor though, and it is pure barley and caramel grains with no extra bitterness and an unearthly smoothness. Mouthfeel is milky, yet more drinkable than milk.

Exceptionally drinkable due to the smoothness and perfect blending of all the flavors. This is the best beer of this style that I have had.

Serving type: can

08-12-2010 23:48:42 | More by Zodijackyl

tommaco

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

When I first got introduced to beer, a patron at the bar I work at said never to try this beer. Going against what they said became one of the wisest decisions I have ever made. This beer epitomized what I wanted, a strong mouth feel which offered my palate exactly what I wanted.

It's dark, rough, and extremely malty. It has became not only my favorite scotch ale, but my favorite beer overall.

Serving type: can

09-09-2011 07:03:42 | More by tommaco

Kudashov

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Old Chub . Scottish Style Ale . I was wishful that this stuff tastes as good as the other fantastic brews from the Oskar Blues Brewery and it is . I have had a few of these while watching the Patriots game which is 13 - 6 Patriots . This brew comes in a can . When I first started this " hobby '' , I wanted nothing to do with craft beer in a can . My first stop at a good brew store , I was told about Oskar Blues but I was too snobby to think that can beer was worth drinking . Oskar Blues is now my favorite brewery . I have had Dale's Pale Ale , Gordon ( love it ) and now i will have a Old Chub . Poured into a Spaten mug the foamy head which was 2 fingered has reduced to one and the lacing is nice . Held up to the sunlight the appearance is like the other Oskar Blues products , nice . The smell is of sweet candy - licorice . red hot dollars - . The taste is of caramel and smokey jerky . I am about to dig into a bowl of chilli while drinking this . Mouthfeel is a tad slick and the drinkability is just like the other OB products - splendid - . I am sold on craft beer in a can . OB has a fan for life with the stuff that they put in a can . This makes my hobby so much fun .

Now where is the Ten Fidy in a can in MA. ?

Cheers again to Oskar Blues . Gordon is still my fav of all time but the Dales and the Old Chub are right behind Gordo .

C'mon the hoops !!!! ...

Serving type: can

01-20-2008 21:33:35 | More by Kudashov

BeerLover48Fan

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I tried Old Chub on the reccomendation of Sam Matson and Jeff Shaw from Red White And Brew in Florence NJ. Sam has a great eclectic selection of beers at the Florence store. Old Chub to me was exceedingly smooth and very easy drinking which is not usually my description of a dark beer. The taste was light and not "overpowering" like some dark beers (Guiness) the appearance was that of a european ale that you would find in a pub. No mentionable after taste which in my eyes is great because I dont think that a beer should have a huge aftertaste.

Serving type: can

09-16-2007 18:15:23 | More by BeerLover48Fan

beerg0ggles

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Can from Westy in Camp Hill - Dark chocolate pour with thin head, sweet almost cordial cherry nose, palate is malty caramel, some chocolate and brown sugar, medium body finishing with a pleasant alcohol burn, moderate carbonation. This is a beautiful beer.

Serving type: can

03-11-2010 22:28:19 | More by beerg0ggles

NWer

Washington

4.72/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Old Chub never disappoints and it's about time I reviewed this beer.
Poured deep brown quickly fading head into a tulip. Nice caramel notes in the aroma and taste. Very smooth malt/milky smoothness.
The perfect alternative to give the palate a rest from hop attacks.
Very enjoyable and would be a great session beer for football season except for the 8% abv.
So, I have to sip. No big deal.

Serving type: can

10-01-2011 23:36:43 | More by NWer

auxiliary

Rhode Island

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My frist beer at Track 84! What a good one indeed. Hear a lot about this. It is sold in a can, but this was on tap

appearance - Dark brown color with a nice tan head on it and some lace.

smell -sweet malt aroma here.

taste - sweet roasted malt

mouthfeel - thick body not much carbination.

drinkability - I could drink this all day. I loved this one. I think it took me an hour to drink this and savor it. I should of just bought more lol.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2007 03:10:21 | More by auxiliary

marksto

Florida

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've really taken a liking to the lineup from Oskar Blues that became available here about 6 months ago, and this one is probably my favorite of the three.

This beer straddles the line between a scottish and a scotch ale. Pours coffee brown with medium head retention. Aroma has hints of toffee, malt sweetness, and just a touch of smoke. Flavor offers and extravaganza of malty goodness - carmelly, chewy, malty, and lightly smoky; with just a hint of alcholic warmth. The fact it comes from a can just underscores the Oskar Blues mantra that great beer really does come in cans.

If you're a fan of distilled malt beverages try this: pour a shot of your favorite bourbon or single malt into your glass and add a can of Old Chub. The super malty flavors and strength of this beer match really well with a good whisky - try and you'll see what I mean.

Overall, an outstanding scotch(ish) ale - highly recommend.

Serving type: can

07-08-2007 03:21:37 | More by marksto

billybob

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours a semi transparent dark brown with a light tan one finger head and not much lace. rich aromas of chocolate with a hint alcohol. taste of sweet chocolate with lots of roasted malt and fresh coffee also dark cherries and figs come to mind. full bodied and silky smooth with a light carbonation that goes well with it. alcohol a little high to have to many but its a very good beer.

Serving type: can

12-29-2007 18:02:44 | More by billybob

becktone

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes 6-28-09

Eye: This guy pours brown in color with garnet highlights when light passes through, crystal clear. Very sexy. Too bad its head retention is just as bad as the Dale's Pale, then again could be the glass. We'll see, after about a hundred more reviews if this glass can't give good head then its not the beer its the glass.

Nose: There's a nice malty aroma to this one, little bit bready I guess. No hints of any kinda peat smokiness though and an overall weak aroma. Sweet caramelized aroma is in there too. No wait, now I'm getting some smokiness. Butterscotch too, kinda reminds me of the smell of Worther's Candy, wow thats exactly what it smells like. Also this other candy that my grandma used to give us...can't remember what it was but it was the size of a tootsie rool and was wrapped in a red and yellow wrapper, blue writing spelling out the name of it, I think it tasted like peanut butter or something like that, but that's what this smells like, I can see both of those candies here. Maybe some hints, just slight hints of coffee beans too, freshly ground. Black patent malt and hints of roasted grain bitterness. All in all nice complex brew with a great aroma. LIttle bit of whisky like aroma in here too, maybe some bourbon type of aroma-vanilla hints?

Tongue: Everything in the aroma is here as well, plus some dark fruit, but not real dark, perhaps like black raspberry-kinda a medium dark fruit, dark red or blue but not like rasin or plum. Whisky and Scotch-like hints close to the finish.

Feel and Drinkability: This is an easy drinking beer, especially for one that's 8%. This could be a very dangerous beer as the alcohol is hidden extremely well...nix that it is completely hidden. Full body with just the right feel and amount of carbonation. Everything is in check for this beer, I don't really think that there's much more I'd want from it. Pick it up, if ya can. I just wish that Oskar Blues was a regular choice of mine and not something I had to go hundreds of miles to get.

Serving type: can

10-18-2009 21:04:04 | More by becktone

ohFace

Washington

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A great beer, and definitely not for the weak paleted. It comes in a can which is convenient for many reasons. When poured straight into a 16 ounce mug it forms a nice frothy head and a deep amber-rich body. Since it is a Scotch-Style Ale the caramel and similar sweet flavors compliment the high alcohol percentage. I recommend for anyone that enjoys feeling a nice buzz after only 1 or 2 beers, even for the experienced drinker. Highly recommended.

Serving type: can

01-24-2010 03:18:06 | More by ohFace

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Pdiddy3d for this one. A long time Colo favorite, never gotten a chance to review.

12oz can into pint glass. "canned with care" 02.25.10 born on date.

A: Pours a one finger head that sinks to a thin layer that is constant. A bold dark amber body with a toffee hued head. Nice patchy lacing.

S: Roasted caramel is the predominate flavor in the aroma, although it smells slightly boozy. It is a fine aroma, to a swell aroma.

T/M: A malt monster, a huge sweetness that is given off by the malts, play into a well rounded mouthfeel, that is ultra silky. The dimension of this brew are great, one the taste to change with the warming of the temp. I nice medium body shows a earthy finish. Very nice and powerful lingering tastes. even after several minutes of drinking, one can note subtle flavors of the beer.

D: This is one of those OB brews that you need to be careful around, higher ABV and a clean easy drink. the only thing that slightly brings this ale down is the presence of booze in the aroma, not too much but a little less and total 100%. Well I feel that I enjoy the aroma and do not wish it to change, but for the drinkability -.5

Serving type: can

08-10-2010 05:01:36 | More by GDBEERMAN

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.7/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12oz can bought at McKinnon's in Salem. Pours a crystal-clear copper-brown body with virtually no head to speak of. Toffee, caramel, chocolate, nut, smoke all waft from the beer. Toffee, caramel, nut, bread, hints of smoke and chocolate in the flavor. Medium bodied with medium to full carbonation. Wow. I'd definitely call this more of a Scottish ale (despite the claim that it was a "Scotch Ale" on the label), but I don't mind as it's one of my favorite styles. Lots going on, all working in harmony to make this a glass full of awesome. Winning!

Serving type: can

03-27-2011 02:22:21 | More by MrHurmateeowish

taez555

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from the can into a snifter. Upon the pop of the can some of the head flows up out over the top.

This beer poured a dark brownish/black body with a tan head.

Nose has a mix of rich milk chocolate, malt, malted milk, rich gooey caramel and mild alcohol.

Medium leaning hard to full bodied. Dark caramel, coffee, loads of unsweetened bakers chocolate, espresso beans, gooey caramel and tons of malt with a whisper of alcohol throughout. Just a faint faint hint of smoke which is barely unnoticeable unless you pay attention very closely. Very little in the way of hops or even a hop bitterness. Just enough to give it some balance, but that's it, malt dominates this beer. FInishes with mild roasted coffee bitterness and unsweetened cocoa powder touch.

Wow!!! A can? Are you kidding, this is maybe hands down the best American Scotch ale I've had outside of a brewpub. Outstanding. It was tough at first to let down my guard on the whole can thing, but if all craft beers could be this good and come from a can, screw the bottle.

Serving type: can

08-21-2006 01:22:38 | More by taez555

skullx

New York

4.68/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

i had this friday night at the north bowl in philadelphia and get this 2 bucks a can !!!! poured into a pint glass that wasnt frozen !!!! i have seen six packs of this go for a 11 bucks which held me off from trying it and the sweet looking barmaid told me thats the price all the time . well it tasted great just like mcewans so on my way home from philly monday afternoon i picked up a 12 pack in new jersey for 15. bucks which surprised me too. this is not exactly a session beer since its 8.0 but to have one or 2 a couple times a week would be pure pleasure.by the way the north bowl is a hop skip and a jump from the standard tap where the cheapest beer is 5 bucks . id really like to review the north bowl too not a big selection but most impressive you will ever see at a bowling alley where blue moon was selling like hotcakes for some reason

Serving type: can

11-12-2007 23:55:42 | More by skullx

alephilmac

Washington

4.68/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured 12 oz can into a pint

A- Dark brown, chocolate color with reddish highlights around the edges. Mild carbonation results in a light, but persistent head.

S- Chocolate, caramel, malty, and rich. Quite sweet, with a clean nose.

T and MF- Creamy and mouth feel, coats your entire mouth. Full of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Maltiness is paired with a pleasant caramel sweetness that lingers. Overall very rich in flavor and feel, with a pleasant sweetness.

D- Easy to drink, obviously pour it into a glass. One of my favorites, can or otherwise...

Serving type: can

03-30-2008 00:51:25 | More by alephilmac