Triple Matured Oak Aged Beer
Innis & Gunn

Triple Matured Oak Aged BeerTriple Matured Oak Aged Beer
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From:
Innis & Gunn
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.77%
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
34
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 01, 2014
Added:
Nov 19, 2008
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Dawkfan:
Photo of Dawkfan
Reviewed by Dawkfan from Canada (AB)

3.87/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A- Creamy looking off white head atop a chestnut brown colored body. No lacing, but an inviting looking beer non the less.

S- Lots of toffee and caramel in the aroma, some woodiness, vanilla, dark fruits and brown sugar as well. Very sweet like I expected.

T- Not quite as good as the aroma, but it has a nice profile. Dark fruit kind of takes over the flavor in this as opposed to the toffee and caramel I was getting in the nose. Vanilla and oak round this one out.

M- Smooth and rich. low carbonation and medium body make for a velvety feel in the mouth. Maybe a touch thin.

D- By far my favorite Innis & Gunn to date. The taste could of been a little bolder, but I enjoyed this one. Hopefully a precursor of things to come for my Eagles against the Packers on this wild card weekend.
Jan 09, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.75 by R_Kole from Canada (AB)

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by TheBeeraholic from Canada (ON)

Jun 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by JMBSH from Colorado

Apr 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by ronanohall

Nov 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by artemh from Canada (AB)

Jul 11, 2012
Photo of joemcgrath27
Reviewed by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A - clear but extremely dark brown, tall fluffy tan head retained very well
S - very peaty and smoky with definite barrel aged aromas and caramel sweetness
T - big blast of smoky beat and charred wood, toasty malt with light sweetness and earthy hops, definitely the smokiest of the I&G brews I've tried to date
M - a little more than medium bodied with a full smoky feel throughout, a very faint hint of alcohol
O - I can't believe how smoky and delicoius this beer is, a strong char flavour with some earthy peat notes and the ABV very well hidden, so glad I came across this
Dec 10, 2011
Photo of beerdrifter
Reviewed by beerdrifter from Germany

4.42/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked this up at the biggest beer store in the UK, Beers of Europe Ltd. Beautiful clear mahogany pour with one finger head that quickly fades with minimal lacing. Vanilla and oak dominate the nose as they always do with an Innis & Gunn beer. This particular style is also giving off some nice malty, toffee and caramel notes as well a touch of butterscotch. The taste pretty much mirrors the nose with the oak and vanilla once again the stars. A subtle butteriness is also present along with some nice caramel maltiness. I'm also getting just a touch of dark fruit which I've never had before with an Innis & Gunn. The mouthfeel is creamy and silky smooth with no evidence of the 7.2 ABV, making the drinkability off the charts for me! This is my favorite offering from Innis & Gunn so far.
Nov 20, 2011
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Reviewed by evlu1441 from Canada (AB)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an official Innis and Gunn glass, this is a very dark reddish amber beer. The head is foamy and settles down to about a centimeter over the beer.

The aroma is dominated by a smokey, oaky (rhyme haha), almost bacon-esque smell. Some sweet malty notes come through as well.

The flavour is quite nice. Slightly tart to start, the complexity is immediately apparent. Slight toffee mixes with a smoley oak flavour and some slight alcohol warmth. Some faint sweetness comes through and is well complimented by the oak.

Overall (I've said this for every Innis and Gunn review I've done), This is my favourite Innis and Gunn. The flavours are well balanced and interesting
Sep 17, 2011
Photo of CrazyDavros
Reviewed by CrazyDavros from Australia

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark copper/brown with a creamy head.
Nose is somewhat sour, reminding me of Fanta and Coke. Underneath is some oak with a hint of char. Quite sweet, but not much malt of hops.
Flavours are the same, a hint of sour oak and some very faint light malt before a mild bitterness. Still reminiscent of Coke.
Nice moderately high carbonation, body could be a bit thicker.
Sep 30, 2010
Photo of dgilks
Reviewed by dgilks from Australia

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Moderately strong, malty aroma with good toffee notes, a big woody note and some fruitiness. Good.

Deep, clear, mahogany colour with a small tan head.

Sweet and malty. Lots of toffee, oak, vanilla and nut. Unfortunately I get a bit of skunk thanks to the clear bottle. The oak also seems a bit over the top.

Medium body with moderately-high carbonation.

This is an interesting beer but to be the oak is over the top and fails to integrate well with the malt. The carbonation is also too high.
Sep 24, 2010
Photo of StephenRich
Reviewed by StephenRich from Canada (ON)

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
When you look at the beer, it is immediately obvious of the color difference between the Original and the Triple Matured. This is a much darker, and richer colored beer showing rich dark browns and caramel like mahogany in the bottle. Its is up to 7.2% abv from the Original's 6.6%. But the added weight in malt is not what primarily contributed this color; it is the oak. Through a longer maturation process the oak continues to penetrate the beer with its deep, rich flavors and thus imparts a new level of complexity and maturity.

The Triple Matured was from a limited batch of 150 barrels, and was released in November 2009 - this bottle I opened has be resting in my cellar since then, so this tasting is approximately 8 months old.

This is actually my preferred age for any Innis & Gunn. When fresh, I find that the flavors are quite ripe, and slightly sharp, creating a quenching and delicious beer. But with a few months they continue to mellow and blend to a more refined and spirited beer. It is a fine line though, these beers come to us filtered and pasteurized, so their life is limited. By the 1 year mark it can get tricky, and I have ruined an Innis & Gunn by ageing it for to long.

This though is not the case here. This Triple Matured was one of the best examples of an Innis & Gunn I had ever had. I was really impressed with it when fresh, but now it has smoothed out to a mellow and silky beer with truly refined flavors.

I poured it into an Innis & Gunn stemmed pint glass cool around 8C (45F). This is where my journey began. I have probably poured about 20 Triple Matured bottles in the last 8 months, but this was the oldest, and build with the most life. It rumbled as it hit the bottom of the glass and immediately sparked up a rich smooth almond brown head. As the bottle emptied I was left with a magnificent airy, pillow like head a good 2 inches above the beer which shone deep with garnet, brick brown, rich mahogany and copper.

The nose is familiar, but a touch more soothing and relaxed than normal. Soft and buttery vanilla and caramels melt off the beer making their way gently into your nose. Its like warm toffee candies sweating in the sun. Big round malts show up adding rich scents and classic malt sweetness with hints of dark fruit and a clear oak and char aroma. It is not far off the fresh version, but as I mentioned, it not so ripe, its has smoothed out - like a green banana vs one that is beginning to brown.

After examining the sight and smell of this beer for some time the head has faded now to about half its original height. I went in for a long smooth drink - it almost forced me to recline in my seat and exhale with a full breath of satisfaction. This is where every Innis & Gunn should live. This Triple Matured has been sitting patiently building in flavor, complexity and maturity for 8 months, or slightly longer. Right now every flavor just melts off your tongue and fills your cheeks with lush and silky character.

First, a big warm wave of warm vanilla and caramel malts glide along your lips and penetrate your tongue with a gentle and flawless sensation. Again, that melting toffee candy feeling just floats everywhere. Right in behind is the rich round flavors of oak and char, but the oak is most prominent here showing butterscotch and sweet warming flavors reminiscent of whiskey.

Inevitably, dark fruits begin to make their way in showing prunes, pears, banana, plum and what I would have called figs previously, I would now say melon. There was a gentle and slightly sharp spice to the beer at once, which was very quenching, but has now calmed to a delicate and buttery mouthfeel. This beer is no longer a refreshment, it is a delicacy.

The malt backbone is most prominent in the beer but does house the wide and round range of oak, fruit, vanilla, and soft bitter chocolate flavors that this beer exemplifies. There is only the slightest hint of hops showing up with an herb and gently floral aroma. It does balance out the Triple Matured somewhat, but its overpowered by the sheer malt sweetness in this now smooth and sensational Inins & Gunn.

The mouthfeel too has calmed down. Carbonation is to a minimum, but still exists enough to tickle your taste buds. It is smooth and buttery, as I am sure you get by now, with a sweet, gently crisp finish leaving you satisfied, but aching for more.

It relieves me that I did not age and ruin this Innis & Gunn, and also excites me that I have one more left! This is a remarkable Innis & Gunn - but I would still over to see an unpasteurized version. I can only imagine the flavors.
Aug 20, 2010
Photo of ADZA
Reviewed by ADZA from Australia

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
After seeing this brew at my favourite bottleshop it definately caught my eye with the nice blue/gold labeling even though im not a fan of beers in clear see through bottles i know this brewery is an exception,it pours exactly as it looks in the bottle a very dark mahogany hue and i mean dark it has average carbonation that leaves behind a bourbon and cola half finger head with a rim of lacing and geez the aroma is very similar to a bourbon and coke its very sweet indeed with also some hints of oak(obviously) and also dark ripe plums,the mouthfeel is very light for the style i must admit i was quite taken back as i was expecting a way more heavy set mouthfeel for this brew even though its a bittersweet discovery given that its makes this brew way more easy to drink than i was expecting which in contrast is a good thing i spose so maybe im being too harsh netherless it exudes tastes of xmas pudding,some light whiskey and i mean light,oak and a nice all round dark fruit edge that evens out this brew perfectly to counter act the lack of bitterness i encounter,overall this is probably the best Innis & Gunn brew that i have tasted and i will buy some more of before it is totally gone as like they say on the label it is limited shame as i rate this brew.
Jul 18, 2010
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Reviewed by PEIBeerGuy from Canada (PE)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The head looked nice & pretty creamy, but almost completely disappeared within about 2 minutes. The beer pours as it looks in the bottle... a dark chestnut colour.

It smells much like I&G's standard beer. Maybe a bit sweeter / richer. There's something to it I can't put my finger on... a rich sweetness... somewhere in between dates, brown sugar, and BBQ. Pretty good. Really have to swirl it around / blow over the top of the beer / head to get the full smell out.

I don't find anything too outstanding or different about it vs. I&G's standard beer or other similar releases. It's def. worth a try, though. It's a bit "fuller" than the others I&G releases. A bit more wood, a bit more sweet (raisin / date flavour).

Feels A-OK in the mouth. Not overcarbonated. A little watery, perhaps, but a bit of smoothness is there... would like a bit more, perhaps.

Pretty drinkable!
Jul 02, 2010
Photo of pootz
Reviewed by pootz from Canada (ON)

3/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle:

Puts a clear burnished copper ale in the glass. Smallish cap disappears, modest lacing.

Nose: Caramel malts and some wood tones in the aroma.

Flavor: sane overly sweet caramel malts, woody undertone with weak golding hop balance, wet finish, but sweet.

This brewer constantly amazes me as to how such rich smekking beers fail to match in body. Weak body for the style, caramelized malts predominate, soft kent hopping fast finish for a strong ale. Over rated, over priced.
Jun 23, 2010
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Reviewed by EsoxLucius from Canada (SK)

4.02/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A: red-brown, minimal head and lacing. very clean looking.

S: sweet caramel malts and some hop smell, overall sweet smell. nothing offensive. not boozy at all.

T: some spice and wood, sweet caramels and a apricot finish. very nice.

M: initially thin, but creams up good on the finish

D: very smooth, i'd bought a supply in November of 2009 and just cracked them today, late may 2010. goes down very easy.
May 25, 2010
Photo of NightINgale
Reviewed by NightINgale from Russian Federation

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
330ml bottle poured into a tulip glass...

A - Dark reddish-brown colour to it, clear and not very carbonated. The beige head is quite rich and sticks around for a while.

S - Caramel, chocolate, vanilla, and some dark fruit notes. Reminds me of both the original Innis & Gunn and a good milk stout. Barely any hints of alcohol.

T - Starts out sweet, with a strong vanilla-like oakiness, a good toffee backbone, and some hints of chocolate and even roasted coffee beans. Some hints of prunes or cherries. The finish has got some mild bitterness from the roasted malts.

M - Medium-to-full body. Very smooth and gentle on the palate, though a bit syrupy. Almost still. The alcohol is pretty well-masked. A slight warming sensation arises after some time.

D - Good, especially if you regard this solely as a strong ale. The one bottle I had went down extremely easily.

Overall, this is indeed an exceptionally smooth and delightful strong ale, but I reckon the Original is still better.
Mar 11, 2010
Photo of IronDjinn
Reviewed by IronDjinn from Canada (AB)

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Comes in a blue box as part of the limited edition packaging. Pours out a deep transparent nut brown, tall creamy off-white head that settles at a steady rate.

Toffee and raisin sweetness up front on the nose, some grains and brown sugar, some oak. Notes of pear are more apparent as it warms. Overall it seems subdued.

Flavour is also a bit on the subdued side. No, I take that back.... The first few sips are mild, some light caramel up front, however everything builds to a bold finish and aftertaste--a bit boozy, rich notes of wood and whiskey, some rum and raisin darkness, then some vanilla accumulates about halfway through the glass.

Mouthfeel seems light, with low carbonation, yet a heck of a lot of alcohol warmth on the finish and lingering aftertaste, and smooth in texture throughout.

Once again another limited edition that still doesn't surpass the original, and on that note the extra coin that it fetches--I suppose we're paying for the box it comes in as well. A decent dark ale all the same, something of a cross between a Scotch ale and a Belgian Dubbel, it has enough character but not enough presence.
Feb 08, 2010
Photo of TheHammer
Reviewed by TheHammer from Canada (ON)

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Poured without even a hint of head or lacing which is disappointed, the beer itself is a weak coffee like brown that does boast carbonation in the body.

Smell: A lot of diversity here, but nothing steps up to make a dominant scent. Roasted malt, butter, toffee, vanilla, fruits, oak and a hint of smokiness all make an appearance, however nothing stands out.

Taste: Starts with a very nice fruity and sweet malt that turns to a touch of vanilla and caramel and ends with a smoky bitterness that is accented by an woodsy undertone. Very good, but like the smell, nothing really stands out.

Mouthfeel: Well the complete lack of head is disappointing, and the carbonation seems die out half way through the beer. The being said the aftertaste is exceptional, with a sweet smoky fruit flavor that pleasantly lingers for a long time.

Drinkability: No issues getting it down, and it's surprisingly light to drink. A little bit on the sweet side though, which really makes this a desert beer, or for special occasions. Certainly would not turn it down though.

Final Thoughts: There are times I truly do feel bad for Innis & Gunn. I mean, I really appreciate all of the special barrel brews they offer, but none of them seem to be able to top the regular Innis & Gunn. I certainly wasn't disappointed by this offering, but I don't think I'd buy it again.
Jan 27, 2010
Triple Matured Oak Aged Beer from Innis & Gunn
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 34 ratings