Innis & Gunn

[Yello to Mello]

I think being a whisky forum, we should have more threads on barrel aged beer. We discussed I&G dispersively throughout WWW but it needs a thread here.

I knew what it was for a long time but still slept on it. First time I had it was actually a scotch tasting at someones house and we had it after. Excellent stuff. So far I am liking the original better than the rum cask. I got some of the highland cask too.

On other barrel aged stuff, I got access to some of the Ola Dubh Highland Park cask matured beer. I want to go directly to the 18 year old cask stuff when it arrives. The 30 and 40 year old cask stuff is probably good but at this point I cant justify shelling out close to $20 on a bottle of beer.

[MacDeffe]

One fact about barrel aged beer I think must be right

The older the cask used, the less active it must be !

Innis and Gunn, having been on fresh wood, is my favourite

Why Fullers advertise 30yo casks is a mystery to me, old casks could be very worn out

Steffen

[Yello to Mello]

I thought the purpose of the older cask was to get the whisky flavour, not necessarily the wood flavour. The essence of the whisky that was in there.

Im having the highland cask now. Although its not as big tasting as the original, there are different and somewhat flavour structures from the 21YO cask. It was also matured for 49 days compared to the 70 something days of the original.

[TheTross]

Getting the right amount of whisky influence on the ale is definitely the key thing for me. I've always liked the Innis & Gunn range, feeling that they've got the balance spot on. On the other hand, I had a bottle of 1488 a while back and found that it had far too much whisky character, making it a little unpleasant and even difficult to drink. (Others will love it, of course, but to me less is definitely more in this case.)

Brewdog's Paradox ale is also very good, if a bit pricey. I've not tried any of the Ola Dubh range, but next time I see a bottle I'll pick one up.

[Yello to Mello]

Frodo, in the other thread you ask what was in the I&G gift pack and I said the 3rd one was the winter beer. The winter beer IMO isnt all that good. The 8.5% alc is getting me hammered faster and that about it. I still think the original is the best I tried as far as taste and am curious what that IPA was like. The rum or highland casks didnt add beat the original.

[robjohnston]

I really like the rum cask and the tripple matured as they have lovely stong flavours, as well as having some delicate light ones too.
Not a huge fan of the blonde ( just original but aged for a shorter time) or the pale ale
The original isn't too bad.

My issue with the company is that you cant buy their beers on their website or online really.
Id love the buy a bulk pack of 6 or something but have to scourer my local tesco or peckhams!

also love the paradoxes you can really feel the whisky in these bottlings

[Frodo]

I just got a holiday pack and am looking forward to trying it.

[Frodo]

The rum or highland casks didnt add beat the original.

OK perhaps we have different tastes here. I like the Highland Cask the best with the IPA and then the Blonde. The Tripple Cask wasn't bad either. Didn't like the Rum Cask but am willing to try it again. The Canadian Cask didn't do it for me either.

[Yello to Mello]

Maybe I should buy a couple more highland casks and try to cellar them.

[andyt]

I tried the Rum Cask from the wood at the Stonehaven Real Ale Festival a couple of weeks ago and thought it far superior to the bottled version, the difference was much more distinct than in the whisky cask.

[Yello to Mello]

OK perhaps we have different tastes here

I think we do as far as beers are concerned. However I had another rum cask and I thought it was ok but the original was still better. I dont know why I didnt really feel the highland cask. Maybe I should have tried it at a higher temperature ro something.

SInce we have different tastes I should give the Ola Dubhs a try but I would go straight to the 18. Trouble is that its beyond my budged for beer. Perhaps I will get 2 since there is still a lot of stock in Aurora.

[Frodo]

...or you could go straight to the 40yr @ $18+ a bottle...

[Frodo]

Just had the Winter Beer. Not bad. Not rushing out to get more but very caramel-y.