Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask - Innis & Gunn

cjgator3

Florida

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle

A- Poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark brownish black color with just a little hint of light coming through when held up to the light.

S- The aroma is dark roasted malts, vanilla and whiskey from the barrel aging.

T- The taste is sweet malt up front that is incredibly smooth with the whiskey and oaky flavors along with some warmth from the alcohol in the finish.

M- The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation.

O- Overall, this beer gets better and better as it warms in the glass so do not serve too cold.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:39:24 | More by cjgator3

CobyMangum

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

The ruby tints are very nice -- in a stout they make for quite a nice looking beer. Mouthfeel is a high note. Creamy feel despite having less body than the American stouts I'm used to. Taste is a bit high on alcohol, considering it's only 7.4, and the whiskey characteristics don't come through enough for me. The cherry, bitter chocolate, and toffee in the profile are enjoyable. Decent overall, but I wish the barrel added more to the flavor -- I feel the burn of whiskey but don't really taste it.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 21:31:50 | More by CobyMangum

katan

Colorado

3.99/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz into a pint

A - Pours a dark brown to black color with a few amber highlights. Off colored head, very sticky with lots of lacing.

S - Roasted malts, chocolate lead the way. Lightly sweet, some funky barrel notes in the background.

T - Starts off lightly chocolately, sweet, and smooth. MId-stream gets the roast, turns balanced. In the finish i start to get the oaky flavors and some of the sour barrel funk. Aftertaste is somewhat yeasty.

M - Full bodied, moderate to light carbonation. Has the barrel or cask sense to it. A little sticky and sweet in the finish.

O/D - A very good and interesting beer. A little bit filling and the alcohol is fairly high, but manageable. Not overly barrel flavored, just a nice compliment.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 16:25:43 | More by katan

ToasterChef

Maine

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A cellar temperature bottle, listed as best by Dec 2013, is poured into a glass mug.

This si a very dark beer with a deep brown hue. A very large brown foam head fills the top half of my mug. Clinging and rising carbonation can been seen close to the walls of my glass, but the beer is opaque and I cannot see very deeply into the beer. As the head settles, spider-web lacing is left behind.

Chocolate malt and peat are the dominant aromas. Whiskey notes as small, but they do provide a bit of oak and warmth.

This is a very smooth stout. Whiskey flavors are present, but they aren't very strong. Big fans of barrel aged beers (those that taste like a shot of whiskey has been poured into the pint) will be disappointed with this beer. The whiskey notes are much more subtle. There is some roast and a touch of chocolate sweetness, but all the favors work well together.

Medium bodied, but the carbonation is high. There is some stickiness on my lips and in my mouth after swallowing.

This is an interesting stout. I don't believe I've every had a Scottish stout before, but I've certainly had my share of Irish whiskeys. And though the whiskey notes are light, I do like this beer. It is my second Innis & Gunn beer, and I've enjoyed both of them. If you are looking for a interesting European barrel-aged beer, I'd go looking for this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 00:00:43 | More by ToasterChef

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.09/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a dark brown color ale with a medium dirty brown color head with medium retention and light lacing notes. Aroma is dominated by sweet caramelized notes with light whiskey notes. Taste is also dominated by sweet caramelized notes with a light whiskey touch which kind of round of the edges of the beer. Body is light with medium creamy texture and good carbonation. A bit of a lighter profile then I had expected with not as much whiskey notes as expected.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:31:05 | More by Phyl21ca

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a nice sized mocha head that reduced to a thin layer and left some nice lacing on the glass. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: Chocolate, smoke, vanilla, and oak.

Taste: Delicious stuff. The toasted and toasted notes are very noticeable with bittersweet chocolate,, smoke, vanilla, and oak in there. You pick up a little booze characters, but doesn't feel like it.

Mouthfeel: Creamy smooth, full bodied, low to medium carbonation, slight booze, a little dry, and very drinkable.

Overall: This beer is good. Found this beer out last weekend and happy yo have scored a bottle. Will be enjoying more of thus in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 05:25:05 | More by Flounder57

SHODriver

California

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours black with a two finger dense and rocky head that retains very well into a pint glass
S: smells of chocolate and roast malt with hints of whiskey
T: tastes of roast malt, slight coffee, chocolate and hints of oak with some slight whiskey flavors being some vanilla and a bit of fruity alcohol. aftertaste is a bit more whiskey, chocolate and coffee
M: full in the mouth with soft carbonation
O: a good beer that really opens up as it gets warmer and the flavors from the casks become much more prominent.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 05:01:36 | More by SHODriver

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Best By DEC2013

A: Pours a deep brown color with ruby edges and a half fingers worth of tan head

S: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, and a hint of oak and Irish whiskey

T: Follows the nose. Starts off very much like a dry Irish stout with roasted malts, dark chocolate, and coffee notes and then moves into the subtle oak, vanilla, and Irish whiskey notes. Finishes lightly sweet and dry

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Dry

O: A solid dry Irish stout base makes for a solid choice to go in Irish whiskey barrels. Definitely has more flavor than most dry Irish stouts, and the barrel adds another nice dimension. A solid choice for an intro to BA beers, as it doesn't impart too much booziness but the flavors are still there. Solid beer

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 02:25:58 | More by BEERMILER12

UCLABrewN84

California

3.81/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours an opaque black with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, and some woody aromas. There is also a slight metallic aroma that comes out more as the beer warms. Taste is much the same with cocoa, vanilla, and woody flavors on the finish. A smoke flavor comes out as the beer warms up. There is a vanilla sweetness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but I am not really getting any distinct whiskey aromas or flavors from this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 03:30:24 | More by UCLABrewN84

scootny

New York

3.81/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A clear extra dark cola with a healthy dollop of lace on top and clinging to the sides. No real activity. Smell is sweet with mild molasses and malt. A faint whiskey presence. Coffee, coaco and bread. Taste is much the same with a smooth character that harkens back to the porter roots of an English stout. Lots of molasses and malt. Finish is mildly bitter with a hint of whiskey that gives a mild oak and vanilla flourish. Feel is on the lighter side with a crisp, mild carbonation. A good easy drinking brew. Not earth shaking but solid and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 03:00:10 | More by scootny

mdfb79

New York

4.09/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From 04/06/13 notes. Poured from a 330ml bottle into a pint glass.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one finger of tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks like a nice stout.

s - Smells of vanilla, cream, roasted malts, sweet chocolate, some oak, light espresso and coffee. Very nice, lots of cream and vanilla to it mixing with chocolate. No whiskey but still good.

t - Tastes of sweet chocolate, vanilla, roasted malts, cream, light coffee, toffee, and toasted malts. A little sweeter than the nose and more chocolate. Very nice.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Body is very smooth and creamy. No alcohol heat and very easy to drink.

o - Overall a really nice stout. I've been underwhelmed by their Original scotch ale and did not like their rum cask wee heavy, but I liked this one a lot. Lots of chocolate and vanilla to it and easy to drink. No real whiskey to it, but it's still good. Would like to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 15:48:37 | More by mdfb79

rangerred

Tennessee

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle into an Innis & Gunn tulip.

Pours pitch black with a barely one finger tan head that fades away not too long after the pour. A little lacing clings to the sides of the glass.

The aroma is quite weak which took me a little by suprise. Some cocoa powder along with a touch of smoke and the Innis and Gunn yeast character that is present in all of their beers.

The flavor somewhat redeems the lack of aroma as there is a good deal going on. Cocoa is abundant transitioning into some darker chocolate. A little bit of peat smoke is buried deep in the background and i can definitely pick up the cereal grain flavor of irish whiskey although it is quite faint. A touch of clove and wood finishing out with a slightly sticky finish.

Overall, one of the better beers I have had from this brewery although it is still fairly lackluster. It is a decent stout but definitely not worth the steep price tag.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:57:32 | More by rangerred

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.84/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Props to my in-laws for procuring this treat for Easter dinner...

A - Pours nearly opaque, with a dark ruby red colour, two fingers of head with solid retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Nice dark cocoa, hints of oak, bitter leafy greens,

T - Solid cocoa malts with a nice smokey peaty finish, hints of liquorice, finish has some leafy green notes and a solid caramel malt flavour. ABV is incredibly well hidden and the cocoa notes linger on the palette.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and surprisingly wet.

O - Another hit from Innis & Gunn, solid flavour profile with a huge smoke and peaty notes. Definitely a worthy brew and glad to have had a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 00:58:56 | More by andrenaline

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This is, I believe, the first Innis & Gunn beer I've tried that's entirely opaque. Though it appeared to have some hue in the clear bottle, it appears almost completely black in the glass (only along the trim and at off-angles do we spot a sliver of colour). The trim around its perimeter insists on sticking around but sheds no lacing whatsoever.

The bouquet is a very soft attack of concentrated raisin, plum fruit and vanilla flavours. Hints of heavily-sweetened cappuccino arise from swirling with only traces of the coffee bean and roast still appreciable alongside the milky vanilla notes. I sense very little (if any) Irish whiskey notes. Instead, it's a coffee-and-cream character that persists.

The flavour spots pleasant hints of lavender, honey, vanilla and leather alongside the toasty, sweetish notes of caramel malt. Nuanced notes of raisin, fig and plum emerge from the treacle and molasses-like sweetness. A dusting of coffee bean is sensed though it is as spurious as the drum sounds of a keyboard synthesizer - similar appearance but very different structure.

"Rich", "opulent", "complex" - these are all words that have no place in this review. "Expensive" may be the choice descriptor for a beer whose relative indistinctness falls well short of its price-point. While the alcohol is impressively hidden, so too are any and all Irish whiskey qualities, which, unless I'm mistaken, was supposed to be the idea (certainly my reason for buying it).

I fail to see the connection between this beer and Irish whiskey and, aside from the former spending 60 days in casks that formerly held the latter, there is indeed no connection. Innis & Gunn doesn't reveal the source of their casks. There's a tremendous difference in flavour and quality between an Irish whiskey like Bushmills and, say, Redbreast (let alone the age of those casks and their former contents). Whatever was actually used, I recommend switching it up.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:19:36 | More by biegaman

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

3.61/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a full head over top of a dark walnut coloured brew. Looks good out of the bottle, head settles to a thin ring, no lace.

Nose if slightly boozy over dark fruit, malt and molasses, a whiff of earth. Tastes of coffee and smoke. The whiskey is noticeable through the earth and smoke. Sweet up front, mildly drying to finish. Slightly thin-bodied with a bit of spritziness from carbonation.

Essentially just an average stout buffed up a bit with a nice touch of whiskey. Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 20:38:29 | More by TerryW

mrs_bretina

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

An overall good Irish whiskey cask. It's a dark beer that lacks the full bodied taste and texture. If you are looking for a sweet after taste, this one is good for you. A pleasant beer, but not a "knock your socks off" beer. I'd order it again for a light bodied and flavored dark beer. Probably a good option for a summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2013 16:54:31 | More by mrs_bretina

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From a clear bottle, this beer is nicely attractive. Dark, with a velvet tan head and a lot of lace. The smell is intreguing. Roasted grain, wood and charcoal, a bit of smoke. Sweet malt. The taste is sweeter than expected, and the mouthfeel is soft. It is certainly an English stout. Rounded, welcoming, and tasty. All n all, this is quite good.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:04:31 | More by Suds

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Black on the pour with garnet hues and a bubbly tan head. Head retention is decent, with a quarter inch cap sticking around for a while. Lacing is patchy.

S: Heavy doses of toffee and treacle, bread pudding, caramel, bakers chocolate, hints of cola and molasses. Figs and dates. Earthy hops. The whiskey cask is very subtly integrated, with only a hint of oak in the background.

T: Molasses and chewy caramel. Cola. Slight leathery impression. Raisins, dates, and figs. Bakers chocolate on the mid palate. Light acidity. Earthy and spicy hops. Notes of vanilla and oak on the back end. Irish whiskey comes through more as a tame spicy alcohol character, and it's easily overlooked if one isn't expecting it. Drying finish of molasses and earthy hops.

M: Medium bodied. Very creamy and well-rounded in the mouth. Very subtle scrubbing carbonation. Conveys substance without being weighty. A warming sensation softly caresses the mouth and throat on the swallow. Very good.

O: This beer is a deft balancing act. Malt, hop, and barrel all complement each other nicely and yield a product that is perhaps more drinkable than expected. It's the kind of beer that speaks softly, but has a lot to say.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 03:38:35 | More by ryan1788a5

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.64/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: It has a nice dark brown color to it with ruby hues coming through. It has a nice creamy thick beige head that dies down moderately slow and leaves nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, toffee and a touch of whiskey.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a some sweet roasted malts, chocolate/coffee, a toffee sweetness, vanilla and some light whiskey.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 20:47:19 | More by SebD

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Dark brown in colour with burgundy hues. Pours an off white head that falls quickly.

S: roasted malt, burnt caramel, black cherries. Alcohol is completely hidden.

T: Dark roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruits. Hint of smokiness is present.

M: Well carbonated, sweetness is well balanced with the alcohol and bitterness. The smokiness is present but does not distract from the rest of the flavours. Medium bodied.

O: This is a great stout and dangerous because the 7.4% alcohol is not noticeable through the flavours.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 22:56:03 | More by Kremlock

silverking

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

So, I'm switching over to this categorized Review format because it seems to me like it's easier to read.

A- It pours a Nice, dark brown with a splash of crimson when held to the light. The tan head has poor retention, but it never fully fades. A nice thin layer of foam is left that leaves excellent lacing.

S- Sweet malt and oak Dominate with subtle hints of licorice and vanilla. It does smell a bit like whiskey.

T- Sweet, smokey coffee notes with hints of vanilla that dance across the palate. The coffee sticks around through the finish, which reveals a slight bitterness with underlying notes of toffee.

M- It's a bit lighter than I had expected, medium bodied with moderate, prickly carbonation.

O- It was good, I feel like it would have benefitted from a bit of a heavier mouthfeel though.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 20:04:47 | More by silverking

Bierguy5

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep brown, approaching black. Creamy, tan head holds together pretty well for a few minutes. Nice lace around the edges of the glass.

Roasted malt up front, a bit of chocolate and vanilla. Subtle notes of whiskey.

Roasted malt, but not overly so. Somewhat dry up front, and sharp. Whiskey notes at a nice touch. A bit of vanilla and the butterscotch notes I see in other I&G beers.

Medium body, wish it was a bit fuller. Soft carbonation helps things out. Alcohol is well hidden. Simple beer, with a hint of complexity. I enjoy these beers from I&G very much.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 22:12:36 | More by Bierguy5

shand

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Innis and Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask pours a dark brown with a small head that quickly dissipates. The aroma is full of sweet malt from the whiskey cask, along with a bit of roast and chocolate from the stout. The aroma is a little poorly integrated, but the taste makes up for it with smooth oak and whiskey tones over a generic, yet solid English stout dry roast. The mouthfeel is light for the style and gently carbonated, and the drinkability is great. Overall, this is another solid beer from Innis and Gunn. They seem to have a thing going on where they make complex yet delicate sipping beers. I'm all for it.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:44:58 | More by shand

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pitch black in color, a nice off white head at the top that left a little bit of lacing around the glass.

S: Vanilla up front, some coffee notes, and a hint of whiskey on the tail end.

T: Same as the nose, just more of a roasty taste followed by the nice smooth whiskey notes, very good taste.

M - Medium bodied and nice amount of carbonation.

O: A good brew, well balanced, I think a little more whiskey flavor would have made this a little more tastier.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 21:42:40 | More by thedoubler55

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

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

Appearance: perfect mocha head; very dark brown, opaque

Aroma: big chocolate, but on the sweet side; some molasses, figs, lightly burnt

Taste & Mouthfeel: roasted/burnt chocolate flavours, a great subtle smokiness, and it all combines for a rich, somewhat earthy brew that is like drinking firewood; good carbonation, smooth medium-heavy body; lingering bitter finish with some sweetness hovering in the background; raisins

Overall: a great stout, and the cask ageing seems to have a legitimate and enjoyable impact on flavour

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:16:24 | More by BGDrock