Canadian Cherrywood Finish
Innis & Gunn

Canadian Cherrywood FinishCanadian Cherrywood Finish
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From:
Innis & Gunn
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
8.3%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 11.49%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
174
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 27, 2021
Added:
May 21, 2013
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  26
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Chugs13:
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Rated by Chugs13 from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%

Nov 24, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.24/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
330 ml clear bottle in cardboard box, from Vinmonopolet. BB July 2014. ABV is 8.3%. Cloudy reddish amber colour, pours fizzy with a small short-lived head, slightly off-white. Sweetish aroma with notes of caramel, raisins and dark dried fruits, notes of "oak" (cherrywood, of course). Sweet flavour, too sweet maybe, loads of caramel, maple syrup and dark dried fruits, also cherrywood, minimal hops. Okay, but probably not something I would buy again.
Jun 27, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by howardnss from Pennsylvania

Aug 29, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by OzmanBey from Massachusetts

Oct 23, 2017
Photo of descobar
Reviewed by descobar from Florida

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
this 25.6oz bottle is about 3 years old and labeled Limited Edition and 8.3% abv poured a hazy medium amber with a nice 1/2" head that has minimal retention. the aromas are sweet malts, strong maple, spices and cherry. there is also a hint of alcohol, after all this one is 8.3%. the sweetness of the maple and the malts dominate this beer. there is plenty of cherry flavors too along with a bit of caramel. the bitterness kicks in towards the end as it hits the palate with slight alcohol warmth. this beer has med to full body, creamy and rich texture, medium carbonation and minimal astringency. the finish is long with lots of maple sweetness and lingering bitterness and alcohol. overall not my style of beer but I can see how some other drinkers will love this one. its complex and rich. the good news is that it has aged incredibly well. there are NO signs of any oxidation or other over-aging off flavors or aromas.
Jan 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

Jul 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.23 by -chii- from Canada (QC)

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.37 by beerhunter13 from Canada (ON)

Feb 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.17 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Nov 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by manfromanotherplace from New York

Nov 17, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.44/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
"This limited bottling of Innis & Gunn has been matured over Canadian Black Cherrywood and then finished with the addition of maple syrup. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Cherrywood has been used to mature a beer. The result is a really full bodied Scotch Ale, with a rich lasting finish." Brewed in the style of an English Strong Ale, aged over Cherrywood Chips with Maple Syrup added. Available in 25.4 oz. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 25.4 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy creamed head of a buttery white color over a densely hazy red-amber hued body with ample, relaxed carbonation. Retention is good and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75

(Smell) Biscuit malt and syrupy caramel, delicate maple aroma, cherry and a touch of drying vanilla, light pale wood aromas. 3.5

(Taste) Sweet, maple syrup and biscuit caramel body with delicate graininess, paired with a drying sensation of raw wood chips, some cherry-like tangy and syrupy fruit character. Overall quite sweet on the palate, although the wood character comes through fairly well to balance the sweetness out a bit. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, lightly sticky, smooth, residual, and medium dry. Carbonation is mild, generating a light frothiness and a medium crisp finish. Body is medium for the style, medium+ overall. Balance is slightly sweet and sticky over tangy and bitter. Alcohol presence is mild and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) Innis & Gunn have some potential with their limited wood aged beers, but I question the necessity of adding maple syrup to this beer, as it inevitably sweetens the whole beer up to near-cloying status and drags down the drinkability of the beer. The flavor of the cherrywood chips does add considerable cherry-like flavor to this beer, and I think that even though the finished product may have come out much lighter-bodied, that the cherrywood chips alone would have been enough to carry this recipe. Decent, but not very impressive ale from Innis & Gunn. 3.5

Innis & Gunn's
Canadian Cherrywood Aged Ale
3.44/5.00
Sep 09, 2015
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Rated by olradetbalder from Sweden

2/5  rDev -47.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Like butter in a beer....
May 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.22 by Pav5069 from Pennsylvania

Mar 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.74 by swgwilt from Tennessee

Feb 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by lgmol from Canada (NS)

Dec 23, 2014
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Oct 2015. ABV is stated as 7.4%. Purchased recently from a supermarket. Comes in a fancy presentation box; the label describes it as a Scotch ale matured in Canadian black cherrywood and finished with an addition of maple syrup.

A: Poured into a cervoise. A deep, clear reddish-amber hue with light carbonation. Yields a decent head of frothy beige foam that lasts for a moment before disappearing completely.

S: Aroma of sweet, fruity malt with hints of caramel, mild brown sugar, subtle maple syrup, raisins/dried fruit, woodiness, fruity yeast esters, a twinge of vanilla and faint stewed leaves. A whiff of warming booze in the background. Well-rounded and satisfying.

T: Tastes of sweet caramel malt with a fruity character and a lingering finish. Notes of caramel, mild brown sugar, a hint of maple syrup, subtle toasted grain, dried fruit, mild woodiness, fruity yeast esters, a whisper of marzipan and stewed leaves. Warming alcohol lurks in the background. Quite sweet, followed by a mild bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with soft carbonation and decent body. Somewhat astringent, accompanied by an aftertaste of sweet malt, dried fruit, yeast esters and stewed leaves.

O: A pretty good brew, though like many I&G beers not quite perfect. So-so looks; shame the head disappears too rapidly. The aroma and flavour are a pleasant mix of caramel malt, dried fruit, yeast esters and mild woodiness. The cherrywood adds something but the effect is subtle. Body is OK. The biggest problem is that the character seems too clean and polished - I reckon bottle conditioning would add a layer of complexity that would give it a boost. However, it goes down easily enough on a winter's evening. Worth trying if you come across it.
Dec 21, 2014
Photo of ChrisCage
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A- Pours a delightful reddish/brown color that is chill hazed, with muddy tones throughout. The head is of a tanned color and decent enough albeit slightly soapy and settles from its initial two finger thick head, into a thin yet dense layer, and this retains well. It also looks like there is plenty of large carbonation happening.

S- The aromas are chalk full of rich toasty malts that give off a deep level of sweetness. The other big factor here is the Earthiness of the Cherrywood that is woody yet with a just a hint of cherry pits and caramel like sap. Hop presence is at a minimum, but I appreciate this for the style that they are going for.

T- This is plenty flavorful for sure! Rich deep malt sweetness that coats the palate and is raisiny, like the filling of a butter tart, is most prominent. There are other flavors to help balance this out however, starting with some woodiness from the oaking....it again has just a hint of cherry pit flavors....not sweet but more the essence of the fruit. I find that the bourbon infusion makes this lean to the boozy side of things...it's a little bit noticeable to me but doesn't take away from the beer itself. Burnt toffee and caramel bits round out the flavors and the overall blend keeps everything balanced!

M- Thick bodied and slightly syrupy, yet with plenty of carbonation to keep my palate relatively cleansed! The flavors are robust and full, and never let you truly forget what you are tasting....I feel like this could be part of a compote for pancakes or something breakfasty. I like it, but not quite to the same extent as other I&G fare.....still, a very good beer that is innovative, using the Canadian Cherrywood and it doesn't disappoint!
Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by fossage78 from Massachusetts

Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by R_Kole from Canada (AB)

Nov 01, 2014
Photo of Franck
Reviewed by Franck from Canada (QC)

4.25/5  rDev +11%
At smell, you recognize the typical Innis & Gunn's sweet malts and oak aromas. An aroma of maple sugar stands out too.
In mouth, the malts explode in mouth followed by sugar and wood notes. Traces of caramel, toffee and hops are trying to make their place.
Bitterness is short and sweet

Overall, it's another great beer by I&G. Well-balanced and no traces of alcohol despite its 8.3 ABV
Oct 13, 2014
Canadian Cherrywood Finish from Innis & Gunn
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 174 ratings