Chub, a Scottish ale

[Pat Hammond]

Is anyone familiar with Chub? I thought it was absolutely delicious. It was like a bottle of dessert!

[TongoRad]

I am assuming you mean Old Chub, brewed by Oskar Blues in Colorado. 'Tis a fine beer indeed- big but not too big (8%), dangerously smooth with a great smoked and chocolate malt finish, not too pricey- what's not to like? I've only seen it in cans, though.

[Pat Hammond]

All I could remember was Chub. Thanks! Yes, we had it from a can, and it was much too cold, but we warmed it with our hands before drinking. I could imagine it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it. I hope I can find it hereabouts.

[Jim Dorsch]

Here's the lowdown on where to find it: http://www.oskarblues.com/locations/

[Pat Hammond]

Thanks, Jim. My little grocery store here in town was listed as a supplier! They do have an amazing number of beers, but I didn't expect to find it 6 minutes away. I'll get some the next time I shop. And thanks to TongoRed, I'll know just what to look for.

[TongoRad]

Ice cream Floats are one of life's great pleasures! I bet that would make a good one.

It shouldn't be too hard to track some down in the NYC metro area. The thing is that you sort of have to know what you're looking for (or just ask)- the twelve-packs of cans are in a sealed box so you might visually skim over it if you are looking for the actual cans on the shelf. Hope that helps.

[Dalton]

POURED IT DOWN THE DRAIN !!!! That's alcohol abuse my friend. I do agree, that flavor might not be for everyone (but it's great with a good cigar). Try Dave's Pale Ale or Gordon, both from Oscar Blues. Really good micro brews. And you can take 'em on a backpack trip or to the river. (Sorry, this was meant for Chinon00, below)

[wagger]

Point of clarification. It's Dale's Pale Ale. Dale is the founder and Oskar Blues brews great beer! Their food at the brew pub is also pretty damn good and they also have great live music.

[Jim Dorsch]

Oskar Blues excels in several areas. Besides making good beer, they are excellent at getting the word out, and doing fun things to promote themselves, their beer, good music, ...

[wagger]

They just launched their new brewery in Longmont and will be increasing production.

I see that you're a Lagunitas fan. Me, too. And they are a wild bunch at the brewery! (I work in the craft brew industry.)

[Jim Dorsch]

Yes, Lagunitas does some great beers. I do some work myself in the beer biz.

Since you reminded me, I changed my fave beer at the moment, since Brown Shugga is gone until next year.

[brentk]

Lagunitas, Magic Hat and Sweetwater, to me, represent the wrong way for the craft beer industry to go. Their antics undermine the ability for craft beer to be taken seriously and their beers, to my palate, reflect a lack of finesse.

When I look at what is going on in places like Russian River, Port Brewing, Kuhnhenn, Short's, Captain Lawrence, Sixpoint and Saint Somewhere (just to name a few in a variety of geographies) I get really excited for the direction of craft brewing.

Lagunitas and that ilk - not so much.

[Jim Dorsch]

If you want to continue this conversation, I suggest you repost your thoughts as a new topic. Meanwhile, here are a few thoughts:

I don't know Sweetwater well, but am aware that some of their reputation is due to their 420 beer.

Magic Hat might be viewed by some as being more than a bit pretentious.

While Lagunitas has had some issues due to its 420 parties, I believe they do a solid job in the brewhouse.

[wagger]

One person's "antics" is another person's fun! I don't believe that antics and great brew are mutually exclusive. Dogfish Head also pulls some crazy stuff and makes great beer. North Coast, Lost Coast and Oskar Blues are not exactly boring places, either.

[Kenji]

They are a remarkable brewery. Dale's is my favorite pale ale. Old Chub is my favorite Scotch Ale. Gordon is a very fine 2IPA. And I hear that the same brewery's Ten Fidy is beautiful imperial stout; I can't wait to try it.

[niquejim]

"Old Chub is my favorite Scotch Ale."

Not even close. Try Traquair House

[Kenji]

I've had Traquair House. I prefer Old Chub.

[The Professor]

Both Traquair House and Old Chub are excellent beers, but quite different from each other. Traquair House, however, is a benchmark of the style. It is the quintessential "Wee Heavy" While Old Chub is a beautiful, big, tasty brew, it is a bit too heavily hopped to really be a Scottish Ale, when traditionally tend towards the maltier side of things. The Chub is one tasty bew though, and I always keep some around.

[Kenji]

I agree with everything you say -- except your description of Old Chub's hopping, which, to my mind, is very mild. I'd describe it with terms like "rich," "malty," chocolaty," "sweet," "smoky," "creamy-textured," et cetera. Old Chub has some hops, but I find I have to delve through all that thick malt to find them.

Dale's Pale Ale or Gordon, on the other hand...

[slobhan]

I've only seen it in cans, too. And it's yummy. Smooth & smoky. I've also somehow picked up an Old Chub lip balm that's not too bad....maybe found it at the Great American Beer Festival?

[Chinon00]

Bought a 6er of this and poured 4 cans down the drain. It tasted like chocolate cola to me with no interesting features at all. Just sugar really. HOWEVER I had it on draft and thought that it was amazing. Smokey and not as thick and cloying as it was in the can. Really wonderful stuff (on draft).

[Pat Hammond]

I did like the syrupy quality but look forward to comparing canned to draft. I should be able to find it in Manhattan.

[wildfire]

On draft it is amazing! They have it at my favorite bar and wow! I liked it already, but man, it is that much better on tap!

[Kenji]

Old Chub is fantastic, my favorite Scotch Ale ever. I'm also enamored with Oskar Blues' Dale's Pale Ale.

I just picked up my first four-pack of OB's Gordon, their 2IPA. I can't wait to get into it.

[Pat Hammond]

Let me know about that one; my store seems to stock the lot. I bought a six-pack of the Chub @ 8.99. Not bad!

Thanks, everybody! Pat

[Kenji]

I liked Gordon a lot, but my favorite douple IPAs are still Great Divide's Hercules and Dogfish Head 90 Minute. It didn't wow me as Old Chub does.

Just a few months ago, I could get the Chub at $7.69! No longer; it's now $9.99 at the same store.

[wagger]

The price of hops and barley is sky rocketing mostly thanks to farmers growing corn for ethanol. Left Hand Brewing is holding steady on price because they had some foresight and stocked up on hops & barley when prices were still reasonable.