Oskar Blues Tasting

Oskar Blues out of Colorado is America’s first craft brewery to can their own beer. Why can you say? Well as Oskar will tell you, there are a lot of benefits to cans when compared to bottles. Cans can keep beer fresher as the solid aluminum blocks out all light (that makes beer skunky) and keep it just as fresh and carbonated as glass. Aluminum is easier to recycle. The cans are lighter and smaller making them easier and cheaper to ship. Also, due to their size they’re easier to stuff in a cooler and carry along, wherever it is that you go, no need to pack a bottle opener.

Enough about the vessel, how about the beer?

Mamas Little Yella Pils

It’s light, clean, crisp and refreshing taste make this a good session beer. It’s Oskar Blues’ least alcoholic offering at 5.5%. Free of adjuncts like rice, this beer has a more full flavor. I’m not the biggest fan, but again, I’m not a pilsner fan.

G’Knight Imperial Red (a.k.a. Gordon)

“If you knew the man behind this tribute, this ale needs no explanation. If you didn’t we’re sorry” reads this can. And as we were told by the sales rep for Oskar Blues, this beer was dedicated to a Vietnam vet named Gordon Knight who tragically died in a 2002 helicopter crash while fighting wild fires. BAD ASS! Friends and brewers at Oskar Blues have truly honored him with an equally bad ass brew. Dark red in color with a creamy off-white head. Sweet smells of toffee, caramel, and malty goodness hover above this beer. Gooey, sticky hops run throughout with a little bit of fruitiness. And call me crazy, but I thought it tasted a little bit like marshmellows. G’Knight is really an amazing beer that gives no hints of its massive 8.7% ABV.

Dale's Pale Ale

Oskar Blues first offering is still a hit and responsible for over half of the breweries sales. Coming off of G’Knight it feels thin and watery to the mouth but the flavor is not missed. It’s full of bright and bitter hops. Grassy and orangey flavors in abundance. This clean and refreshing beer is well balanced and a great example of American pale ales.

Old Chub Scottish Ale

Old Chub is a big (8%) and dark Scottish ale. It’s rich, smokey, and malty. Chub smells and tastes of bitter chocolate, roasted malts, and a little caramel. I would love to put this in my next chili. Chubby Chili? It’s gonna happen. Another fine example of craft beer from Oskar Blues.

Ten Fidy Imperial Stout

This critically acclaimed beer, appearing in the top 100 beers on ratebeer.com, does not fall short of expectations. Motor oil is the first thought that comes to mind. Its soooo thick, soooo black, and oh so delicious! So thick you could chew on it! Ten Fidy tastes like oatmeal drizzled with chocolate and caramel served with a mug of coffee. I could drink this for breakfast it wasn’t 10.5%! And, despite the valuation it’s even more than 21 times better than Fidy Cent. This mammoth of a beer grabs you and doesn’t let go.


Oskar Blues’ is the little can that could. They will strip you of all your biases and prove that beer this good can come from can.

-Kyle