Rye Whiskey Cask
Innis & Gunn

 

500 mL bottle-in-a-tube purchased at the LCBO last year; best before Jan 2030, but I don't wanna wait that long. Served at room temperature.

Pours a deep, clear copper-brown colour, producing one finger of foamy, frothy, off white-coloured head that dissipates within three minutes or so. It leaves behind a creamy collar and thin, soapy cap, with decent lace deposition as you sip away - looks exactly as I'd expect of a scotch ale. The nose is rather subdued IMO - caramel and sponge toffee, with toasted nuts, bread, date, tea leafy hops and a touch of oak. The rye whiskey notes are also in there, but they're not especially prominent.

Hrmm... it's mellow and fairly well-balanced, with a malt-forward flavour profile. Caramel, toffee, toasted bread and nuttiness, with mild hints of date fruit and banana bread. Light suggestions of oak and vanilla towards the tail end, with some rye whiskey flavour belatedly joining the chorus before a mildly warming, toffee-sweet aftertaste with lingering touches of oak tannin, rye spice and dark fruit. Light-medium in body, with low carbonation that weakly brushes the palate, doing little to distract from the thin mouthfeel - yep, the texture is definitely this beer's weakest point. The 8% is still fairly well integrated, making for a surprisingly quaffable strong ale.

Final Grade: 3.87, a B+. I&G's Rye Whiskey Cask is tasty, but it's not an especially complex brew - at least, for a scotch ale aged in whiskey casks - and the thin mouthfeel really detracts from the experience. It's not as good as their Laphroaig Islay Cask, which I had the good fortune of trying last week - though I suppose I'd still take this over their Original. Of course, this costs three times more than the Original, so that's not much of a compliment, is it? Bottle conditioned, so it might just survive until 2030, but I really doubt there's anything to be gained from such a lengthy slumber - I'd say just drink this one within a year or so.

500 ml bottle served cold initially into a snifter. LCBO purchase for a steep $10. Best before January 2030! For Canada Day 2020.

Appearance - Dark roan or mahogany colored, good clarity if held to directly light and a small whisper of head is poured and fizzles out pretty quick.

Smell - Initially not much when cold but as it warms the aromas of dark fruit, caramel, vanilla and oak become very apparent.

Taste - Similar to the nose once it warms, I&G's signature vanilla and oak flavors abounr although the oak and some rye are more prominent, caramel and some dark fruit mixed in. A delectable sipper once it warms.

Mouthfeel - Light carbonation only a medium body, a little sticky but actually feels quite thin when cold.

Overall - If you have guessed already, drink this beer warm as if it is served cold it will be a major disappointment. With plenty of warming the robust sticky caramel and bready bits make this a sweet treat in a glass with just enough oak, vanilla and rye to be unmistakably I&G. Well worth a try for those okay with the cost.