Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask - Innis & Gunn

malty

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a wide mouth tulip glass pretty much black, but there are some mahogany edges/hi-lites. The head is a loose and fluffy khaki color that settles to around 1" when left alone. Looks like a proper (non-nitro) stout. Delicate thin sheets of lace that drip ever-so-slightly.

The nose is a bit chocolatey, and there's really not much else to detect. After several swirls of the chalice, a tiny blink of coffee enters my nostrils, then quickly dies-off. Repeat - same.

The roasted malt and coffee/chocolate are now more apparent since I've taken a nice quaff of this ale. The Irish whiskey essence is here too. This I like. I've never placed any spirits into my beer, but this now may change. The whiskey is well balanced and sits right at the back of the tongue. The softness of this stout makes for a delicate barrier to ponder the whiskey, then the beer.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and very English-like in the low carbonation realm. A whiskyish finish melds well with the dark, lovely malts.

Overall a stout that I'm pleased I tried. The taste of the Irish whiskey is so very keen, concise and perfectly placed. I have to admit, I tended to believe this was some sort of novelty 'oak aged' beer hype. But now that I've had the opportunity to taste how original and honest this stout is, I will be purchasing a 4-pack (or more for next week) St. Patty's day. Bell's Expedition Stout still sits atop this holiday's choice list though.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 17:58:35 | More by malty

NorthernSoul

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4/5  rDev +5.8%

06-20-2013 01:45:36 | More by NorthernSoul

BColton1

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

06-16-2013 12:52:53 | More by BColton1

SmashPants

Australia

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

Bottle: embossed 330mL clear bottle with the standard Innis & Gunn label.

Appearance: pours dark brown with some ruby highlights against the light. A one-finger tan head hangs about for a good long while - great retention and lacing as it slowly drops over the entire session.

Aroma: not much nose as is typical of a stout - roast heavy malts with a touch of those vanilla and whiskey from the cask. Interesting, but a bit demure.

Taste: light chocolate with some peat and warming alcohol. I have to admit I didn't notice all too much of the vanilla and whiskey from the cask. Still, very enjoyable.

Aftertaste: Some bitterness comes through from the chocolate, and some toffee as well. Very nice.

Mouth feel: a very smooth stout - almost feels like a milk stout. Medium in body with a moderate- to- higher carbonation. Not sure if it wouldn't have been better with a little less carbonation.

Overall: first whiskey cask-aged beer I have had, and it hasn't disappointed. A very nice stout thanks to Innis & Gunn, but I'm not sure there was enough difference or added flavour from the cask to warrant the high price tag, since it is over AU$130-140 a case (2013).

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 09:01:02 | More by SmashPants

dwoolley1

New York

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

06-15-2013 21:08:10 | More by dwoolley1

bennettj1087

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

06-10-2013 16:35:49 | More by bennettj1087

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From the 330 ml. clear bottle. Sampled on June 8, 2013.

It pours dark brown with plenty of ruby red hues glowing in the glass. The head is about a finger thick and basically stays around for the whole session.

The aroma is sweet and malty, a tad smoked, but it also has a roasty feel to it along with a little wood. Hops are downplayed.

The body is medium.

The taste has plenty of sweet malts going on with a slightly roasted feel too. Overall it is fairly easy to drink and predictable. But it does not jump out as anything out of the ordinary.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 01:25:20 | More by puboflyons

OldTime

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

06-08-2013 02:24:50 | More by OldTime

ralphw56

Nevada

4/5  rDev +5.8%

06-07-2013 00:45:34 | More by ralphw56

Carpentiere

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.8%

06-04-2013 20:35:16 | More by Carpentiere

xaoslaad

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

06-04-2013 19:24:34 | More by xaoslaad

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up in Totowa last week, not having an Innis and Gunn beer in quite some time. I had never had an English Stout before and although it's not as dark or strong as the Irish ones that I've enjoyed, there was a lot to like here and the Whiskey could be felt in the smoothness of the beer, if not necessarily in the taste.

This had a dark brown pour to hit with just a little bit of light seeping through around the edges. Not a lot of head here but there was a good amount after the pour that quickly settled down and stuck to the sides of the glass as I worked my way through it. This almost had the appearance of a handcrafted soda that had gone just a hair flat, as the carbonation wasn't that strong here. There was a good amount of roasted barley and milk chocolate both in the nose and aroma, which combined with a nice, creamy mouthfeel and hints of lactose and vanilla. Only in the aftertaste could I feel the effects of the whiskey cask, as the spice and alcohol from it stuck around both in my mouth and esophagus. The warming effect was pleasing and easygoing at the same time and everything worked seamlessly together, as the carbonation led to the flavors not being too overpowering or lingering.

Hard to believe that this was 7.40% ABV as I didn't feel woozy until I had nearly polished this off. I give these guys credit for pushing the envelope on what beer can be and for making me realize that for all that I've enjoyed over the years, that there's so much out there that I haven't tried and haven't had access to (such as this style). It almost reminded me of an Irish Dry Stout crossed with a Milk Stout but this was "wetter" and "less sweet" and most of all, completely unoffensive. I love what these guys are capable of!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 07:04:28 | More by JerzDevl2000

mikerems

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +25.7%

06-02-2013 02:14:35 | More by mikerems

Profchaos20

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%

06-01-2013 04:52:16 | More by Profchaos20

dannyhead

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-30-2013 15:42:38 | More by dannyhead

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-30-2013 02:05:31 | More by Kmat10

hopley

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

05-28-2013 00:06:01 | More by hopley

travishardy929

New York

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

05-26-2013 18:26:29 | More by travishardy929

swgwilt

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-26-2013 04:32:48 | More by swgwilt

BlueMoon10

Mississippi

2.75/5  rDev -27.2%

05-25-2013 15:20:33 | More by BlueMoon10

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-24-2013 00:10:42 | More by AOShabaz

magnusdave

New York

4.5/5  rDev +19%

05-19-2013 18:25:28 | More by magnusdave

RoryOMoore

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +25.7%

05-18-2013 18:55:21 | More by RoryOMoore

GabeQ

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-17-2013 04:16:39 | More by GabeQ

Hopinista

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

05-17-2013 03:01:20 | More by Hopinista