Tequila Cask Blonde
Innis & Gunn

From the 16 oz can in a snifter. This unique little brew pours a
clear amber tinged golden with a nice head of white foam that settles
to a thick ring, thick clumping layer, and displays some nice lacing. Nose
of citrus zested fruits, faint tequila, and light caramel malts. Flavors follow the
nose with lime, grapefruit, subtle oak, light spicy tewuila, and sweet caramel
malts dashed with herbal notes. Mouth feel is medium, medium light carbonation,
smooth, and finishing moderately dry.

Overall, as a unique hybrid!

Cheers

At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, from my favourite LCBO at The Roundhouse Centre in nearby Windsor. My second beer from the Edinburgh, Scotland brewery.

473 mL can from the LCBO; best before Jun 23 2025 and served slightly chilled. I Hate tequila with a capital H, so despite the fact that I do attempt to be impartial when reviewing beers, personal bias is likely to be a factor here. Brewed at Brunswick Bierworks in Toronto for the North American market.

Pours a crystal clear golden-yellow colour, generating half a finger of tight, foamy white head that sizzles away within a minute or so. A thin collar and some filmy wisps on the surface are all that remain; not a lot of lace production. Unmistakable aroma of tequila on the nose, with fairly potent notes of lime and grapefruit also coming through; I'm also getting hints of clean, grainy malts and oak. Interesting, even though the tequila aspect is acutely unappealing to me.

I actually don't mind the flavour profile, which thankfully doesn't go too heavy on the tequila. Hints of lime initially, with grapefruit juice and tequila not far behind; the malt flavours come off as grainy and slightly bready-sweet. Mild wood tannins on the back end, with a touch of vanilla preceding a citrusy aftertaste that includes briefly-lingering oak and a bit of a tequila bite. Light-medium in body, with moderate carbonation that adds some spritz to this blonde's smooth, crisp mouthfeel.

Final Grade: 3.72, a B grade. Innis & Gunn's Tequila Cask Blonde ain't for me, but I'm still compelled to give them credit for producing a tequila cask beer that I don't instinctively dislike. I mean, you're going to notice the tequila cask presence for sure, but it's incorporated such that it's not necessarily overbearing, or the singular focus of the flavour profile. Though I'd much rather be drinking their Original or Caribbean Rum Cask, I am shocked to say that this is a beer I would willingly purchase and drink again... occasionally, and only if I were in the mood. If you enjoy I&G products but don't really care for tequila, I really think you should still give this a chance.

500 ml can, best before end JUN 25 stamped on the bottom of the can. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a mostly clear gold color with a couple inch frothy off-white head that stuck around for a while. There's also a lot of lacing. Aroma is nice but a bit light, the brew smells like lime, tequila, grapefruit and bready malt. Taste is pretty much just like the aroma, but with a bit of oak noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's smooth and easy to drink with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a solid overall brew, worth trying if you get the chance!

The pour is straw colored. The taste is white bread, grains, tequila barrel, lime, & mild grapefruit. Cheers! B

 

Aug 1 2024

 

473ml can served cold into a pint glass. LCBO purchase for just under $4 CDN.

Appearance - Fairly clear rich blonde color with a modest amount of effervescence. A finger or so of head is poured and fizzles out reasonably quick.

Smell - I get corn, some maltiness, and that funky tequila aroma as well as some wood. An interesting combo of aromas, that don't fit great, but are fairly robust. I&G signature vanilla is also semi-present.

Taste - Initially wood, some funky tequila, a touch of saltiness then corn and a light caramel flavor shine through, occasionally returning to wood. Definitely you can tell it was matured in tequila casks. I&G signature vanilla shows up in the flavor towards the end as well.

Mouthfeel - Medium light body with soft carbonation, more chewy than you'd expect a beer with this flavor profile to be.

Overall - Interesting concept, good execution, passable blonde beer, but this is more gimmicky than something I'd do on the regular. A good suggestion for friends who like beer but are also big tequila fans, especially while the weather is hot and sunny.