GUBNA Imperial IPA - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

WeisGuy

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review #400

a - pours a burnt orange color with a smallish ivory head, little retention with light lacing, very clear

s - big orange and apricot aromas mixed with heavy doses of pine and lighter notes of alcohol

t - big citrus flavors up front, orange and tangerine predominantly, midpalate comes with a heavy pine resin flavor, finish is more pine with lighter citrus notes and a decent amount of alcohol burn, the piney bitterness sits on your palate for quite awhile

m - medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, fairly dry on the finish, good deal of alcohol warming

d - not overly drinkable, fairly harsh on the palate with the intense bitterness and considerable alcohol presence

Decent DIPA overall, but, in my opinion, not close to the ranks of Pliny, Dreadnaught, Hopslam, etc. Actually, this reminds me of Exponential Hoppiness a bit.

Serving type: can

03-23-2010 02:09:21 | More by WeisGuy

bonbright7

New York

4.58/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The golden red ale poured easily into my pils glas with a slight head and the strong aroma of hops just came forward. I inhaled the fruity aroma with the pine accents as I went for the first taste.

I was wowed instantly by the strong smooth taste of malts, fruity esters, and the finishing tastes of hops that lingered for a long time afterward. The heavy thoughts of alcohol in the background came forward in the after taste (10% abv). Whew! Great DIPA.

I found this to be very easy to drink and thoughts raced to ideas about casks and kegs for this particular ale.

Serving type: can

03-22-2010 23:43:27 | More by bonbright7

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a golden honey color with three fingers of head that slowly dissipates, leaving decent lacing on the sides of my glass.

Smell - Skunky hop aroma at the forefront, followed with citrus zest such as pineapple and orange. It ends with some pine and resin - an almost spicy characteristic.

Taste - Ironically after letting this sit for a bit I get more of a caramel malty sweetness up front which is then followed by the hoppy/citrus flavors. As stated, almost a bit spicy in nature and it pricks the tongue from it (not from the carbonation).

Mouthfeel - Extremely creamy, just the right carbonation. Coats the mouth well.

Drinkability - Pretty drinkable for such a high ABV drink. I can barely taste the alcohol and there is only a slight warming on the way down. A pretty good DIPA, but after testing it head to head with PtE, there is no way I would ever get this if I have PtE readily available. This is over four dollars a can for 12 ounces, whereas PtE is less than five dollars for 16 ounces. Pliny not only tastes better IMO, but is cheaper than this. A good beer, but I will never drop 16+ dollars again for a four pack.

Serving type: can

03-22-2010 01:15:32 | More by SpdKilz

collander

Washington

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful hue, floral aroma's with bitter hop and soft herbal notes. Flavors explode with edgy bitter hop, soft undertones of vegetable, and herbal blossom, followed by lingering subtleties of fruit that gradually grow through out the finish. Hints of biscuit dance around in the underbelly, with the sharpness of the hop prevailing from start to finish.

Serving type: can

03-21-2010 02:22:00 | More by collander

gatornation

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours a a light peach color with an off white head and some good sticky lacing.. the smell was strange it was tropical fruit (good) with medicinal/fish smell (bad) but more on the fruit side..the taste was better then the smell the tropical fruits..mango and pineapple with grapefruit hit you first.then some crisp/strong hops and pine right after led to a syrupy malt finish i did detect some alcohol heat but it is 10% abv..this was not as well balanced as it could be and the mouth feel was a little on the syrup side and thick..overall i put this on the top of a 2nd tier dipa,,because of the taste and the cost of about $4 a can..ill crack a couple of more this week and update but as of now its just a good dipa not a great one

Serving type: can

03-21-2010 01:43:14 | More by gatornation

crossovert

Wisconsin

2.35/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

12 oz can. This brewery might be too obsessed with cannign their beers.

Pours a golden/orange, west coast/hopslam style look with a rather thin white head.

Shit, it is bursting with smell, huge tropical fruit and citrus blast with some raw hop smell which is typical for cans it seems. The tropical is very peachy/pineappley. It smells very sugary.

It has an immense fruit flavor: ripe peach, pineapple, grapefruit and a slight piney bitterness and some grain on the back end. The pineapple personally is a bit off putting but it works here with the other tropical fruit flavors. But alas coating all of this fruit is a horde of tomato and onion veggie surprise which makes it undrinkable past the first few sips. It isn't too bitter, a balanced DIPA, but a vegetastic one.

Serving type: can

03-20-2010 20:24:10 | More by crossovert

jacobseyb

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love a canned beer, and this one is very nice. Poured from the can into a snifter, beautiful copper/orange color with an off-white head that laced well and stuck around a good bit before dissipating to a cap and crown. Quite complex aroma with a bitter pine note prevailing slightly over the rye. Taste is nicely balanced with the rye being maybe just a slight bit more prevalent than the hops. Feel is very smooth with a medium body and slightly less than average carbonation. Great drinking beer even for the ABV.

Serving type: can

03-20-2010 01:39:38 | More by jacobseyb

johnkale

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a deep gold with close to an inch of thick off-white head that lingers for a while before leaving a good lacing

S - resinous, hints of melon, a bit too herbaceous, almost got a tomato like smell in there too, not unpleasant but certainly strange

T - good mix of pine and citrus, a lot of caramel sweetness mixed in too with a pronounced cantaloupe flavor. the finish lingers for a while, almost spicy with a slight alcohol burn

M - pretty ideal for this style I thought. Just the right amount of carbonation and not too thick, but coated the mouth well.

Overall, I'm probably not gonna pick this up again for the price, but it was a surprising and enjoyable brew.

Serving type: can

03-20-2010 00:35:27 | More by johnkale

vacax

California

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Can poured into a tulip glass. Pours orange golden with an off-white head around two inches thick. Fairly good retention and moderate levels of lacing. Beading from the carbonation and very bright (no cloudiness at all). The aroma is staunchly sticky with nostril scorching hopping, lemony, and cookielike.

The flavor pops with overdone floral notes, geranium, leaves. Bitter resinous notes on the midpalate carry through to the finish where they pair with a fair amount of cookie/caramel malts, though the hops never get to the background here. Plenty of hops here, though not the greatest balance of them. The feel is fairly moderate to thick with a nicely tempered carbonation that has this bordering on creamy, surprisingly restrained for a canned IPA there. I like the idea of single hopped beers but this beer suffers from it despite showcasing the Summit variety.

The Gubna is worth trying, but this could never run for President with Pliny. Go for the single before dropping $17 on a four pack of this. Not much reason for me to buy this again when I can get better IPAs much cheaper. I'll take the rounder flavor of Gordon over the Gubna too.

Serving type: can

03-19-2010 04:13:43 | More by vacax

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The pour is a light amber color with a moderate white head and some streaks of lacing.

S: A strong fruity hop aroma with nice notes of grapefruit and pineapple. A fair amount of pine as well, along with some sweet caramel and perhaps a touch of alcohol.

T: The flavor is full of bitter grapefruit and pine followed by some tropical fruit sweetness. As with Gordon, there is also a fair malt component to the beer and maybe a bit of alcohol warmth on the finish.

M: The body is medium with a full and tingly carbonation.

D: A good but not amazing DIPA, especially for the price. I really enjoy some of the Oskar Blues beers, but why buy a 12 oz can of Gubna for $4-5 when I can buy half a liter of Pliny the Elder for that much?

Serving type: can

03-19-2010 02:15:17 | More by womencantsail

deereless

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Light to medium gold - reminds me of a dark honey, thin layer of head, no noticeable lacing, slight viscosity visible in the swirl - 4.00, S: Tons of citrus especially grapefruit and orange, a touch of spice and mild pepper; thick, syrupy and resiny; the aroma reminds me of golden raisins and passion fruit - 4.50, T: Sharp hop bite, heaps of grapefruit, alcohol is evident but does not notably interfere with the palate, pureed raisins and dates, tons of malt, extremely pungent - 4.50, M: Very smooth and silky - 4.50, D: An outstanding imperial IPA, incredibly drinkable for a 10% beer - 4.25

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 01:20:27 | More by deereless

gibby

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4 pack obtained through trade with tturaiders.
Nice amber/silver poured can into Chimay goblet glass. Very bright clear golden color with a big pillowy head that stuck around for a couple minutes. Fair amount of sticky lacing left on the glass. I find the hop smell to be very appealing. I never really knew what summit hops specifically smelled like but I certainly do now. Very floral nose and the summits are intense. Taste is nice, big hop smack in the mouth followed by bitterness. The hop flavor really comes through in this beer and the hop taste really sticks around. Light mouthfeel with an oily hop coating on your tongue. Drinakbility is good. Hard to believe it's 10% abv. I sense no hint of alcohol at all, but I certainly feel it after 2 :-) Nice beer from Oskar Blues and I will buy when I see it locally.

Serving type: can

03-19-2010 01:16:01 | More by gibby

drabmuh

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer poured into an imperial pint glass. Beer is dark yellow and clear. Carbonation is low and the bubbles rise through the beer slowly. Forms a thin white head that leaves some lacing on the glass. Looks great.

Strong hop aroma but not a lot of malt. Smells great. Nice piney hop aroma, really nice.

Sweet, medium body, lots of bitterness on the backend. The hop flavor is good on the palate too. It finishes nicely. Second taste, not a lot of midpalate character and the carbonation in the mouth is low. Overall its a nice DIPA. Not too malty, not chewy, good bitterness and nice balance. Sweet.

Serving type: can

03-18-2010 02:46:13 | More by drabmuh

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice DIPA bordering greatness.

Presentation: 12 oz. can. Burgundy, and metallic silver design highlighting the name of the brew over a small mountain horizon. The top of the can includes a few bragging words about the brew and beer inside a can, and the back notes the brief liner "Give the Gubna a Harrumph. Harrumph." Lacks a clear or typical canned date with note at the bottom ("Allow myself to introduce -illegible-self") but offers a batch code from where one could figure a date (0 02 25 A 2 B A), and notes Alc. by Vol. (10.o%) Served on a tulip glass.

A - Pale to medium amber pour, with a good 1" frothy head, fair retention, some lacing and surface memory.

S - Rich hoppy range, resin and floral with a full rich bitter tone. Smell would be far more remarkable if it were not for a final feel, as the brew settles a bit, that offers a rather strong herbal and almost unpleasing finish.

T - The flavor is a rich hoppy profile held by a sturdy malty base, resin, touch of citrus, more resin, and a herbal touch... The herbal touch works for the most part although at the end it hints at the heavy-handed touch found on the smell. It does not quite give a dent to the brew but sure holds it a bit back.

M - Medium-full body with good and rich carbonation, intriguing balance that is only hindered by the herbal-medicinal rough touch, which luckily is only an undercurrent.

D - So close, feels great for the most part, and even with that off touch it is a rather enjoyable brew.

Notes: Pity, it really got me excited early on and in the end did not quite make it. And I mean it did not quite make it as one of the top-notch DIPAs out there, and for most of the brew I felt it was getting there. It's a new release and sure deserves a try as brewing of new batches goes along to see if there is any difference. I also agree that it reminds me quite a bit of Avery's Maharaja but in the end the completely rounded act is not there. Great addition in any case from Oskar Blues.

Serving type: can

03-18-2010 01:31:35 | More by Daniellobo

dirtylou

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can, scooped a single from Star - no idea what this was but I trust oskar

Appearance: poured into delirium snifter, nice clear golden body, big frothy white cap with pretty strong retention.

Smell: big nose - tropical fruit, bursting with dripping pine, pungent citrus zest, really a lovely nose on this one.

Taste: nice DIPA - a pungent wave of pine, tropical fruit, grapefruit, orange, lemon zest. Finishes a little boozy - my only complaint.

Mouthfeel: nice medium body, boozy finish

Drinkability: pretty good

Serving type: can

03-18-2010 01:19:19 | More by dirtylou

ahophead

California

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer kicks ass!!! Great job from a great brewery!!! If you like DIPA this beer will knock your socks off. The smell is like pine tar and grapefruit, yummmy.... and the taste is great. Pure hoppines with the right malt back bone.... this beer could get you in trouble!!!!

Serving type: can

03-17-2010 22:50:48 | More by ahophead

Tdizzle

California

4.38/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Purchased a 4-pack from Total Wine, Tustin.

A- Poured from a 12oz can into a Bruery tulip, GUBNA pours clear with a golden, amberish-orange hue. An average pour yields a foamy white head that settles to a fine layer over the beer as drapes of sticky lacing cling to the glass after every sip.

S- Oily pine resin, juicy tropical fruits, pungent grapefruit, and floral, musty notes of cannabis rest on a bed of husky malts. The big alcohol is very evident as the beer warms up.

T- The hop flavors run the gamut of pine, grapefruit, pineapple, and passion fruit, while the malt backing provides very little balance to the searingly hoppy profile. A very dry finish leaves some citrus rind bitterness on the palate, but not for very long. The taste is just boozy enough to be manageable, and it actually kicks up the hop flavors and aromas much like some of my favorite DIPA's -- Maharaja and many of Port's offerings.

M- The beer feels oily and slick with a thick, almost syrupy texture. The carbonation bubbles are very fine but provide enough balance to the viscous mouthfeel.

D- This is a great DIPA. It's pretty drinkable even with it's rich hop bitterness and 10% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 03:58:22 | More by Tdizzle

Halcyondays

California

4.72/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12 oz. can,

A: Pours goldenrod with a light white head, some lacing.

S: Pungent resin and cedarwood, pine. Smells like a forest/Christmas tree. Reminds me a lot of Avery's Majaraja.

T: Pine and an elegant herbal bitterness, hints of oregano and mugwort as well just come together beautifully. Very light malt, but the spiciness of the rye comes through which I really liked and is maybe where I'm getting the oregano. Hint of ethanol in the finish. Very tasty. Big flavours.

M: Full-bodied, chewy and resiny, long hoppy aftertaste.

D: This is fantastic, it blows away Gordon without even trying, sorry Gordon. Nice sipping DIPA.

Serving type: can

03-16-2010 02:33:41 | More by Halcyondays

WhatsNewinBooze

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a great Imperial IPA! The boys at Oskar Blues have done it agian.

This beer pours a nice golden amber color with a foamy white head. The nose is amazing loaded with grapefruit and citrus with notes of fresh cut grass and pine. It was hard to let the aromas go long enough to take a sip. The palate is full and round with some distinctive hoppy notes, not your typical hops either. The hops all most have a hint of caramel which is quite welcoming. Overall one of the best colorado made Imperial IPAs

Serving type: can

03-14-2010 20:53:39 | More by WhatsNewinBooze

chicano4craft

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass. Golden with a hint of orange. Two finger, fluffy white head. Great looking beer.

The smell is amazing! I got this from the brewery so it was canned a week ago and super fresh. Very strong grapefruit. Citrusy hops dominate. Some sweet grass in the back with pine resin. I had to drag my nose away to taste the thing.

The taste delivers the promise of the nose. You get all the hops up front with a dry finish that is slighty sweet as the beer warms.Lacing is decent. Surprising drinkable.

Great Imperial IPA! The appearance and bouqet are brilliant. This will not be my last Gubna.

Serving type: can

03-14-2010 18:01:09 | More by chicano4craft

GRG1313

California

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a crisp golden orange with a full thick and pillowy white head. Great looking.

Nose is all ripe pineapple rich sweet hop nose. Mouthfeel is rich, bold and big.

Flavors are rull of big, bold pine resin and grapefruit skin oil bitterness that is assertive and long lasting. There is a rich, citric underlying hit of sweetness and complexity with layers of flavors from a hit of malt to lemon pie filling to rich grapefruit, grapefruit skin and pine and pine resin.

Finish of big citrus oils and pine. This big hoppy beer can hold it's head up high with any of the complex and popular hop head brews.

Serving type: can

03-13-2010 08:48:47 | More by GRG1313

GarrisWH

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear golden/copper with about one finger of white head. Retains a decent cap throughout and leaves some nice lacing behind.

S - Big aroma, and it's all hops - piney and herbal with some subdued floral and citric tones.

T - A nice kick of resinous, piney/herbal hops comes through first. Very well balanced with a sweet malt profile that is just enough without being overly sweet. Finishes crisp and clean, leaving a delicious mix of floral, citric, and piney hop flavors lingering on the palate into the aftertaste.

M - Medium to light bodied with a resinous feel. A mellow carbonation that fits well.

D - All I can say is wow. For 10% abv, this is a dangerously drinkable brew. The flavor and balance are both excellent, and the lighter body for such a big beer lets this one go down so smooth. Gubna is definitely making its way into my regular rotation.

Serving type: can

03-12-2010 05:34:05 | More by GarrisWH

Domingo

Colorado

2.73/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

EDIT: I never do this, but I’ve gone back and edited my review and scores for this beer because literally from my second can forward I’ve grown to detest this beer.
There’s something about certain hops (Summit being one of them…and the only hop used in this beer) that produces a garlic and meat-sauce like flavor that I just can’t get over. I believe it to be related to when the hops are added, but I’m honestly not 100% sure.
I admit to initially liking this beer for the first few sips and then it started to grind on me. By the end of the can I was pretty much choking it down.
Ever since, this has been a complete struggle to drink and one I won’t go back to. I don’t blame OB as some people love this beer and don’t pick up that flavor. Unfortunately for me, I do…and the Gubna won’t be in my fridge or list of taps I’ll revisit. I’ve tried to go back, but each time it gets a little worse.
The nose starts down the onion highway (but isn't too bad) but that flavor is something I can't get past.
It's a good looking beer with good texture, and probably a valiant effort for people who don't get onions from the hops. However for me it's a total dog.

Serving type: can

03-11-2010 18:43:53 | More by Domingo

ATGHomebrewer

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: about one finger of white head. nice lacing. golden, crystal clear.

S: piney with a resin-type aroma. dominated by hops, no yeast or malt profile to speak of. a little eartly/wet as well.

T: obviously heavy on the hop taste, and little to no malt in the background. aftertaste builds the hops even more. outstanding.

M: light and thin with high carbonation. bitter finish that lingers.

D: really liked this beer. thought it was true to the style of a double/imperial IPA. if you like Dale's and like IPA's you won't be dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2010 03:41:15 | More by ATGHomebrewer

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dave Chichura (Head Brewer, Oskar Blues) about the Gubna for our store's email newsletter. Here are some excerpts:

---

Gubna Imperial IPA, your 6th canned beer and new seasonal, is an amazing beer. Not only did our entire staff love it, but everyone I have spoken with (including employees of rival breweries) is down right giddy about Gubna.

I'm right there with 'em. I've said it since the first pilot brew was tapped: This is one of the best beers I've ever brewed. It has struck a chord with everyone around here. The fact that it's big but doesn't drink like it, the huge hop aroma and flavor that have you bracing for an immensely bitter finish that in reality just balances the beer and leaves you ready for the next sip (or gulp).

I have read that Gubna is a single hop beer, using Summit hops exclusively. Why only one hop and why Summit?

We had gotten a bunch of Summit hops from one of our suppliers so we had some other hops to play with when we could. I had never used it before. A few months ago I used Summit to dryhop a small amount of Gordon before it was dryhopped as it normally is. I really liked the aroma it gave the beer and it went nicely with the flavor of the Gordon, too. As we talked about distinguishing the new beer from anything else we made, I thought the hop choice would be key, so Summit it was. It was worth trying on a 10 bbl basis. If the rest of the hop's attributes were as good as the aroma, it was an easy choice to make.

What can you tell us about the brewing process and the other ingredients used for Gubna?

Nothing. There's a gag order in effect. Actually it's pretty straightforward. It's a simple beer: 2-row, Munich and rye malt.

---

Anyways, I have been dying to sit down and review this beer, so let's get on with it. Gubna pours a crystal clear light caramel body with a white head. The aroma is HUGE. Pine needle and citrus dominate, but there is an herbal, earthy, almost savory element to it.

After my first swallow, I am struck by the remarkable balance of this beer. It has massive hop aroma and flavor, but when you get to the finish, the big, bitter astringent character you would expect to experience simply isn't there. It is incredible. Why is it so smooth?

Tasting notes are in line with the aromas. Some tangerine, grapefruit and lemon peel. Pine needles littered all over the place. And then this earthy, savory thing again. What is that? Is it the rye?

I keep taking sips in a losing effort to completely understand the flavors I am experiencing, when I realize I have finished a 10% ABV Double IPA in a matter of minutes. This is the greatness of Gubna. Its flavors are both familiar and new and it drinks more like a Pale Ale than a DIPA.

I try to avoid hyperbole. This business has WAY too much already. So I will simply say this: Just when you think the last thing the world needs is another Double IPA, Gubna comes around and sweeps you off your feet. Well done Dave, well done.

Serving type: can

03-09-2010 05:38:30 | More by BradLikesBrew