Oak Aged Beer -- Innis & Gunn (Edinburgh, Scotland)
The Scots have done it again. I've already talked about how much I love scotch ale, particularly McEwan's. I have not reviewed the Kelpie seaweed ale because I had it only once... but it was fantastic. And now there's the happy accident of a beer aged in bourbon oak casks... amen.
Characteristics: Clear orange-gold color, medium carbonation, light-to-medium body, and a slightly nutty clean taste (reminiscent of Bass Ale) punctuated by the bubbles and then mellowing out through vanilla flavors to a bourbon-tinged finish.
Minor Gripes: The aftertaste can run a bit sweet -- when I burped, it smelled like a Beam & Coke. And it's deceptively strong, at 6.6% ABV (compared with the standard 5% ABV).
Bottom Line: This is best seen as a sipping beer, and a fantastic brew for a lazy evening near a fireplace. I'm not a big fan of bourbon, but I can certainly endorse this use of bourbon casks.
Rating: 8 / 10
Characteristics: Clear orange-gold color, medium carbonation, light-to-medium body, and a slightly nutty clean taste (reminiscent of Bass Ale) punctuated by the bubbles and then mellowing out through vanilla flavors to a bourbon-tinged finish.
Minor Gripes: The aftertaste can run a bit sweet -- when I burped, it smelled like a Beam & Coke. And it's deceptively strong, at 6.6% ABV (compared with the standard 5% ABV).
Bottom Line: This is best seen as a sipping beer, and a fantastic brew for a lazy evening near a fireplace. I'm not a big fan of bourbon, but I can certainly endorse this use of bourbon casks.
Rating: 8 / 10
Categories:
Ale
