Oskar Blue's Old Chub 6Pk

Oskar Blues Old Chub 6-Pack is a rich, 8% ABV Scotch Ale brewed with seven malts and German beechwood-smoked grains, sold in six 12 oz cans. A GABF Bronze Medal winner in 2011, Old Chub stands out in the American Scotch Ale category for its layered malt complexity and distinctive kiss of Bamberg-style smoke that few domestic breweries attempt.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Longmont, Colorado, USA  |  Style: Scotch Ale / Scottish Strong Ale  |  Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery

Production & Heritage

Oskar Blues Brewery, founded in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, earned a reputation as the first American craft brewery to can its beer in 2002. Old Chub's grain bill draws from seven distinct malts—including crystal and chocolate varieties—balanced by a restrained addition of both US and UK hops. What truly distinguishes the recipe is a measure of beechwood-smoked malt from Weyermann Malting in Bamberg, Germany, where spring barley is kilned over a traditional beechwood fire, lending Old Chub its signature wisp of smoke.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted malt and fresh bread lead, followed by layers of toffee and roasted nuts. A gentle, lingering hint of beechwood smoke weaves underneath without dominating.

Taste: The entry is malty and moderately sweet, with candied fig and raisin flavors arriving first. Mid-palate brings semi-sweet cocoa and coffee tones supported by deep caramel, while a light balancing bitterness keeps the sweetness in check. The overall impression is rich but never cloying.

Finish: Medium-long and creamy, with a skim-milk texture that coats the palate. Chocolate, toffee, and a final whisper of smoke linger as the bitterness fades slowly.

How to Drink Old Chub

Old Chub is best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, to let the malt complexity fully open up; pouring into a thistle glass or snifter concentrates the aroma. A Boilermaker pairs a shot of peated Scotch alongside Old Chub, amplifying the shared smoky character. A Beer Float made with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream plays off the cocoa and toffee sweetness. A Black and Tan layered with a dry Irish stout creates a striking contrast of roasty dryness against Old Chub's malty richness.

Best For

• Cold-weather evening sessions by a firepit or after a day on the slopes
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who enjoys malt-forward, high-gravity styles
• Pairing with a holiday roast dinner or barbecue spread
• Introducing Scotch whisky drinkers to the Scotch Ale style

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Chub taste like? Old Chub delivers semi-sweet flavors of cocoa, caramel, and toffee layered with candied fig and raisin, all threaded with a subtle beechwood smoke. It pours nearly black with a creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel.

How does Old Chub compare to AleSmith Wee Heavy? Both are high-gravity Scotch Ales, but Old Chub's beechwood-smoked German malt introduces a smoky dimension that AleSmith's Wee Heavy—known for a cleaner, deeply caramelized profile—does not feature. Old Chub is also lower in ABV (8% vs. AleSmith's 10%), making it somewhat more sessionable within the style.

Is Old Chub good for sipping neat? Absolutely—its 8% ABV and layered malt character reward slow, deliberate sipping from a proper glass at cellar temperature. The complexity unfolds gradually and benefits from warming slightly in the hand.

Where is Old Chub made? Old Chub is brewed by Oskar Blues Brewery at their facility in Longmont, Colorado. The brewery was originally founded in 1997 as a brewpub in Lyons, Colorado, and became a pioneer in craft beer canning.

What foods pair well with Old Chub? Smoked brisket or pulled pork echoes the beer's beechwood smoke. Rich chocolate desserts like flourless cake complement the cocoa and coffee notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère matches Old Chub's caramel sweetness. Roasted lamb shanks stand up to the malt intensity. Sticky toffee pudding mirrors the beer's toffee and dark fruit character.

What sizes does Old Chub come in? Old Chub is widely available in 6-packs of 12 oz cans, the format Oskar Blues is best known for, and can also be found in single cans depending on the market.

Is Old Chub worth the price? Old Chub positions as a premium craft Scotch Ale that punches well above its price tier, delivering imported specialty malt, genuine complexity, and 8% ABV in an accessible 6-pack format that competes with bottles costing significantly more per serving.

Why Old Chub?

The use of Weyermann beechwood-smoked malt imported from Bamberg, Germany, is the single detail that lifts Old Chub beyond a standard American-brewed Scotch Ale. That traditional Franconian smoking technique, combined with a seven-malt grain bill and judicious hop restraint, produces a beer with genuine depth rather than gimmick. Its 2011 GABF Bronze Medal confirmed what drinkers already knew: Old Chub is one of the most accomplished domestic Scotch Ales in production. In a category where many breweries lean on caramel sweetness alone, Old Chub's smoke-and-malt balance gives it a character all its own.