Innis & Gunn - Scottish Beer

r3nu4l

I was recently away with work, staying in a nice hotel in London and discovered what is possibly the nicest dark beer I've ever tasted.

I was even more surprised when I discovered that it's brewed in Edinburgh, a place I've never really associated with beer. Innis & Gunn is aged in oak barrels that previously contained bourbon. The flavours that come out of the beer as a result are amazing. I have to say that this beer really and truly beats or at least equals the very best British real-ales and Belgian beers I've ever tasted.

Has anyone out there ever tried it? If you haven't then try to get your hands on some. I'm not sure where it would be stocked in Ireland, probably only in specialist off-licenses although Tesco and Sainsbury here in the UK stock it so maybe Tesco at home do too? Either way, try it out!

Jimoslimos

Did you try it on tap or from a bottle? I've only ever seen it in bottles. Been meaning to try it for a while now but the quite small bottle size has put me off in favour of a larger bottle of something else.

Still if it is as good as you say might be tempted to give it a go this weekend!

r3nu4l

Only from bottles, I don't think it's on tap yet! I've visited the website (so I could find out where it was stocked) and according to that the beer is only around since 2003!

You don't get a lot in the bottle but it is quite strong (6.6%) and very flavoursome. It's really the kind of beer to savour and enjoy rather than the kind of beer you would drink to get 'tanked up'.

There is a limited edition Innis & Gunn IPA and a cask strength version but I haven't tasted either. I've only tasted the regular version and according to the website it has vanilla, citrus, floral, fruit and oak flavours. I could definitely get the vanilla, oak and citrus, not sure about the others!

oblivious

Nice beer all right, but its been a while since i have had it

Edinburgh was one of the great brewing cites

pdebarra

I was never a fan of that one - I find it too sweet. I'm more of an IPA man, though, so don't let that deter you! A friend of mine loves the stuff, though. He knows a shop in Kilkeny that sells it, I think. Must get the details from him. I do be in Derry a bit, and I find Sainsbury's always has it in stock - it must be one of their big sellers.

r3nu4l

It's certainly sweet alright although not as sickly sweet as some of the cherry beers out there, I can only drink about one bottle of those before my stomach protests at the sugar levels

I'd like to try their IPA version alright, that would be interesting. I checked out Tesco last night, no luck, I'll check out Sainsbury over the weekend.

Interestingly, out of all the real ale festivals I've attended in Cambridge I've never tasted anything like this and there is usually a huge variety of taste and flavours at those.

oblivious

Scottish beers are maltier and can have a bit more unfermentable sugars left in them especially when they get biger

There are a lot of real ale people pissed with Green king as they closed Harveys brewery, here is a link Article


The only thing in common with their IPA and a real IPA is the name, its way off an IPA.

But i do like there Suffolk Strong and Old Speckled Hen!

r3nu4l

Well, I'm not a big fan of Greene King as I think they own too many pubs around Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. I like freehouses a lot more as I'm much more likely to come across new beers I've never heard of.

That said, I do like some of the Greene King beers, including OSH. I would still like to taste the Innis & Gunn IPA although I was wondering how it could taste like an IPA if it was still being given the oak aging treatment. I see from your answer that it doesn't taste like a real IPA

Prenderb

There's an offlicence in Maynooth that allegedly sells it, and a very nice and friendly offlicence in Kilkenny (the Wine Centre on John Street - a great shop) which, when I'm down there, definitely sells me every bottle that's on the shelf!

It's a fantastic drink, and is a bargain at about 2.50-3 euro, considering it tastes at least 10 times better than "commercial lagers."

I wouldn't encourage too many people to try it though, it's hard enough to get hold of as it is!

I'd love to find out if it's sold anywhere else....and would be interested in the IPA version too.

happy_acid_face

Prenderb wrote:

There's an offlicence in Maynooth that allegedly sells it, and a very nice and friendly offlicence in Kilkenny (the Wine Centre on John Street - a great shop) which, when I'm down there, definitely sells me every bottle that's on the shelf!

It's a fantastic drink, and is a bargain at about 2.50-3 euro, considering it tastes at least 10 times better than "commercial lagers."

I wouldn't encourage too many people to try it though, it's hard enough to get hold of as it is!

I'd love to find out if it's sold anywhere else....and would be interested in the IPA version too.

Most specialists in Dublin will have it, or is available to them. A nice beer but just a little too sweet for me to drink to many of them

The IPA version will be hard enough to comoe across. There was only 64,000 produced and is exclusive to Sainsbury's and Waitrose (UK), and in Systembolaget, Sweden.

http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer/innis-&-gunn-limited-edition-oak-aged-ipa/65147/

r3nu4l

Yeah, my local Sainsbury only had the regular and cask strength last time I looked. Pity as it really is a nice beer. The sweetness doesn't bother me as it;s the type of beer that should be enjoyed for taste rather than copious quantities, it's a quality beer rather than a Stella drinkers beer

Jimoslimos

Had the regular one about two weeks ago and found it to be quite pleasant. Got myself a bottle of the "cask strength" to try this weekend. I'll be keeping an eye out for the IPA in Sainsburys and Waitrose.

AkiThePirate

As much as I hate to resurrect such an old thread, does anybody know where I could pick up some of the Innis & Gunn Rum Cask?
I have two bottles of the normal stuff sitting in my press. It really is the nicest beer I've ever tasted... Yet, at least.

BeerNut

I've only seen it in Sainsbury's up north. If anywhere in Dublin was going to have it it'd be the likes of Redmond's in Ranelagh, Deveney's Dundrum or DrinkStore Soneybatter.

ciaran76

Coolers in Ongar have the 2/3 different Innis and Gunn beers.

Probably well out of your way, but the abbots ale house in Cork have the original, triple matured and the rum cask. Don't fancy the rum cask myself, thought the triple matured version was much nicer.

IrishWhiskeyCha

Harvest in Galway had it also but not really much good to you either. I prefered the regular oak aged version though. The Rum one was a bit too rum sweet for me

Technocentral

Its nice but a bit too sweet, the rum one is even sweeter, one bottle is all I could take.

AkiThePirate

I absolutely love the sweetness, but perhaps I'm just unfathomably strange.

d4v1d

the carry-out off license group still stock innis and gunn. tescos and o'briens seem to have discontinued it.

jmdsk

innis and gunn in tesco waterford 2 x 750ml bottles for €5 great value.

Ciarrai76

we sell Innis & Gunn in our store in Tralee & its very popular. Sold out at the moment, but we'll have it back in. If you want name of our store just let me know & I'll PM you (just in case I'm not allowed advertise!)

SmartFox

Innis & Gunn - my favorite beer. Tesco Ballybrack, Co. Dublin have it all the time for €4.75 for a 750ml bottle.

Heaven in a bottle...:D It's just too nice

irish_goat

The Wine Cellar in Maynooth usually has 2 or 3 varieties.

Must retry this stuff as I think I didn't properly enjoy it last time.

Antrim_Man

r3nu4l wrote: »

I was recently away with work, staying in a nice hotel in London and discovered what is possibly the nicest dark beer I've ever tasted.

I was even more surprised when I discovered that it's brewed in Edinburgh, a place I've never really associated with beer. Innis & Gunn is aged in oak barrels that previously contained bourbon. The flavours that come out of the beer as a result are amazing. I have to say that this beer really and truly beats or at least equals the very best British real-ales and Belgian beers I've ever tasted.

Has anyone out there ever tried it? If you haven't then try to get your hands on some. I'm not sure where it would be stocked in Ireland, probably only in specialist off-licenses although Tesco and Sainsbury here in the UK stock it so maybe Tesco at home do too? Either way, try it out!

This is exactly why I found it mingin.

Sarky

I just had one about an hour ago. God, it's lovely stuff.

See if you can get your hands on a bottle of the rum cask, it's utterly delicious.

gsxr1

wow. just had a bottle of the Oak Aged beer, Highland Cask. Sweet.

Tesco sell it in very well presented single boxes with one bottle inside. 2.50 each. I am going back tomorrow to get a few as presents . My dad loves a nice ale. He will love it.

Its really nice.

source

gsxr1 wrote: »

wow. just had a bottle of the Oak Aged beer, Highland Cask. Sweet.

Tesco sell it in very well presented single boxes with one bottle inside. 2.50 each. I am going back tomorrow to get a few as presents . My dad loves a nice ale. He will love it.

Its really nice.

Agreed had a bottle tonight, and immediately regretted not getting more than one! Absolutely beautiful beer.

KJ

They have a new one in Irish whiskey casks. Hoping to try it soon.

Ronan cork

Yeah I've ordered the Irish cask one, don't expect too much from it tho as it would be similar to the original I'd say but i heard rumours of a islay cask one that could be very interesting. C and r are selling casks of it last time I checked. Had It in the Franciscan well last year but didn't leave a lasting impression. The rum cask would Definately be my favourite to date

Brockagh

Ronan cork wrote: »

Yeah I've ordered the Irish cask one, don't expect too much from it tho as it would be similar to the original I'd say but i heard rumours of a islay cask one that could be very interesting. C and r are selling casks of it last time I checked. Had It in the Franciscan well last year but didn't leave a lasting impression. The rum cask would Definately be my favourite to date

Why would the new Irish cask one be similar to the original?