Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer - Innis & Gunn

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.74/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

330ml Bottle from the Ottawa LCBO for 3.15$

Appearance - Clear light brown colour with an average size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for around 3-4 minutes.

Smell - Malts, caramel/butterscotch, dark fruits

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste caramel/butterscotch and malts. There is also a light smokiness and some dark fruit flavour. It ends with a caramel lightly bitter aftertaste.

Overall – It's highly drinkable and while it doesn't pack a punch, it has enough flavour to keep it interesting. I can see this working well as a gateway beer to get others away from Macro's.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 18:22:32 | More by spinrsx

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

On the box, it came in, it says best by Sep 2013, I didn't want to wait too long since its a clear bottle:

Into the Innis & Gunn tulip (I purchased along with the other two beers):

A: dark red/brown body with a two finger white foamy head dissipates within a minute, clingy foamy lacing left in the wake

S: rum up front, molasses (this company really likes their molasses, don't they?) light sugar

T: sweet through previously mentioned flavors

M: medium, sessionable, carbonation is felt, boozy aftertaste

O: pretty good for a Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, I'd have this one again

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 17:15:00 | More by kangarooAdam59

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep blood orange colour, pours an off white head that settles down after 30-45 seconds. Beer is very clear.

S: Caramalization, hints of smokiness, hints of wood aromas, dark fruits and figs.

T: Caramel with some toasted bread. Figs and prune flavours come through.

M: Crisp and a very sudden dry finish.

O: Again, a great beer by these guys.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 18:57:53 | More by Kremlock

Brenden

Ohio

3.79/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A deep, dark reddish-brown color beer is no surprise given the clear bottle, but it's likely what I'd expect regardless. A yellow-tan head reaches between half a finger and one full finger before it drops off, not too terribly quickly. Moderate lacing is left after the thin layer of foam subsides.
The boozy aspect is well-tempered. In fact, this is a well-tempered beer all in all. The sweetness that could easily be overwhelming isn't, nor is the oak and the dryness it imparts. There's a bit of must and peat in the aroma too.
Into the flavor, a sort of smoothness combines with the woody dryness over a bready malts base alongside sweetness imparting vanilla and toffee to form the general character. Something like raisin and brown sugar contribute to the sweet undertone, and there's a note of tobacco in this beer as well. Overall, the sweetness has more effect on the flavor than the aroma, but is far from intolerable and doesn't reach cloying.
The feel is pretty well refined considering that this beer has the potential to swing to one of at least two unpleasant extremes: cloying and sticky or overly thinned. As such, the body is just a touch light, but the smoothness makes for pleasant drinking and there's a nice bite.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:00:30 | More by Brenden

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A: pours a deep brown with hints of ruby and orange highlights. It pours clear with a very thin white head.
S: after some slight agitation I was met with notes of vanilla and caramel. Following closely but not prevalent were boozy and oaky undertones. Complex and sweet smelling.
T: interesting on the pallet. The toffee and caramel flavors combine to provide a sweet backbone, but the elements of oak and slight char are there to provide a nice balance. Toward the back is where the rum/booze really stand out. It provides a nice and slightly warm finish that brings everything together.
M: low to medium carbonation with an unexpectedly thin to medium body. The hang is pleasant and sticks around for quite a while. Perhaps to more body would do well here, but its not filling.
O: an interesting and enjoyable brew. I loved the way the booze, toffee, caramel and oak all were evident but tied together well. I was also impressed on how quaffable this was. At 7.4% one might consider it a sipper, but because of the body and impressive taste, two would be justified.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 00:57:29 | More by Infamous7100

CloudStrife

New York

3.89/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

11.2oz bottle poured into a snifter. Clear bottle.

A: Pours a clear ruby brown with a 1 finger slightly yellowed head. Lots of visible carbonation. Not really any lacing.

S: Pretty serious barrel aroma going on here. Quite sweet with an oaky, vanilla, toffee character.

T: As anticipated from the aroma this is on the sweeter side. Reminds me a lot of a butternut rum lifesaver. The rum cask adds most of the flavor but there is scotch ale base detectable. Most of the same characteristics as the smell are in the taste.

M: Fairly light body for a scotch ale. Feels just a tad thin for what I really want this beer to be. Mouthfeel isnt too sticky considering all the sweetness.

Overall I do enjoy this beer being partial to both rum and barrel aged beers. I can see how the sweetness could be a little much for some.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 01:11:34 | More by CloudStrife

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.79/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 330 mL bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a deep red, almost maroon, with a small white head that leaves little lacing. The fizzy malty rum aroma dominates, but it is not surprising at all by the description. Tastes of fizzy rum with nice dark malt base. Beer is highly carbonated, light/medium bodied beer goes down smooth. Overall a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 04:20:07 | More by cyclonece09

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Nice amber/bronze color with almost no lacing at all.

S - Vanilla, rum, oak, caramel, and alcohol. All very subtle.

T - Lots of oak. The rum also comes through heavily. Notes of vanilla and caramel. The 7.4 ABV isn't apparent at all. Very malty, balancing the rum and oak nicely.

M - Light bodied and very smooth with mild, but present carbonation.

This is a very nice scotch ale. Definitely a sipper. Finishing off my Innis & Gunn holiday gift pack, this was definitely the stand out of the bunch.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 02:39:17 | More by RoninTK3

Rmufb71

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought a case of this awhile back I really enjoyed it, It had a vanilla note to it and was an enjoyable sipping beer, I liked it on the cooler side 40F, but it was not bad once it warmed it up either. I still have a bottle or 2 tucked away, but so far I havent found a reason to drink them.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:10:47 | More by Rmufb71

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Copper tan, brown with a creamy 1 inch foamy with a ton of lacing.

Smell - Nice mix of caramel, vanilla, oak, rum and whiskey. Some spices, brown sugar and molasses.

Taste - Pretty much on par with the smell, start off with caramel, vanilla and rum mixed with added suagrs. Mild, a little weak really but balanced well. Some sweet fruits like cherry and apple come out in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Tounge gets rum, malts and vanilla. Palate gets fruits, sugars and more oak. The aftertaste is weak/watery rum and malts.

Overall - Its decent, but not worth the money. Id enjoy this more if id never have traquir backwoods bastard. Too mild on the flavors, kind of like a starter wee heavy. Not a fan of any innis beers so far.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 01:27:47 | More by wvsabbath

Nitro-Boy

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Come on Guys... This stuff is Amazing!!!! Smooth drinkable. Not anything like a typical Scotch Ale. This is sooo... Drinkable it sucks its $12.99 a 4 Pack.Even there regular brew one is awesome!!!! But all Beers are NOT creteated Equal!! One of my all time favorites. Another Must Try!!!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 01:32:23 | More by Nitro-Boy

Luigi

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a rich clear ruby color with a two finger light tan creamy head.

The aroma is sweet and smokey, reminding me of a fine bourbon. Caramel, smoked malt, and a butter dialectal aroma. Sweet aged Jamaican rum come to mind.

Sweet and smoke hit the palate at full force. Now I am a fan of aged whiskey and rum, this ale brings out the best of both worlds. The taste is sweet like rum and harsh like a fine whiskey. Caramel, toffee, bourbon, and sweet rum. Fruits like sour apple, plums, and a candy like sweetness from the alcohol.

Smooth and slick on the palate, yet easy to drink if you are familiar with fine whiskey and rum.

Overall this ale is a combination of whiskey and ale. Given my Scottish roots maybe this ale hit my drunken funny bone. But, this is a fine and top notch ale!!! Just give it a try

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:36:48 | More by Luigi

Immortale25

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a snifter. Bottleneck says May 2013.

A- Pours a translucent reddish brown color with a 1/2 inch light tan head that bears little retention time before vanishing to nearly no surface foam. Minimal lacing.

S- Skunky aroma with a hint of brown sugar. Damnit.

T- Lifeless. Just a tinge of brown sugar and alcohol and then just skunk.

M- Watery with a medium body and low carbonation.

O- I've had two Innis & Gunn offerings before: the Irish whiskey cask aged and one other of the rum cask. At first, I refused to take a chance on them because of their clear glass bottles but, when someone recommended the Irish Whiskey cask to me, I bought one from Total Wine and it was great. Then, when at my local beer bar recently, the bartender recommended the Rum cask to me and I decided to give it another go. Once again, great. Even better than the Irish whiskey. So, when I saw a 4-pack of it at my local bottle shop and the best by date said May 2013, I went for it. This beer is obviously light struck and I regret wasting my money. I don't understand why this brewery insists on using clear glass especially when they're exporting this beer such a far distance. I will never buy Innis & Gunn's products again if they continue this trend. Drainpour.

I decided to give another bottle in the 4-pack a try to see if it was just a bad bottle:

A- Basically the same but with a considerably higher amount of carbonation.

S- Wet cardboard aroma that's still a bit skunky but there's some faint brown sugar and a tinge of alcohol underneath all the off aromas.

T- Neutral flavor of wet cardboard at first that gives way to some booze and the slightest amount of rum sweetness.

M- Pretty much the same but with a tad more zing from the carbonation.

O- Still certainly lightstruck and a little oxidized but this one (and the other two in the pack) were actually drinkable and didn't result in a drainpour. I'm gonna consolidate the scores from the two bottles (first one got an even 2, second one got an even 3) and give it a 2.5. Obviously these guys have serious quality control issues. They really need to start considering shelling out the extra capital to invest in colored bottles. At least go for green glass if not brown, guys....

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 23:30:35 | More by Immortale25

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, poured into Leffe chalice. Dark bronze colour, hint of red, clear, no head, minimal lacing. Aroma was bourbon and not much else. Tasted oak, rum, bourbon and a hint of vanila. Finish was long and boozy, eventhough the beer didn't taste too boozy. Mouthfull was smooth but texture was slightly thick and sticky, no carbonation. Overall a decent beer but I can't understand Barrel aging a beer and putting it in a clear glass bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 11:24:08 | More by jonb5

LeRose

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Highly recommended by a friend, I really wanted to like this but didn’t live up to expectations/reputation for me. Loved the color - the deep, clear red was beautiful. Found the rum flavor candy-like and artificial. Much too sweet and sticky/syrupy on the mouth feel. Maybe a little malty flavor in the background, but nothing special there to me. Short-lived fizzy head, then basically a flat, syrupy, candy tasting drink. A disappointment in flavor, taste, and especially the palate. I realize I am way down on the bell curve here, but it's what I thought. I would not buy it again. I think I was looking for more of the base beer flavor, and it seemed to be mostly the run candy flavor that dominated here.

Reviewed from notes.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 19:00:50 | More by LeRose

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle, 7.4% abv. Darker amber color with some ruby edges. White head is thin and disappears quickly, leaving no lace.

Toasty oak notes, with a slight butterscotch edge. Rum comes in in a subtle note, along with a slight spicy feel.

Clean malt bill, with a hint of buttered toffee. Drying oak adds a nice edge here. Rum is subtle, but lends a very nice feel.

Body may be just a bit light, but carbonation is adequate. Alcohol is felt slightly, but adds to the sipping character. Very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:16:04 | More by Bierguy5

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Purchased at Wakefield liquors in Wakefield, RI.

A- pours a slightly hazy copper body with a medium Off white head that doesn't leave much lacing.

S- strong vanilla, molasses. Oak and red wine, almost like a Cabernet. Super inviting

T-sweet caramel, vanilla. Very subtle oak in the background. Some citrus orange peel in there.

M- medium carbonation, medium body.


Such a tasty brew. Unique, tasty and complex and an easy drinker. Up there with the other I & G versions. Try them all.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 00:08:08 | More by gcamparone

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Innis & Gunn
Rum Cask Oak Aged Ale
Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy 7.4% abv

APPEARANCE : Pours an Orangeish copper, with a soapy white foam and good lacing. Perfect clarity on a pretty attractive looking brew.

SMELL: Sugary sweet rum, vanilla, whiskey malts. Smells more like its brethren alcoholic elixirs than a typical ale, and you can definitely tell it was aged on rum barrels.

TASTE: Big on the rum, with oaky drying tannins coming through. Rummy but very smooth and somewhat sweet. Scotch malts are an appropriate companion to the candy like booze flavors. Gets more enjoyable as it warms, the malts and vanilla pull through more.

FEEL: Medium bodied ale with a oaky drying finish. Smooth with moderate carbonation.

OVERALL: For fans of rum and unique beer alike, this is a must try. An unassuming scotch ale with a nice kick of sweet rum barrel flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 01:46:57 | More by Stinkypuss

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

300 ml

Pours a deep clear brown. Tannish head about half an inch, dissipates quickly to a film.

Smells of dry barley malt, oak, brown sugar and slight smoke.

Tastes of rich rum with some oakey woodiness. Some oats and mild fruitiness as well.

Medium body with tingly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Pretty good scotch ale, less rich than some of the other ones I've had which makes it a bit easier going down. Good flavor, a little different from others I've had in that department as well. Like this, looking forward to trying more from these brewers.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 21:17:30 | More by Cylinsier

Offa

California

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an excellent wee heavy and I found it better and more satisfying and characterful than their Winter Beer 2011.

Deep reddish brown, it has a medium pale tan head steadily shrinking to a ring, a little weak lace.

Aroma is strong caramelised barley, bread, very raisiny, with cherry brandy (like Cherry Heering) and hints of wood.

Taste is caramelised dried fruit and wood, a lot of candied and dried cherry, spicy raisiny warmth. it is a little sweeter, fuller, and more characterful than the Winter Beer 2011.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 20:18:33 | More by Offa

Billolick

New York

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

11.2 ounce clear bottle

Pours clear dark brown, under a quality looking medium tan head. That leaves a thin tiny bubble film , collar and nice looking high fine strands of lace.

On the nose is all about some caramel malts and a whiff of cola.

Smooth and malty brew, more sweet, caramel malts and again cola and just perhaps some wood/rum cask. Decent enough brew, but not really doing much for my senses. Worth a try, but ultimately this seems to be over priced and underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 00:40:28 | More by Billolick

Serge

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A dark, mahogany pour with reddish edges and a lightly tan head. The aroma has sugary caramel, oak, and some earthy notes. The medium body has a slightly sticky texture with soft carbonation. It has a sweet taste with rum flavor and slight warmth in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 04:43:27 | More by Serge

DannyHartman

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

As I pour a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass, an average head develops atop a beautiful dark brown/reddish (yet clear) brew.... As you drink it, absolutely zero trails are left behind from the quickly diminishing head.

I take a whiff, and mostly caramel maltiness with vanilla and raisin notes hit me first.... There's also notes of oak and molasses like that of rum.

I sip on this beer the whole way through, and mostly sweet caramel and vanilla notes hit me first with a bit of butter and nuts.... There's also a slight taste of oak and rum.

The feel on the palate is nicely carbonated with a light body.... Almost watery.

Overall, this is a different type of "beer".... Decent, but, in my eyes, not as good as the original oak aged brew from Innus & Gunn even though it is stronger.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 23:58:52 | More by DannyHartman

KajII

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]

The pour was a clear dark mahogany brown with an average (1-2 finger) beige fizzy head that was fully diminishing with no lacing to speak of.

The aroma was quite intense with a toasted caramel malt and a sweet earthy yeast with notes of vanilla, rum, dark fruit (raisons and plums) and a light hint of toffee.

The taste was moderately sweet and malty with notes of caramel, vanilla and dark fruit throughout with a nice oak cask presence and a mild rum alcohol finish. The flavor lasted an average duration after the swallow with a mild boozy taste that faded slowly off the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was just below medium in body with a slight syrupy texture and a mildly soft carbonation.

Overall a fantastic tasting brew with a good sweet rum flavor and a strong malty presence...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 15:34:10 | More by KajII

KarlosT

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this beer at the Amesbury Beer Festival on Sep 22 2012.

Most of the beers were served from bottles into small 3oz plastic dixie cups.

Although I took notes on the 20+ different beers that I tried, it is difficult to remember all of the details associated with each beer. My apologies to readers of these notes. However, I did pay attention to my overall scores, and noted what I thought were unique positives and negatives w/ each beer.

Note that for me:
< 2.5 = probably would not finish the beer
3.0 = drinkable beer, but likely would not buy again or look for
>3.5 = will try to buy again in the future

Not a big fan of the Innis and Gunn beers. Seem kind of mellow to me, and a bit bland. All of the beer flavors (malt and hops) were very muted.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 15:24:57 | More by KarlosT