Innis And Gunn Oak Aged Beer - Innis & Gunn

Ghohn

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Odor was predominately oak with little or no residue of the malt you would expect with the color.

Color was a gentle red reminescent of Oktoberfest.

Taste was sweet with a slight oak, not earth, taste. Slight vanilla overtones wun throughout.

It poured to a slight head which dissapated quickly.

I started with the rum cask ale first which honestly skewered my taste even though it's been a few weeks. This beer by comparison is almost bland. Good, but not as good as the rum!

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 17:34:35 | More by Ghohn

coldriver

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into Sam Adams Glass. Pours a light amber with adequate head and lacing. Light oak aroma predominates. Just like the bottle sez, natural hints of Toffee, Vanilla, and Oak but I also get a slight Scotch flavor. Light mouthfeel. Okay, I'm into hop bombs - this is not at all a beer I should be interested in. But - this is fantastic! A delicate concoction so flavorful and yet so subtle and well-balanced.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 04:36:24 | More by coldriver

coy

Mexico

4.65/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance.- Nice orange amber color, with low head.

Smell.-Bourbon almost whiskey like aroma.

Taste.- Sweet, vanilla and oaked perfectly with toffee notes.

Mouthfeel.- Light body, low carbonation.

Overall.- A great beer this is one of my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:52:08 | More by coy

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: White 2 finger creamy head that lasts and laces. Crystal clear caramel color. Awesome!

S: Oak, bourbon, vanilla and a hint of smoke.

T: Vanilla, sugar, caramel, sweetness and oak. Sweetness can be licked off my lips. Really caramelized to perfection. Oak isn't overpowering which turns me off to most wood aged beers.

M: Malty and sweet but thin body.

O: Really good scotch aged on oak. Pretty much a standard to base most oaked scotch ales. It's really mild which I like. Although change the bottle to brown to prevent lightstruck!

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 01:21:51 | More by JerseyKirk

indesertum

New York

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

nice pillowy head. nice lacing. clear golden amber color

toffee, vanilla, caramel on the nose. same on the tongue. lighty malty sweetness. oaky. clean clear flavors

nice carbonation, nice mouthfeel. good carbonation. light slightly syrupy

good beer. an a or a- in my book

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 07:34:59 | More by indesertum

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

- Packaged in a clear bottle. Served between 4-6C as suggested.

A: Cadmium orange, crystal clarity with a steady strong rise of macro-bubble carbonation that was fast paced. A slight head, creamy and beige in color provides a spotty weak and sparse lacing.

S: The aroma was strong of oaky vanilla scents as promised. Light scotchy alcohol from the 6.6% abv.

T: The flavor was scotch and water, strong oaky barrel character. Some sweet caramel/toffee notes, which at times was emphasized. The alcohol pays a good compliment to the oak vanilla and toffee notes.

M: Slick, syrupy texture, quiet effervesce, bready light-medium body with a slight alcohol warmth of scotch-oak.

O: Overall a smooth drinker. As a Scottish ale some mixed feelings. The malting seemed a bit thin, and the toffee/caramel notes were exaggerated to the point where it was like a liquid twix candy bar. The oaky vanilla character was a nice twist, but seemed to overtake the malt character of the beer. Color was lighter then most per style, didn’t have the full malt body, and lacked a touch of smokiness. More slick and wet then dry from roasted malting. A neat flavor and twist, a bit deviant by style, but makes for an interesting try and you cant fault that.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 23:09:25 | More by beerthulhu

sirdrinkwell

Florida

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: pours a golden amber with a fleeting bit of white head which quickly disappears to leave only the thinnest of rings around my glass.

S: very muted aroma. I am getting butter and toffee, smoke, and the oak wood.

T: peppery sweetness up front followed by vanilla and malty cream, and a warming wood coated alcohol meets toffee finish.

M: medium carbonation and balance, a rooty aftertaste from the oak.

O: this brew goes down as a bit more of a mash than i feel it should. more muddled than "complex" i don't think this is something that will grow on me.

salud...

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 06:19:50 | More by sirdrinkwell

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Draft

Appearance - Light copper colour with a fairly large fizzy/foamy white head. There isn't much carbonation showing and there is a fair amount of lacing on the glass. The head lasted for about 4 minutes before it was pretty much gone.

Smell - Toffee/caramel, malts, wood

Taste & Mouth - There is a slightly below average amount of carbonation and I can taste lots of toffee mixed with malts. There is also a touch of hops and the oak flavour is there.. but it's not as in my face as I expected it to be. It ends with a toffee sweet aftertaste.

Overall - I was happy to see this one on tap at a local restaurant. It's not a mind blowing beer but the taste is well balanced and it's very drinkable. I could also see this beer working well as a gateway beer to get people into craft.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 13:52:32 | More by spinrsx

ommegangpbr

New York

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Gorgeous on the pour. Tall off white head you can sculpt with sitting atop a clear, purdy amber body.
Smells of vanilla and soft notes. Tastes are similar. Scotch and club soda with some added sweetness. Definitely oak character but subtly done. Thin bodied.
A glass of single malt scotch as a glass of beer. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 08:35:35 | More by ommegangpbr

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours dark amber with a small quickly fading head.
Nose shows woody oak, caramel and toffee. Enticing.
Sweet flavours too, more toffee and caramel alongside the oak and vanilla. A little cloying.
Could use more carbonation.
Pretty typical Innis & Gunn flavours.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 00:26:36 | More by CrazyDavros

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up as part of a Holiday three-pack. I had tried their rum cask aged previously, and wanted the chance to try two others. The free glass was a nice touch, too.
Poured into an Innis and Gunn glass.

-Appearance 4.0: Poured out with very little head. Very attractive color, a perfect amber. Very little visible carbonation. Striking.

-Smell 3.5: Very subtle aroma to this beer. What I do smell is a slight barley and hops. I also pick up some slight hints of the oak wood it was aged in for over two months (77 days).

-Taste 3.5: Whereas the rum cask knocked my socks off, this scotch cask is just...interesting. Sweet up front and then the barley taste is very much heightened by the tastes seeping in from the scotch cask aging. They complement each other...too well! Don't get me wrong, this is a delicious beer, but it just does not have the depth of flavor of the rum cask. Aftertaste is wonderful: toffee and wood resin.

-Mouthfeel 4.0: Good mouthfeel. Smooth and creamy. Very nuanced and difficult for brewers to replicate.

-Overall 4.0: Good beer. Whereas the rum cask was a completed puzzle, this beer is a jigsaw with a few pieces missing. Nonetheless, I recommend it, especially to those not spoiled by the rum cask like myself.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:40:40 | More by BeerDocT

Vierenner

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Interestingly, taste is unlike the smell ... and that's a good thing. Aroma is typical lager, run-of-the-mill beer. But the taste is anything but typical! There is a sweet, toffeeish taste ... this could be fantasticly refreshing beer for a hot, summer day!

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 00:49:56 | More by Vierenner

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Called the "Original". Comes in a majestic clear bottle. From a gift pack, poured into a branded glass.

It pours nice enough. A clear amber with a white head that quickly fizzes away with no lacing. But still nice to look at.

The smell isn't too bad. Lots of oak and caramel. Subtle fruitiness. Some typical English ale characteristics, but not full-blown.

The flavor is okay. Oaky pale ale. It isn't bad actually. some pears, caramel, vanilla, oak, nice.

Get the gift pack as the regular 4 packs are probably skunked to high heaven.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 05:14:22 | More by crossovert

TheWhiskerReview

Tennessee

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tasting sample pours a golden-apricot.

Everything about this is sweet and opulent starting with its nose of cake-like malt and an intense bourbony butteryness that blankets the faint orange/apricot fruitiness with a touch of vanilla and toffee too.

The palate is malty sweet and creamy- more toffee glazed cake flavors and a low bitterness. Very sweet and smooth with a bit of oaky texture and a touch of sunflower seed on the sweet finish.

Overall, not bad. I can see why this is the top selling UK-brewed beer in Canada and is starting to gain a reputation a little here in the states. Very hedonistic and so easy drinking. In fact, my biggest flaw with this is how easy-going it is. I could kill a 4pk in about half-an-hour.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 05:04:30 | More by TheWhiskerReview

chicagoabbot

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz into a Duvel tulip. Probably not the correct glass. I guess the correct glass came in this gift pack. Oh well, the tulip probably brings out the truer nose anyway. Appearance isn't very exciting. Clean clear body with a moderate head. However, as soon as I take a whiff, this beer gets interesting. Lots of woodiness and a hint of aged whiskey. Perhaps I am imagining that, as I'm not sure they even used whiskey barrels. Mellow hops balance the beer, but it is a little on the sweet side, even for a UK style pale ale. Alcohol content is high and it hides it well. Has a lot of energy in the mouth and is smooth. Not something I'd drink every day, but recommended to try. A good example of how to properly age beer in barrels.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 08:41:40 | More by chicagoabbot

edwardhopper

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Received a set of three bottles as a gift with an expiration date only one month away. While the bottle was clear, the set came in a cardboard box, so the contents were kept safe and tasted fresh. Opened a bottle with a pot pie dinner. They color was a bright copper color. I was a little concerned about this being too spicy, but the scent is surprisingly mild. And while it is sweet, the taste is not overpowering. Definitely has an oak aged taste, but it is surprisingly light and drinkable. The mouthfeel was very light, but had an appropriately complex aftertaste. At 6.6 percent there is no strong tinge of alcohol either. It is overall a good beer, but exists in a grey area where I would not want to have 4-6 of them, but it did not feel special enough to be content with just one. Kind of a novelty, but overall well done.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 01:05:06 | More by edwardhopper

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased in the gift box so as to have a minimally-skunked bottle.

Appearance -- Pours a crystal clear copper hue with a finger of sudsy/creamy beige head. No lacing to speak of, and retention was not terribly strong.

Smell -- Husky grain, earthy hops and low tea-like bitterness, woody vanilla and toffee. Not bad, but

Taste -- Slightly sweet with toffee, vanilla, and plum notes. Some moderate amber/grainy maltiness and woody oak character. More earthy hops and low tea-like bitterness usually found in Scotch ales. Fortunately no skunked flavor detectable.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-light in body with fizzy carbonation. Feels like a soft drink.

Overall -- Certainly unique, but those clear bottles are a gamble. Worth a try if you are down to buy the gift pack and avoid skunking.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 03:19:47 | More by yeahnatenelson

railman

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was a little afraid to try this brew. Didn't know what to expect since it was a Scottish Ale /English Pale Ale. However I am glad I did. I really like this beer.

Poured from a bottle to my Sam Adams glass.

Pours a nice amber / butterscotch color with a thin white head. Minimal lacing and carbonation.

Smells very malty with butterscotch overtones. Not much hops on the nose.

Tastes much like it smells. Buttery butterscotch.

Feels very viscous and full bodied.

I was pleasantry surprised by this brew. Would highly recommend it. I really want to taste the other oak aged brews in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 00:25:51 | More by railman

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally got around to trying this since it came in the 3-pack with the appropriately shaped glass. The guys at the store I buy most of my beer from liked this and it seemed different than anything I had ever tried before. From the moment I poured it out, I knew that would be the case and even if I didn't see the bottle, it was obvious that this was aged in barrels that would give it a very distinctive profile!

For starters, this poured without much carbonation and head, making it look like an after-dinner liqueur. There was a strong and subtle aroma of rum-like spice, caramel, and vanilla that was repeated in the taste and because of the aforementioned lack of bubbles in this, the taste and somewhat-heavy mouthfeel of this lingered for quite a long time. This had a great warming effect to it and without much of any hops, this finished clean and somewhat boozy like a good bourbon.

This tasted a lot strong than it actually was, but that's probably because this is so distinct and didn't seem like beer at all to me. The oak-amber hue and label didn't help either but there's no doubt that a brew like this pushes the boundaries of what's possible with beer. I can't say that I'd always reach for one of these when I'm thirsty but I'm still eager to try the other 2 bottles in the pack that this came with.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 00:12:06 | More by JerzDevl2000

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in my fancy new I&G glass that came with this holiday I&G gift pack. Honey colored and sporting a thin, kingly white crown. Said kingly crown is quickly usurped to a thin collar.

Husky grain at first whiff. Fruitcake and oak meander in as it warms up a bit. Butterscotch schnapps and priming sugar that I forgot about on the stove.

Tastes like carmelized fruit, toffee and vanilla just like the bottle descriptor promised.

Supposedly this beer originated as flavor fodder for casks that would hold scotch. I'd like to try the scotch.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 18:21:49 | More by donkeyrunner

rel

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours with a large foamy head, dark yellow color with good lacing and retention.

Lots of oak and malt on the nose. Some bourbon, honey, and vanilla. Really a complex and amazing smell.

The taste reflects the smell. The oak and bourbon were just a tad too prominent for my liking, but I still very much enjoyed it. Vanilla and honey notes were present, nice malt canvas and no hoppyness or bitterness present.

Surprisingly light beer for its complexity, with nice carbonation and a slightly dry aftertaste.

Give it a try, it's quite different!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 16:39:45 | More by rel

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: clear/shiny, tan/amber body, trace head, very
little lacing.

S: big malt, oak, toffee, mild vanilla

T: citrus, toffee, malt, oak mild bitter finish
light puff of smoke

M: med/light, semi-dry mouth

O: Fascinating beer. Nice to see a complex
slightly lighter beer, i almost want to gulp
this fine beast, but sipping is fun too.

QUITE DELIGHTFUL, PICK THIS UP!

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 16:52:49 | More by BeerLover99

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Finally! The original Innis & Gunn! I've reviewed several other I&G beers, and I've had the original many times, but I haven't reviewed it until now:

It pours a deep toffee/amber/honey colour with a nice fluffy of-white head. There is a nice amount of carbonation rising to the top.

The aroma has very clear oaky aspects. Some light caramel notes come through in the background along with some smoke.

The flavour is slightly sweet up front, and quickly moves into some toffee flavours. This gradually is overtaken by the woody aspects.

Overall, this is a decent beer. The same qualities that make it popular also make it less-than-exceptional

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 01:54:30 | More by evlu1441

sommersb

Tennessee

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 10-14-2011
Freshness: Best by 12-2012
Packaging: 330 ml clear bottle
Glassware: Innis & Gunn cervoise glass
Purchased: Gift box from Frugal MacDoogal, Nashville

Picked this up in a gift box with the attractive cervoise glass and 3 Innis & Gunn offerings.

The beer is a crystal-clear, light amber color. It looks like a whiskey. Head is white and frothy, about 2 fingers high, with low retention and good lace. Little carbonation seen in the glass.

Pleasant aromas are of caramel, malts and vanilla, with a wood aspect as well, presumably from the barrels the beer is aged in.

Taste follows the nose with an oak and whiskey flavor. This is coupled with vanilla bean and other spice notes. Mostly malt-forward, with a nice sweetness that is not overwhelming.

Carbonation is low to medium. Finishes with a nice warming from the alcohol, giving hints of whiskey without letting it overshadow the beer.

Overall, I found this to be a complex beer but not muddled -- it all ties together very well.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 05:13:01 | More by sommersb

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the kiwi - no head or lace - Len says the Innis and Gunn owner was in yesterday to inspect the product and is touring the pubs in Ontario they supply - colour of golden honey - semi-clear

Smell was bursting with peaty scotch - earthy vanilla and oak scent - spectacular

Tast of honey, vanilla, peat, scotch, oak, caramel

Mouthfeel - a little syrupy and bitter on the end - dry - medium body with no carbonation

Great brew and a real treat to get it on tap

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2011 20:10:36 | More by Stocean1