Oskar Blues Gordon

Brewed by Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Lyons, Colorado USA

12 ounce can. Who knew that beer from a can could be so damn good? The pour delivered a translucent copper-red body, an orange aura, and a thin white head. The lacing was good. The nose was of caramel, graham cracker, orange, and a wee bit of alcohol. The flavor was of bitter orange, more orange than grapefruit. This was offset by light caramel, graham cracker, and an alcohol flavor that could almost convince me that Gordon was aged in oak casks. The alcohol bordered on lightly varnished wood, in a pleasing way. On the finish, there is a hint of sugary sweetness that reminds me of cotton candy. As Gordon warms, a faint grassiness emerges, both in the nose and in the palate. The ale engages the entire mouth. In addition, the alcohol presence gave Gordon a minor "heat" that rests in the esophagus and upper stomach. I liked this ale a lot. It was described as "a dry-hopped hybrid strong ale somewhere between a Double IPA and and Imperial Amber Ale," and I think this is an accurate assessment. I liked the complexity of aroma and flavor. I liked its assertiveness. I liked that it is named Gordon. I will be having this again. I will, however, probably have to rethink my whole "better out of a bottle" philosophy. I expect some canned craft beer exploration is in order.

This ASA pours a hazy orange gold color from a 12oz can. A small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is citrusy hops and caramel malts. A medium bodied ASA. The malts are caramel and sweet, a touch bready. The hops are piney and citrusy. Nice balance. Good carbonation. Nice balance. It is a cross between an Imperial IPA and a Barley Wine. I think I really like ASA in a can. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

12 oz. can that i did pour into a trappist glass has a dark ruby color and a thin light tan head that lightly laced. aromas have pine floral hops, honey sweetness, and back round citrus. mouth feel is surprisingly full with great medium carbonation. plenty of malt, sharp pine hops, on the sweeter side, with some resiny bitterness. finish has some biting hops and moves to bitter and dry. very nice body and balance.

Thought this was a regular IPA so I wasn’t getting it but now I read the description and I’m good with it. Solid brew with a good hoppy backbone. Right up my alley. Wish it came in 6 packs.

This poured copper/amber in color with a moderate head of off-white bubbles. The aromas given off were quite hoppy showing the floral and citric sides of hops along with dark caramel and finishing with a touch of spice. In the mouth the hops again begin the show before transitioning to the malty flavors. Medium-bodied and smooth with the hops reappearing in the bitter finish.

Can. Pours a red amber color with tan head. Nose of sweet, sticky malts and piney hops. Flavor is like an IPA with peat, honey and flower hops...along with sweet malt. Sweet and somewhat bitter at the end.

The Midwest answer to Arrogant Bastard!!! Highly hopped, full of maltiness and sweetness, yet refreshingly bitter. Pours copper with a tan head. Fluffy tan head. Pours opaque. Flowery hop notes mix with the caramel maltiness. I wish I picked up more than 1. SECOND ANALYSIS: This is a perfect DIPA. If you get this fresh, expect a perfectly dank aroma to the hoppage in this one.

Hazy copper with a creamy head that sticks around. Flowery hoppy with a hint of citrus. There’s a bitterness at the end that evens out the flowery sweet hop taste. Very light on the tongue, with a clean finish. A definite must-have on tap. I’d buy it at the store way more often if it weren’t so pricey.