GUBNA Imperial IPA - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The colour of the body is gorgeous with its core being a rich marmalade hue with a bright apricot orange surrounding it. Just under a finger's worth of creamy paper white head recedes rather quickly to a fine ring; something I expected with its 10% ABV. A few swirls coat the sides of the glass with tiny spots of lace and alcohol legs.

The nose oozes with fresh hoppy resins and oils. Syrupy grapefruit flesh is prominent but not the only thing present. I do pick up on the onion-like aroma many others have pointed out, and for me, this doesn't take away from the beer, at least in the aroma. It's not sharp and overly pronounced, instead, it's earthy and a touch musty, doing well at balancing out the thick syrupy sweet aspect of this beer. Mint comes to mind as well, just managing to poke through the thick grapefruit notes. Only a splash of alcohol is on the nose. A big and bold DIPA that I'm looking forward to drinking.

So thick, smooth, and viscous; the bitterness is impossible to get away from. The bitterness starts off slow, progressively getting bigger until it reaches a plateau a few seconds in where it extends far beyond the finish. Fresh and concentrated mint and pine are what come to mind when describing it. Syrupy, semi-sweet grapefruit encases an earthy character that sits in the middle, but it is only the earthiness that continues into the finish. Subtle notes of garlic and onion are infused into this part of the beer but I don't find them offensive. They're more unique than anything and mesh well with the minty character.

The taste of alcohol isn't there, it's the feel that gives the high ABV away, being incredibly creamy, viscous, and smooth. A lower than average level of carbonation accentuates this. Full bodied and well balanced. It's easy to drink but with its feel and high ABV, this is a sipper more than anything.

You sure do pick up on the 100 BUs in this and maybe it's because I'm a self proclaimed hop head that makes me not mind this at all. This is a big, syrupy, well crafted DIPA that I thoroughly enjoyed. Oscar Blues has yet to disappoint me.

Serving type: can

11-15-2011 01:30:23 | More by ludachris

JG-90

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-25-2013 19:39:19 | More by JG-90

dcloeren

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-25-2013 17:06:53 | More by dcloeren

MADPolo

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-25-2013 11:58:31 | More by MADPolo

BryanCarey

Texas

4.11/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Gubna Imperial IPA pours from a can to a golden color with good carbonation action and a slightly hazy body. The ale has a nose that is powerful and memorable, packing such scents as pine, bread, citrus, and floral and making for an enticing first impression.

Tasting this beer is arousing, and it hits the palate on multiple levels. One can taste breadiness, pine, toasted malt, caramel, and some rye. Then, there is the dual action of the citrus and floral hops that adds the bitterness you knew was coming. The alcohol presence is also obvious, yet more subdued than I expected for a beer of this strength.

One other interesting quality of this beer is the slickness of the body. Others have noted this quality and it is certainly true. It just seems to glide down the throat with ease, just begging you to take another sip.

This imperial IPA is one of the smoother ones I have tried. It really packs the flavor and the alcohol reaches double digits, but it is remarkably more drinkable than others of this style/strength. The complexity is very nice and the taste is interesting, to say the least. About the only issue I have with it is the price- it is quite costly, even for an imperial IPA. Still, the experience is worth it at least once and everyone who has the chance should give this beer a try.

Serving type: can

05-25-2013 03:43:16 | More by BryanCarey

MidwestBA

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-25-2013 00:21:00 | More by MidwestBA

Dirksen

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-24-2013 18:35:30 | More by Dirksen

Andonato

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-23-2013 05:20:45 | More by Andonato

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-22-2013 21:38:20 | More by Phillyz

scottyu27

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-22-2013 13:14:12 | More by scottyu27

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-21-2013 20:19:54 | More by InspectorBob

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-21-2013 17:53:47 | More by johntfox

dfillius

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-21-2013 11:13:28 | More by dfillius

dmueller

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-20-2013 02:39:28 | More by dmueller

buzzy

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-19-2013 21:25:59 | More by buzzy

afrokaze

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-18-2013 22:08:16 | More by afrokaze

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-18-2013 17:41:36 | More by drgonzo2k2

Ribsandwhiskey

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-17-2013 19:35:28 | More by Ribsandwhiskey

jplopez21

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-17-2013 18:35:25 | More by jplopez21

G_Rod

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-17-2013 11:24:41 | More by G_Rod

TreyIsWilson

Michigan

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-17-2013 04:31:36 | More by TreyIsWilson

HarryPotHead

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-17-2013 00:05:46 | More by HarryPotHead

linnymtu

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-16-2013 21:50:07 | More by linnymtu

RayOhioFelton

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-16-2013 02:51:16 | More by RayOhioFelton

MinorThreat

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-16-2013 02:31:13 | More by MinorThreat