The Original XX
Innis & Gunn
- From:
- Innis & Gunn
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
- ABV:
- 7.7%
- Score:
- +4 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.75 | pDev: 10.67%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 04, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 01, 2023
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.72/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 4/11 2025. 33 cl clear glass bottle in a fine white box brought more than a year ago at Meny, Borups Allé, Frb. F. Innis & Gunns usual design in a white version with a lot golden barrels. Apparently a 20 year celebration edition of the original Innis & Gunn brew which has passed the waiting time in Speyside whisky casks.
Very gushy upon opening leaving puddles in my kitchen. Pours unclear amber with a huge white head. Bubbly. -setles as a thin, patchy layer of foam unable of covering the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is intense with a sweet malty odor mingling with distinct scent of alcohol and a touch of salty sea water. Sweet pale malts, biscuits and toffee. Orange Marmalade. Whisky and wood.
Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, almost flat texture.
Flavor is fairly intense with a strong sweetness followed by a more moderately strong bitteness. Aftertaste is sweet with a notable touch o booze. Lingers for a while. Finish is caramel and whisky.
It surely do no harm to pass the time between birthdays in a whisky barrel.
Nov 04, 2025Very gushy upon opening leaving puddles in my kitchen. Pours unclear amber with a huge white head. Bubbly. -setles as a thin, patchy layer of foam unable of covering the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is intense with a sweet malty odor mingling with distinct scent of alcohol and a touch of salty sea water. Sweet pale malts, biscuits and toffee. Orange Marmalade. Whisky and wood.
Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, almost flat texture.
Flavor is fairly intense with a strong sweetness followed by a more moderately strong bitteness. Aftertaste is sweet with a notable touch o booze. Lingers for a while. Finish is caramel and whisky.
It surely do no harm to pass the time between birthdays in a whisky barrel.
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany
2.95/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
2.95/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
L:
-pours a clear deep golden with no discernable Head
-low-to-medium carbonation visible
S:
-caramel,toffee,orange zest,wheaty
T:
-Follows the nose + spicy,corn sweetness
-low-to-medium bitterniss
F:
-medium carbonation
-medium body
-slight alcohol noticeable
O:
Rather bland for a BA Beer.Typical BA notes like Vanilla/Coconut are missing.
Dec 28, 2023-pours a clear deep golden with no discernable Head
-low-to-medium carbonation visible
S:
-caramel,toffee,orange zest,wheaty
T:
-Follows the nose + spicy,corn sweetness
-low-to-medium bitterniss
F:
-medium carbonation
-medium body
-slight alcohol noticeable
O:
Rather bland for a BA Beer.Typical BA notes like Vanilla/Coconut are missing.
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
3.91/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Oct 10 2023
Oct 10, 2023
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.87/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
330 mL bottle from a boxed two-pack purchased at the LCBO; best before Jul 2024 and served slightly chilled. This is Innis & Gunn's 20-year anniversary beer: their Original aged for 3 months in freshly dumped 20y Speyside single malt casks.
Pours a clear golden-amber colour, with approximately one finger of loose, frothy white head gathered atop. It collapses within a minute or two, reduced to a tight collar encircling a filmy cap; a few swirls managed to produce a decent swath of lace. Toffee, toasted grains, vanilla and oak on the nose, with suggestions of whisky, honey and orchard fruits - so far it's very similar to the Original.
The flavour profile is where that comparison begins to diverge. XX is sweet at the forefront, with toffee, butterscotch and honey coming through alongside notes of bruised apple and overripe plum; the single malt whisky is a continuous, subtle background presence throughout the sip. Oak, vanilla and whisky make up ground at the tail end, with toasted grains, toffee and a touch of alcohol warmth rounding out the finish; hints of honey and vanilla persist into the aftertaste. Medium body, with moderately low carbonation that softly brushes across the tongue, adding some agitation to this ale's smooth mouthfeel. A fine sipping beer, with the Speyside casks complementing the base beer quite nicely.
Final Grade: 3.87, a worthy B+. Innis & Gunn's Original XX drinks like a slightly more nuanced and intricate version of their flagship oaked ale. Now, make no mistake, the Original is what made this brewery successful, and it has always been their top seller. So in one sense, XX is a safe anniversary beer that should appeal to most of I&G's loyal customer base... but in another sense, it's kinda just more of the same. I am disappointed that they didn't try something more unique or interesting, but at the end of the day it's still a solid oaked ale - I'm just not sure it's all that much better than the Original.
Oct 02, 2023Pours a clear golden-amber colour, with approximately one finger of loose, frothy white head gathered atop. It collapses within a minute or two, reduced to a tight collar encircling a filmy cap; a few swirls managed to produce a decent swath of lace. Toffee, toasted grains, vanilla and oak on the nose, with suggestions of whisky, honey and orchard fruits - so far it's very similar to the Original.
The flavour profile is where that comparison begins to diverge. XX is sweet at the forefront, with toffee, butterscotch and honey coming through alongside notes of bruised apple and overripe plum; the single malt whisky is a continuous, subtle background presence throughout the sip. Oak, vanilla and whisky make up ground at the tail end, with toasted grains, toffee and a touch of alcohol warmth rounding out the finish; hints of honey and vanilla persist into the aftertaste. Medium body, with moderately low carbonation that softly brushes across the tongue, adding some agitation to this ale's smooth mouthfeel. A fine sipping beer, with the Speyside casks complementing the base beer quite nicely.
Final Grade: 3.87, a worthy B+. Innis & Gunn's Original XX drinks like a slightly more nuanced and intricate version of their flagship oaked ale. Now, make no mistake, the Original is what made this brewery successful, and it has always been their top seller. So in one sense, XX is a safe anniversary beer that should appeal to most of I&G's loyal customer base... but in another sense, it's kinda just more of the same. I am disappointed that they didn't try something more unique or interesting, but at the end of the day it's still a solid oaked ale - I'm just not sure it's all that much better than the Original.
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.8/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
330 ml bottle served cold into a tulip. LCBO purchase for $6.50 per bottle. Review from notes.
Appearance - Golden beer with great clarity and topped with a small finger of head that fizzles out in under a minute.
Smell - Oaky and vanilla like the original with some muted fruit notes and that mellow aroma of a Speyside scotch.
Taste - Vanilla with some sweetness. Mellow flavors and some wood shining through i the back end. Balanced and distinguishable from the the original but the flavor profile is still quite reminiscent of the original.
Mouthfeel - Lightly carbonated, medium bodied not as sticky as expected. ABV is well hidden.
Overall - Serviceable nod to the original with the intensity ramped up a bit, would have liked it dialed up one more notch for a 20th anniversary brew.
Sep 02, 2023Appearance - Golden beer with great clarity and topped with a small finger of head that fizzles out in under a minute.
Smell - Oaky and vanilla like the original with some muted fruit notes and that mellow aroma of a Speyside scotch.
Taste - Vanilla with some sweetness. Mellow flavors and some wood shining through i the back end. Balanced and distinguishable from the the original but the flavor profile is still quite reminiscent of the original.
Mouthfeel - Lightly carbonated, medium bodied not as sticky as expected. ABV is well hidden.
Overall - Serviceable nod to the original with the intensity ramped up a bit, would have liked it dialed up one more notch for a 20th anniversary brew.
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