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Innis & Gunn
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Innis & Gunn, Cask Strength (Scotland) 
This new beer from Innis & Gunn (as of October 2005) is the 'cask strength' addition to their small and absolutley superb range of oak-aged beers. This spent 77 days in small barrels, and pours a dark, burnished bronze colour, with a thinnish off-white head. The nose has a delightfully honeyed character, with masses of vanilla-pod and creamy notes, toffee and a core of very fruity, Christmas-cake aromas. On the palate it is thick and rich, with a very sumptuous, mouth-filling texture and a sweep of raisin, spice, and cocoa dusted flavours, with hints of mashed banana, rich, biscuity malt, and a long, long finish that piles on generous fruity acidity and bitter notes to counteract the beer's innate sweetness. Another stunning beer from this Edinburgh brewer. 7.7% ABV, 33cl, £1.85, Asda. |  |
Innis & Gunn, Limited Edition 2004 (Scotland)
The regular Innes & Gunn oak-aged beer is a five-star favourite of beer-pages, so this 37,000 bottle edition, in a presentation box, launched November 2004 promised much. The colour is perhaps
a shade lighter, with an off-white, creamy head. The nose is fantastically nutty and toffeed, with notes of buttered popcorn, roasted sesame seeds and Seville orange. On the palate a caraway and burnt toast
depth is layered with espresso beans, dark cholate and more of that marmalady fruit quality. There's a complex and unfolding quality to this beer, with a tang of bitter hops and a sweet suggestion of vanilla pods
as well as a brightly-focused acidity that really lifts and extends this beer in the mouth. Brilliant, unusual and a must try beer. 5.3% ABV, 33cl, £1.99, Sainsbury's. |  |
Innis & Gunn, Limited Edition 2005 (Scotland)
A limited edition of 50,000 bottles and exclusive to Sainsbury's, this oak-aged beer from I&G spent 107 days in barrels (as opposed to the regular beer's 77 days). It is massively unctuous and toffeed on the nose, with notes of hot buttered popcorn, toasted coconut and caramel. A fruity sweetness and suggestion of leafy hops adds complexity. On the palate it is thick, creamy and sweet - the sweetest of the I&Gs so far - with a dark chocolate richness, still a lovely zest of citrus and a creamy, mellow finish. There is a bittering edge of hops, and whilst excellent, this beer errs on being just a tad too sweet for my palate. 7.2% ABV, 33cl, £1.99, Sainsbury's. |  |
Innis & Gunn, Oak-aged Beer (Scotland)
One of the most innovative products in the beer market today, this Edinburgh ale is aged in brand new malt whisky barrels, made from American oak. The colour is a glowing gold, with a creamy head. On the nose it is intensely aromatic, with really fresh, grassy hop character and quite a deep, almost briney note. The oak influence is more noticeable on the palate, where a luscious vanilla and caramel note permeates the beer. This adds an unguent sweetness on the mid palate, but the freshness of the hops cuts through and the acidity is clean in the finish. I thought this beer was delicious. 6.9% ABV, 33cl, £1.69, Asda, Luvians, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Sainsbury's, Tesco. |  |
Innis & Gunn, Triple Matured Oak Aged Beer (Scotland)
The beer has been matured in 150 selected oak barrels and it has been aged for a total of 99 days. It's brewed from Optic malt and chocolate malt made from barley grown in the Scottish borders with Goldings hops from the fields of Kent. At the end of the brewing process, the beer is run into American white oak barrels and left to mature. When the beer has absorbed sufficient oak character from the wood, it's transferred to a marrying tun and left for further maturation. Beers from different barrels are then blended.
The beer has an appealing chestnut colour with a massive nose of oak, chocolate, rich malt and peppery hops. The palate is complex with juicy malt, oak, chocolate, slightly sour fruit and hop resins. The finish bittersweet with oak, honey, spicy hops and sour fruit – the slight hint of sourness will appeal to lovers of Belgian beer while the oak character with naturally please whisky drinkers. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: moderate. Triple Matured is available, while stocks last, in Sainsbury's stores.
7.2% ABV, 33cl, £2.19, Sainsbury's.  |  |
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