A guest post from the Ulster-Scot again:
Travelling back through Scotland the tippler stopped off at Morrison’s supermarket in Girvan, an Ayrshire coastal town. With a little while to spare there was time to peruse the beer shelves and the selection of Scottish bottled beers.
So the other Saturday night while doing a bit of cooking a friend and I started to taste the selection. More Scottish notes later, but the first tried was Innis & Gunn oak aged beer. Now an oaked Chardonnay or Shiraz, or the occasional whisky would be common, but I haven’t come across before and the Company believes it is fairly unique. In the Company’s own words:
Using oak to age beer is unheard of. But, the flavours imparted by the oak barrels (previously used to mature bourbon) lend an incredible depth of taste. Think vanilla, toffee and orange aromas, with a malty, lightly oaked palate; soothing and warm in the finish.
That is about right. A delightful full flavour with a little bitter kick, smooth and a bit too easy to drink. Great little website to check out, too.
What the shuddering fuck do the company think people used to age beer in before the invention of stainless steel?
So why did no one else think of it, and why is no-one else doing it?
No-one else does it because it tastes fucking rank.
Personally I think this beer is totally over rated. It tasted of nothing other than butter and vanilla, horrendous stuff…
“Girvan, an Ayrshire coastal town” And where I was born!
Their Rum cask version is fantastic, much better than the standard one which is only reasonable.
http://www.innisandgunn.com/thebeer_newproducts.htm