The Original: PX
Innis & Gunn

 

Appearance: Poured with a thumb of soapy head that produced a solid amount of lace. Body is a bright bronze hue that shows a swath of solid carbonation.

Smell: Definite fruit notes as various berries and raisins dominate the notes as vanilla oak and malt on the the nose. Potent enough and didn't need warming to come out.

Taste: You can definitely taste the sherry, as you get grapes and brandy notes paired with berries. I think I'm getting some star anise and vanilla near the end of the evolution.

Mouthfeel: Aftertaste has a bit of vanilla and brandy cling that kind of settles on the back of the tongue, but that's really the only complaint. Carbonation helps out the entire beer, and transistioning is good.

Drinkability: It's not quite as much as the treat of the normal Innis & Gunn, but still complex even if it is a bit lighter. Medium light body on this one as it's not very thick despite it's higher ABV.

Final Thoughts: Another unique offering from Innis & Gunn. Beers that are really meant to showcase the oak less the beer. This one is no exception.

330 mL bottle from the LCBO, included in a recent I&G gift pack; best before Nov 2023 and served barely chilled.

Pours a clear golden-amber hue, topped with half an inch of soapy, off white-coloured head that lasts for two minutes, tops. A frothy collar of bubbly suds sticks around considerably longer, encircling a filmy cap - looks a lot like their flagship oaked ale, which checks out because this seems to be the same base beer aged in sherry casks. Classic I&G toffee, vanilla & oak aroma, with fruity undertones of grape must, raisin bread and sherry; just a mild whiff of booze and spice.

I'm tasting red licorice candy and sherry at the forefront, with grape skin, oak and sponge toffee flavours not far behind. A hint of black licorice comes through during a spicy, herbal, slightly warming back end with oak tannins galore; finishes a bit flat, with hints of caramelized sugars, vanilla, oak and ethanol dissipating within a moment or two. Light-medium in body, with soft carbonation that adds a gentle crispness to this Scottish ale's relatively thin mouthfeel.

Final Grade: 3.89, a B+. I was worried that this would be too similar to the Original, but the PX casks do put a noticeable spin on their mainline brew's familiar profile, and the overall effect is a net positive for me. The mouthfeel is a little thin IMO, which is a strange contrast with the (slightly) boozy flavour profile - but that's my one and only complaint about this otherwise solid, malt-forward cask-aged beer. If this is ever available as a single, I'd buy it again.

Pours a nice golden colour with a white fizzy head on top. Woody and sweet on the nose. I get a lot of woodiness and scotch whiskey flavours in the taste, but it’s definitely got the I&G typical flavour. Bubbly mouthfeel
Nov 12 2022