CB's MacBubba - CB's Brewing Company

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.2/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

We pour a reddish chestnut colored brew. It holds a brief one finger head of massive white bubbles. This goes quickly, leaving wet flecks of lacing dripping down the sides of the glasses. There is a moderate haze to it, with a few bits of sediment noted. Carbonation appears near nonexistent. The aroma shows dark and sweet caramel malts. There is a mild leather quality to the back, with a hearty metallic twinge of light adjuncts and yeast. It is a bit boozy on the back. Our first impression is that the flavoring is decent, with a surprising smoke to the back. The flavoring opens with mild sweetness of caramel malts, and a faint smokiness to the malts. This is a very mild start. We move to the peak with an enhancing sweetness, and a deepening to the malts, with light coffees and darker, more roasty caramels. The finish is awash with watered malts and light adjuncts, as in the nose, with a final hint of that same, cooked caramel sweetness. The booze, which began faintly in the middle, shows up more robustly in the very end, with nutmeg and black pepper spice. The aftertaste breathes of booze, hot leather, mild char, caramel sweetness, and adjuncty grain. The body is lighter, and the carbonation is medium. The mouth is coated with a fine astringency, and tea-like tannin dryness. There is otherwise pleasant slurp and smack, but little overt froth to the lips. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks decently.

Overall, what we liked best about this brew was the aroma. They gave depth through sharp additions, with those notes of leather, and that faraway smokiness to the malts. This was quite inviting, and appropriately warming, but the flavoring fell short, and was a bit washed out by the end. The feel was equally as thin and disappointing, as we would expect something heartier to hold up against such bold flavorings required by the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 00:14:57 | More by TheBrewo

ejh06752

New York

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%

05-13-2013 02:58:06 | More by ejh06752

sketchyhoodie

New York

2.75/5  rDev -18.9%

03-03-2013 03:43:24 | More by sketchyhoodie

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours caramel creamy brown. A bulked up mouthfeel. Decent drinkability. Slightly smokey, toasted. Raisins. Lace lines. Not a bad one for the style.Some extra courtesy of a generous participant, and a little ageing helped. Somewhat sweet, though not cloying.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 01:29:43 | More by northyorksammy

VaporDome

New York

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%

12-09-2012 20:43:46 | More by VaporDome

ABokononist

New York

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%

10-21-2012 15:52:56 | More by ABokononist

Mediczod

New York

3.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad version of Scotch Ale, but not great either. Pours with a slight head that disappears rapidly. Strong scents of raisin, fig and malt. Hazy burnt orange color in the glass. Smooth in the mouth with a lingering smoky flavor that has some lemon notes to it. Strong enough that it would overpower milder foods, but would go well with grilled steak or chicken. At first sip I was inclined not to like it, but as I kept going I warmed up to it. I'd drink it again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find it.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 10:06:09 | More by Mediczod

JacobJustus1

New York

3.58/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Amber, decent carbonation, little to no head from a slower pour.

S: Not much at first. Light bready malts ala an English Pale. Little hops. As it warms a little, more smells . Some sweet sugary aromas, and a little dark fruit of some sort.

T: Pretty good. Malty sweetness flavor pop a little, hops provide a dull, but still present edge.. Definitely some caramel, and very light chocolate and floral notes. Butterscotch as well. Doesn't quite all flow naturally though.

M: Decently Creamy, enough fizz to make it pop a little.

O: Not shabby, but not Very Good either. I feel it would really benefit from having some more bitter notes to tie it all together... It doesn't feel very well defined and assertive, even though there are some good flavors here. I am new to the style though, only having had Founder's Dirty Bastard before. I think that set the bar high. I've had worse craft beers, but there's so many other beers I would go to first. Peace!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 02:58:37 | More by JacobJustus1

kevmcdin2003

4/5  rDev +18%

08-08-2012 02:19:50 | More by kevmcdin2003

BeerBucks

New York

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%

04-21-2012 00:24:31 | More by BeerBucks

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into tulip, no date.

A- Murky, burnt orange pour with a finger width soapy off white head. Drops to a thin ring with large bubbles. Lacing is spotty.

S- Stone fruits, brown sugar, caramel and slight alcohol. There is a yeast aroma that almost resembles lemon... subtle floral hop.

T- Slightly watery tasting. There is very little sweetness to it. Malt bill is a little on the light side I think. Grassy flavor with a touch of lemon or cherry. Light mineral taste with a bright yeast. I have not had a lot of scotch ales, but the ones I have had were much more involved taste wise than this.

M- Light bodied, slightly chewey.

O- This beer isn't terrible, it has massive potential. It's just lacking a depth and feel most others from the style have.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 21:52:20 | More by korguy123

Zaso

3/5  rDev -11.5%

03-05-2012 01:19:38 | More by Zaso

spark3148857

New York

4.25/5  rDev +25.4%

02-10-2012 20:01:53 | More by spark3148857

Otisimaas

Texas

4/5  rDev +18%

01-23-2012 03:09:20 | More by Otisimaas

Jason

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

LOOK: Clear mahogany, tiny bubbled two fingers of froth on top.

SMELL: Dark bread, dried plums, brown sugar, mild biscuit, yeast, herbal hop

TASTE: Smooth, sweet, toasty, bready, yeast, hop spice, woody, dried grassy, very faint peak smoke, husk, semi-sweet finish

Love how this one is not trying to over power with a sickly sweetness, smoke and a massive level of alcohol. A handful of brewers like to overdue this style, a subtle one at that. CB's version is right on track.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 02:05:40 | More by Jason

Hoagie1973

New York

3.13/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Amber-brown with a 1-finger tan head that dissipates quickly. Light strings of lacing.
Nose is VERY chocolatey for a Scotch Ale. Usually don't get that much cocoa in anything but a stout or porter.
Sweet bready malt flavor with a definite cocoa character. Not really your conventional Scotch Ale. Different, but not terrible or undrinkable.
Medium body/feel.
More of an English Brown Ale than a Scotch Ale in both look and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 15:31:14 | More by Hoagie1973

yesyouam

New York

2.75/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

MacBubba Scotch Ale is a slightly hazy, dull copper ale with a thin, sand colored head that fades to a film. The beer is turbulent enough to keep the film in motion. A kind of faint, dark malt aroma has a touch of sweetness and a grassy note. Melanoid is detected. It's medium light bodied and pretty watery. The finish is sharp and it leaves the teeth a little gritty. It tastes a quite sweet up front, but that gives way to a leafy bitterness and maybe a touch of phenol. The finish is a little... cheesy. Well, it's beer, anyway.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 16:08:25 | More by yesyouam

Sean9689

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks Jason! I hate you.

A - Pours a reddish copper color, thin ring, no lace, no cap.

S - Toffee, roast, dark fruits. Weird.

T - Dark fruits, light roast, some dark chocolate, honey.

M - Light body, good carbonation, fruity finish.

O - Meh...not a good example of a Scotch Ale by any means. Could barley finish my pour and then quickly moved on. Not good.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 16:28:14 | More by Sean9689

MasterSki

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle generously shared by Jason. Really enjoyed the label art on this one. Served in a Hill Farmstead glass.

A - Quick-dissolving off-white foam that settles to nothing - no lace, collar, or cap. Transparent dark orange-red body with some visible bubbles.

S - Milk chocolate, light smoke, toffee, some fruity English ale yeast.

T - Taste is less exciting. Some chocolate, toffee, fruity yeast. Not bad, just pretty boring.

M - Smooth texture, medium-bodied, with lower carbonation, and no alcohol, not that I was expecting at 6.5%.

D - Meh. It's a pretty generic Scotch Ale. Thankfully there were no off-flavors, but what was there wasn't terribly interesting. I'd have it again if I were desperate, but otherwise it's forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 18:10:01 | More by MasterSki