Original Oak Aged Beer
Innis & Gunn

Original Oak Aged BeerOriginal Oak Aged Beer
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From:
Innis & Gunn
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
Scottish Ale
Ranked #36
ABV:
6.6%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,883
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 14.93%
Reviews:
621
Ratings:
1,924
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 10, 2024
Added:
Sep 15, 2003
Wants:
  97
Gots:
  465
This is our firstborn brew, whose accidental discovery started our story in 2003. Its originality also lies in its singular taste – notes of biscuity malt and vanilla swirling within a creamy, mellow character.

A pioneering beer, its flavour finds favour with brewing juries, blind tasting panels and barflies alike.
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
11.2 oz bottle enjoy by date June 2024 into a tulip glass.
L: SRM 4 Pours 99% clear rich glowing caramel color with very good steady carbo bubbles, a thin soapy off-white head that goes to a thin froth, light random lacing.
S: Lightly peated caramel malts, very lightly floral, vanilla, toffee, a light woody booze barrel note.
T: Sweet toasty fruit bread notes, buttery caramelized malts, dried fruits, raisins, dates, citrus, plum, a hint of smoke, toasted grains, has a zesty lingering finish. It is mildly full-flavored and has a nutty oaken wooden cask halo.
F: Brisk medium bodied feel with a medium-long drying finish. Becomes lightly creamy with warming.
O: Very delicious with a toasty character. It is wood cask-like in palate and smooths out with a little warming. Sweet tastes and whiskey barrel notes are all around this fine beer. It has been under rated and IMHO it is outstanding in its style.
Mar 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by BrisLoganite from Australia

Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.55 by Beecham from California

Oct 14, 2023
Photo of 1BrewBacca
Reviewed by 1BrewBacca from Georgia

3.76/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The weakest colored Scottish ale I've try up til now.
Label says Whiskey Cask Matured. Not picking that up very much.
Quite malty though.
Easy to drink.
Overall I should have paid closer attention to the label. After al says Scottish Golden Beer. Not Scottish Ale. But not bad.
Sep 07, 2023
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
330ml bottle into a pint glass. No freshness dating.

Golden yellow body with a small white head leaving a sheet of lacing. Neutral aroma. Malty, sweet, light presence of the barrel. Smooth and very easy drinking. Doesn't seem like a 6.6.
Jul 22, 2023
Photo of semiotic
Reviewed by semiotic from Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
I discovered this beer in Canada a few years ago. I have been able to find it in the Cleveland, OH area lately. But something has changed. This was my favorite beer of all time, with its whiskey barrel aroma and delicious toffee and vanilla notes. A month ago, I bought 2 6 -packs up in Canada to bring home with me. It was actually cheaper there than the US--which is unusual. Much to my chagrin, the 500 ml cans tasted incredibly sweeter than the Innis & Gunn Original I was used to. The delicate balance of flavors was overcome by a cloying caramel sweetness. I contacted I&G in Scotland, and they asked me for the date and lot # on the bottom of the cans, and presumably they were to look into it. That was about a week ago---but no response so far. Such a bummer. I haven't been able to find any Original here at home since then. I hope the overly sweet brew was an anomaly. So, not really sure how to rate it now. I didn't mind paying 17 bucks for a 6-pk...because it was so darn tasty, a special treat.
Jun 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.81 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Mar 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.05 by Danzifer from Ohio

Feb 15, 2023
Photo of KleinSchwein
Reviewed by KleinSchwein

4.52/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look:- Deep red-brown Thin head that reduce to just cover the surface. Good lacing .

Smell :- Slight malt and hops and mellow whiskey.

Taste :- Sweet whiskey , rich honey and treacle . Delicious.

Mouth feel :- Smooth, lightly carbonated and thick .

Overall :- Tasty , luxurious beer . Almost liqueur like . A beer to pair with some good cheese .
Sep 24, 2022
Photo of donzilake
Rated by donzilake from Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer earns a solid B to B+
Jul 20, 2022
Photo of LanceBiggums
Reviewed by LanceBiggums from Canada (AB)

3.82/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one is a certified hood classic. I thought this was the best and most luxurious beer in the world when I was in high school. Spent many summer nights out in the woods and fields, off my head on this stuff and the weed. It pours a light, almost-clear yellow amber, with a big three-finger off-white head. The smell is mostly sweet caramel and maybe vanilla,not much going on. The flavour, on the other hand, is actually quote complex. Toffee, caramel, vanilla, big banana notes. The hops presence is quite subtle. It is definitely on the sweet side. As for the feel, it goes down smooth as ever, almost as easily as any 5% lager despite its 6% and strong flavour. That being said I don't think I could swig this back like I used to in the old days. The sweetness, the toffee, the woody taste, and the bookings would all become cloying very fast. Overall, although now I know there are many beers out there that are much better, it does still hold up as a pretty good beer - and of course, it's a bit nostalgic too.
Jun 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Stengelfoot from California

Jun 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by Bruno74200 from France

May 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by KT3418 from Colorado

May 10, 2022
 
Photo of menaker
Rated by menaker

5/5  rDev +33.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
One of my favorites, great flavour to drink with or without food,
Jan 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.02 by MacStinson from Michigan

Jan 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.43 by Gukkor from Texas

Dec 07, 2021
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Medium golden body with just a touch of haze, crowned by a somewhat coarse and superbly persistent white head. Striking Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass wall. Streams of fat bubbles drift lazily to the surface.

Aroma: The aroma is quite surprising, with fresh butter, sweet caramel, bread, and grassy notes, with just a hint of oak.

Taste: The taste opens with some moderate oak, a note that I associate with Scotch Whisky, and truth be told, vanilla wafers. As the taste progresses the oak and Scotch Whisky notes intensify a bit. Finishes with a lingering note of mild oak.

Mouth feel: Full, soft and smooth, with a ghostly zest of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: A most unusual example of the style, quite unlike any other I have tried, but pleasing, nonetheless.

Presentation: Packaged in an 11.2 0unce, 335 ml bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a Lan Fin du Monde chalice.
Nov 07, 2021
Original Oak Aged Beer from Innis & Gunn
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 1924 ratings