Review 119: Innis and Gunn Winter Beer 2012

Review 119

12/15/12

Innis and Gunn Winter Beer 2012: 7.4% abv

There is nothing better than a reunion. And we’ve had some good ones with Innis and Gunn. This is more like a high school reunion. A poor one. I recently had an Innis and Gunn Rum Cask, which is a fantastic Scotch Ale. This particular beer is a “porter”, but it doesn’t have that ominous black oil-like color that a porter normally does, so maybe the porter was...under-roasted? Despite this, it sounds like a pretty interesting beer, being an oak aged Scotch porter brewed with molasses, it is certainly unique. It is also a limited run beer, so we had to grab it. 

Well all of this self-hype was unnecessary, as the beer is not worth it’s cost if you’re looking for the same quality you got with the rum-cask Innis and Gunn. This isn’t against the company, but this just simply doesn’t do it. Here’s why: The nose gives off some good notes, shooting off raisons, caramel, vanilla, honey, milk chocolate, a slight sweet coffee flavor, cream, cantaloupe, molasses, and a moderate background tartness. This is the best part of the beer. 

The arrival is eventless, being sweet and light, with a slight lemon-lime character and some raisons. The taste contains raisons, coffee, slight hops, toffee, soda water/mineral water, and water in general. The body does contain a larger amount of wateriness, and there is more to be said about this later. The finish contains raisons, coffee, molasses, slight hops, toffee, earthy mineral notes, caramel, and an out of place tartness. So what’s the end result? 

KCM loves that beer makers can produce new ideas at a much faster rate than distillers, but this particular statement by Innis and Gunn is light, watery and inconsistent in flavors. The complexity isn’t there to speak of and there was a general disappointment in the lack of quality. Go grab a Rum Cask Innis and Gunn. It is still a fantastic brew.

Score: 6.25/10

Review 71: Innis and Gunn Independence Day

Review 71

7/4/12

Innis and Gunn Independence Day: 7.0% abv

Ladies and gentleman, there is no greater honor than to support the people who serve this country and represent American freedom. Innis and Gunn, although a Scottish Brewery, has dedicated a beer to our Independence Day, and made it taste good as well. Here at KCM, we hope every has a safe night and appreciates their holiday, but also keeps our troops in mind. 

This special edition brew is aged in oak, like all Innis and Gunn beers, but is made from the fresh, new oak barrels, that haven't had all the whiskey in them. So let's see what we can find. On the nose, there is caramel, molasses, oak, vanilla, lime pear, green apple, lemon, white grape, roasted almonds, cantaloupe, slight pine and honey. The nose is complex, and that's an encouraging sight, but unfortunately, it doesn't continue from there. 

The taste is simpler, representing oak, toffee, vanilla, peach on the arrival, apple, pear, molasses, and slight licorice. The finish carries over several of these tasting notes, including pear, apple, slight pineapple and black cherry. Beyond this the beer offers very little, losing complexity incrementally. It does have a lot to offer on the nose, and is a light, drinkable beer for these awfully hot, summer days. This isn't by any means a bad beer, but doesn't meet the standards that other Innis and Gunn beers hit. Enjoy a safe holiday. Bless the troops and those away from home. 

Score: 8.0/10