Innis & Gunn The Original Bourbon Barrel
Innis & Gunn
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Scottish Ale
Ranked #92 - ABV:
- 6.6%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #33,883 - Avg:
- 3.7 | pDev: 10%
- Reviews:
- 10
- Ratings:
- From:
- Innis & Gunn
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 2
- Gots
- 11
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Notes:
Reviews: 10
| Ratings: 49
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3.86/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tasted from a 1 pint bottle.
L - Light bronze color with good clarity. Light, wispy head and strong lacing are pure white. A very attractive beer.
S - Scotch ale aromas with bready malt, light graham cracker spice and earthy, herbal hops. The bourbon barrel character is not very assertive, but I perceive it as a greater alcohol nose and somewhat sharp vanilla aroma.
T - The Scottish ale flavors match the nose, with low biscuit and graham cracker, whose sweetness is broken by herbal hops at a moderate level. As in the nose, the bourbon does not assert itself except as a generic alcohol flavor and maybe a tiny bit of butterscotch.
F - Medium body leaning to heavy. Low to moderate carbonation is mouth filling and creamy. Moderate hops bitterness seems high for a Scottish style, but seems to fit. Alcohol presence is light, even with the barrel aging.
O - I find this a nice, well-executed Scottish ale, but the bourbon barrel aging is so subtle that I probably wouldn't have noticed it without reading the label.
1,032 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tasted from a 1 pint bottle.
L - Light bronze color with good clarity. Light, wispy head and strong lacing are pure white. A very attractive beer.
S - Scotch ale aromas with bready malt, light graham cracker spice and earthy, herbal hops. The bourbon barrel character is not very assertive, but I perceive it as a greater alcohol nose and somewhat sharp vanilla aroma.
T - The Scottish ale flavors match the nose, with low biscuit and graham cracker, whose sweetness is broken by herbal hops at a moderate level. As in the nose, the bourbon does not assert itself except as a generic alcohol flavor and maybe a tiny bit of butterscotch.
F - Medium body leaning to heavy. Low to moderate carbonation is mouth filling and creamy. Moderate hops bitterness seems high for a Scottish style, but seems to fit. Alcohol presence is light, even with the barrel aging.
O - I find this a nice, well-executed Scottish ale, but the bourbon barrel aging is so subtle that I probably wouldn't have noticed it without reading the label.
1,032 characters
4.5/5 rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
★★★★½
Une excellente bière!
Une belle surprise en Irlande du Nord, cette bière vieillie en fût de bourbon. C'est d'une rondeur et d'une douceur veloutée qui nous enrobe la bouche d'un bonheur instantané. On aime ça!
230 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
★★★★½
Une excellente bière!
Une belle surprise en Irlande du Nord, cette bière vieillie en fût de bourbon. C'est d'une rondeur et d'une douceur veloutée qui nous enrobe la bouche d'un bonheur instantané. On aime ça!
230 characters
3.72/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L- Deep amber, clear, 2mm ultra-fine white head. (Later clears to lacing).
S- I immediately register bourbon, then struggle to find anything else. Though it also has a clear toastiness to it.
T- Wow, on the front I get cherries [shock!], slightly sour, then rapidly morphing to slightly sweet (cherries). For a moment it feels like it might veer towards a Belgic kriek/fruit (cherry) beer, though the flavout is too complex to go down one avenue. Another sip, and I get puddingy and somewhat rich. Bought again I'd chill this less hard, I bet the flavour would then be really showing itself.
F- Carbonation is good in the mouth. Very easy drinking, rewarding, could make a session beer of it for a winter's night.
O- No flavours/aspects seem out of place, another striking and quality beer from this brewery; and one I happily buy again.
Bought from Sainsbury's London W10. 660ml bottle. £3
893 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L- Deep amber, clear, 2mm ultra-fine white head. (Later clears to lacing).
S- I immediately register bourbon, then struggle to find anything else. Though it also has a clear toastiness to it.
T- Wow, on the front I get cherries [shock!], slightly sour, then rapidly morphing to slightly sweet (cherries). For a moment it feels like it might veer towards a Belgic kriek/fruit (cherry) beer, though the flavout is too complex to go down one avenue. Another sip, and I get puddingy and somewhat rich. Bought again I'd chill this less hard, I bet the flavour would then be really showing itself.
F- Carbonation is good in the mouth. Very easy drinking, rewarding, could make a session beer of it for a winter's night.
O- No flavours/aspects seem out of place, another striking and quality beer from this brewery; and one I happily buy again.
Bought from Sainsbury's London W10. 660ml bottle. £3
893 characters
3.67/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
In between gold and amber with an off-white one finger head. Solid lacing. Smells of rich, fruity malt with brown sugar and some toastiness. Just a hint of bourbon and wood. The flavor is moderately malty with brown sugar, caramel and toast. Fairly sweet. There's a dry woodiness to the finish, which is otherwise sweet. Lighter body, high carbonation.
352 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
In between gold and amber with an off-white one finger head. Solid lacing. Smells of rich, fruity malt with brown sugar and some toastiness. Just a hint of bourbon and wood. The flavor is moderately malty with brown sugar, caramel and toast. Fairly sweet. There's a dry woodiness to the finish, which is otherwise sweet. Lighter body, high carbonation.
352 characters
3.82/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Serving: Bottle
Best before: May-2019
A:
Pours a clear light copper with a nice three fingers of off-white foam. Good retention; splotchy lacing. (4.25)
S:
Dark fruity malt, brown sugar, black pepper. (4)
T:
Vaugely medicinal sweetness, vanilla and a ghost of bourbon, toast. (3.75)
M:
Fairly thin body with moderate carbonation and a lingering sweet finish. (3.5)
O:
A decent overall beer with some nice malt character.
This is not what I expected at all upon seeing it labeled as a "Scotch Ale" but I guess that's me assuming the rest of the world classified beer like people do in the US (they don't) because it is a Scotch Ale. It is not a wee heavy though. It looks very nice. The aroma and flavor are predominately toasty malt character with a dollop of sweetness from the barrel. It is a little thin and sticky for what I warmed, but is drinkable and has a unique character. I have to say, on the topic of things Americans do, I like having barrel character in a 6.6% beer rather than just in huge booze bombs. I'd like to see that more and enjoyed this one. I'm also glad to see these guys have moved beyond clear glass for their bottles. (3.75)
1,160 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Serving: Bottle
Best before: May-2019
A:
Pours a clear light copper with a nice three fingers of off-white foam. Good retention; splotchy lacing. (4.25)
S:
Dark fruity malt, brown sugar, black pepper. (4)
T:
Vaugely medicinal sweetness, vanilla and a ghost of bourbon, toast. (3.75)
M:
Fairly thin body with moderate carbonation and a lingering sweet finish. (3.5)
O:
A decent overall beer with some nice malt character.
This is not what I expected at all upon seeing it labeled as a "Scotch Ale" but I guess that's me assuming the rest of the world classified beer like people do in the US (they don't) because it is a Scotch Ale. It is not a wee heavy though. It looks very nice. The aroma and flavor are predominately toasty malt character with a dollop of sweetness from the barrel. It is a little thin and sticky for what I warmed, but is drinkable and has a unique character. I have to say, on the topic of things Americans do, I like having barrel character in a 6.6% beer rather than just in huge booze bombs. I'd like to see that more and enjoyed this one. I'm also glad to see these guys have moved beyond clear glass for their bottles. (3.75)
1,160 characters
3.54/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Hmmm...a little strange here. Reminded me much more of some sort of barley wine-Belgian ale hybrid. Looks nice, light golden-amber color with some frothy head and spotty lingering lacing. Smells of maybe a tiny amount of bourbon, wood and malt. Tastes mainly of sweetness - malt, yeast, harder mineral-rich water and then some faint hints of bourbon, caramel and brown sugar. The actual wood and bourbon tastes are just so faint, though. Smooth mild thin mouthfeel, good carbonation. A decent beer but the sweetness and unbalanced flavors just don’t do it for me.
565 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Hmmm...a little strange here. Reminded me much more of some sort of barley wine-Belgian ale hybrid. Looks nice, light golden-amber color with some frothy head and spotty lingering lacing. Smells of maybe a tiny amount of bourbon, wood and malt. Tastes mainly of sweetness - malt, yeast, harder mineral-rich water and then some faint hints of bourbon, caramel and brown sugar. The actual wood and bourbon tastes are just so faint, though. Smooth mild thin mouthfeel, good carbonation. A decent beer but the sweetness and unbalanced flavors just don’t do it for me.
565 characters
3.73/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is clear amber yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short white head that quickly died down, leaving a collar around the edge of the glass and a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Light aroåmas of smoked peat are present in the nose.
T: The taste starts out with smoky flavors of peat and finishes with notes of toasted malts and oak with hints of vanilla from the bourbon barrel aging.
M: It feels medium-bodied and faintly thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer feels a little light in the body compared to what you would expect for a barrel aged beer, but has interesting aromas and flavors of smoked peat.
Serving type: bottle
732 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is clear amber yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short white head that quickly died down, leaving a collar around the edge of the glass and a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Light aroåmas of smoked peat are present in the nose.
T: The taste starts out with smoky flavors of peat and finishes with notes of toasted malts and oak with hints of vanilla from the bourbon barrel aging.
M: It feels medium-bodied and faintly thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer feels a little light in the body compared to what you would expect for a barrel aged beer, but has interesting aromas and flavors of smoked peat.
Serving type: bottle
732 characters
4.16/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
L: Clear amber color, two finger white head, ok lacing, good carbonation.
S: Malts, hint of oak.
T: Sweet, malty. Quite delicious.
F: Extremely light bodied and drinkable. Perfect on this hot summer day.
O: I was unexpectedly surprised by this one. This is a worthy brew.
275 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
L: Clear amber color, two finger white head, ok lacing, good carbonation.
S: Malts, hint of oak.
T: Sweet, malty. Quite delicious.
F: Extremely light bodied and drinkable. Perfect on this hot summer day.
O: I was unexpectedly surprised by this one. This is a worthy brew.
275 characters
3.69/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured a copper brown with a thin white head. Minimal lacing. Light aroma is a musty molasses. Tastes of light molasses and toffee with little hop flavor and just a tad of bitterness. Nice taste but I have had better. Moderate body and carbonation. This is a good beer but there are better scotch ales.
306 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured a copper brown with a thin white head. Minimal lacing. Light aroma is a musty molasses. Tastes of light molasses and toffee with little hop flavor and just a tad of bitterness. Nice taste but I have had better. Moderate body and carbonation. This is a good beer but there are better scotch ales.
306 characters
4/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely one of my favorite scotch ales to date. Although the appearance and aromas aren't much to write home about, the flavors are a great melding of the molasses/brown sugar sweetness of a regular scotch ale and the more intense alcohol/barrel notes from the aging. The price and availability can't be beat, either
80/100
327 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely one of my favorite scotch ales to date. Although the appearance and aromas aren't much to write home about, the flavors are a great melding of the molasses/brown sugar sweetness of a regular scotch ale and the more intense alcohol/barrel notes from the aging. The price and availability can't be beat, either
80/100
327 characters
Innis & Gunn The Original Bourbon Barrel from Innis & Gunn
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
49 ratings
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