For the past few years Oskar Blues Gubna has been numero uno on my list of favorite beers, here’s why…
For starters, you cannot drink it without saying, “ello Gubna” in a British accent and that’s just fun to do, go ahead and try it, I’ll wait…(waiting)…see what I mean? While it is fun to say, don’t be mistaken, it’s more than just a beer with a funny name.
The first thing you notice when you open a can of Gubna is the incredible citrus aroma that floods your nostrils, ok that sounds gross but it’s not. The wonderful smell comes from post-fermentation dry hopping and it begs you to take a sip.
The aroma, as incredible as it is, is still not the best part of this meticulously crafted beer. The complex flavors that greet your palate with every sip make this, in my opinion, one of the best craft beers on the market. There is a unique sweetness to this Imperial IPA that I have not found in very many beers of this style. The sweetness is not overpowering and is complemented well by a strong hop character contributing notes of grapefruit and citrus rind. While it contains 10% ABV you would never know it because you really can’t taste the alcohol, I suspect it is covered up by the intense hop flavor. It finishes with a nice clean bitterness and in most cases another sip!