Rare Oak Pale Ale
Innis & Gunn

I have had several bottles in this series tucked away for some time now, awaiting the moment to strike. I have just been inspired by another site's user and am now embarking on a journey, not of body, but of sight, mind and casks! The eradication of the Bottle Baklog at Chez Woody continues.

From the bottle: "Oak Aged like no other beer"; "Hand-Crafted Sottish Beer"; "Golden Ale with natural flavour matured over Scottish oak"; "Carefully matured for 32 days prior to release"; "Approved for bottling [undersigned] Esther M Binnie"; "Master Brewer [undersigned] Douglas Gunn Sharp"; "Innis & Gunn Rare Oak Pale Ale Oak Aged Beer"; "This refreshing pale ale has been matured over rare Scottish oak which hasn't been used in brewing since the days of the Anglo-Scottish wars, when huge areas of Scotland's forests were felled to build ships. Crisp, fragrant and light, this beer is one for long summer evenings."

As a retired US Navy sailor and a salty dog in my own right, I long to a) return to the open water & b) to do so on a wooden vessel. I used to love, nay, embrace getting underway and I still live for ferry rides and such, but to make a trip on a wooden hull would be the ultimate! Another digression. My apologies.

I Pop!ped the cap & commenced a slow, gentle pour since I have gone off of aggro pours (unless) warranted). Once sufficiently decanted, I gave it a vigorous in-glass swirl that raised just under two fingers of foamy, rocky, bone-white head that hung around briefly before fading to wisps. Color was Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, summoning forth The Gelt Gang of Croesus, Mammon & Midas, all clamoring for a taste. Nose had a pleasant oakiness that was not overdone. Mouthfeel was on the thin side, not watery, but not much beyond it. The taste was bready, lightly sweet, lightly oaked. I am of mixed minds on this one. The American-mindthink in me wants everything to be dialed up to 11, but on the other hand, that can be both limiting & overwhelming. I think that this fits the Innis & Gunn profile nicely as they have plenty of VERY woody beers from which to choose. Not every beer needs to be over-the-top. Also, it was relatively-lightly aged for (only) 32 days, so to expect extreme woodiness would be unreasonable. Further, at just 11.2 fl-oz & 5.8% ABV, if you really had a problem with it, it would be gone rather quickly. Finish was semi-dry, leaving a lingering, light woodiness that had me smacking my lips & contemplating the next in this small horizontal.

 

Artwork: All Innis&Gunn labels look alike and it's sometimes hard to tell what beer you're looking at. I grabbed this one not realizing it was NOT their "Original" ale (which I've had before). It was a great surprise to realize that I was holding a beer I hadn't sampled before.
Appearance: Dark amber, forming a very small head and with little visible carbonation.
Nose: No oakiness on the nose. Whiffs of candy, malts and some faint hops.
Taste: Again, very little oak which came as a surprise. Fairly sweet. Notes of caramel, candy, bubblegum.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth carbonation. Medium body.
Overall: I quite liked this one. The lack of oak aromas/flavors were perplexing but given that I'm not a huge fan of theirs, it was a plus. A rather sweet-smelling and -tasting beer that may not satisfy those who prefer hoppy Pale Ales.

 

Pours a clear golden color with a thin half inch head. Smell is dominated by oak with some fruit and malt notes. Taste is very oak forward with some fruit sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Light bodied and moderately carbonated. Very drinkable, solid but not spectacular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big oak and boozy malt notes in aroma, along with floral hops and a biscuity backbone.

Flavor is bready malt dominant throughout, lightly sweet, with a floral hop finish and oak dryness that lingers.

 

Absolutely fantastic beer!