Real Ale Guide's Innis and Gunn, Canada Day 2011 Special, Craft Beer Review

[Ryantube007]

Amazing beer but it has to be drank cold, otherwise it tastes like its going bad which is the main problem with an aged beer in a clear glass! id say my favorite is the Rum Cask edition followed by originall, then blonde. I would take an Innis & Gunn over any beer in the world, although not a huge fan of the Canada Day edition but its somewhere in the top 10. I find that the alcohol taste overpowers some of the flavour but sure went down easy in july lol. Thanks I&G for the Canada Day Edition!

[realaleguide]

@Ryantube007 Thanks for the tip, usually cooling a beer takes a lot of the flavour awat, but for the next review off Innis I will cool it down, cheers

[HighlandBerserkr]

Its easy to find here and i think it shouldn't be a problem there either, its brewed in the UK(scotland) Its good, can't beat Innis and Gunn though :P

[HighlandBerserkr]

Cool, I will check it out! I emailed them using the address at the bottom of the page, we shall see if i get a response, doubtful. Maybe if in start reviewing beers on YouTube they will send me a glass :pHave you tried Fraoch heather ale?

[realaleguide]

@HighlandBerserkr No I have not, where would I find a bottle?? Cheers

[HighlandBerserkr]

It's brewed in Scotland like all the others :) you get around to trying the others yet? I am just searching he web right now trying to find that Innis and gunn glass you and a few other reviewers have, can't find it anywhere besides one website in Ireland, but they don't ship here, I have to have one! :p cheers

[realaleguide]

@HighlandBerserkr Oh yes did the Innis and Gunn Original with the wife on MrsRealAleGuide's channel check it out, why not try emailing Innis and Gunn for a glass? Cheers

[HighlandBerserkr]

Great review and I agree Completley, Fantastic Beer, Innis and Gunnis my absolute favorite, really happy it does so well in Canada where I live, that they make a beer especially for us.

[realaleguide]

@HighlandBerserkr Do they actually brew the beer in Canada or do they export it from the UK, yes it is very nice they make a beer for you guys on your special day, cheers

[therealalechannel]

Another great review. Really want to try this one. Cheers.

[realaleguide]

@therealalechannel Its a good good beer, cheers

[percaine]

great review..I live in Canada and have never heard of this beer, it would have been cool to have one of those on Canada day.:) May be they'll have another one for 2012

[realaleguide]

@percaine Hope they make a 2012 version of this beer, it would be good for you to try it and get back to me, cheers

[percaine]

@realaleguide I hope so to...I'd love to try it!

[GSHLTV]

happy canada day beer 2011

amazing stuff really good!!!

[realaleguide]

@GSHLTV Thanks very much, just watched your review of it too, awsome beer, cheers :)

[BeerGogglesReviews]

I'm saving the Canada Day that I was kindly sent for a trip to Trafalgar Square on July 1st. Should be fun. Red and white everywhere for the celebrations.

[realaleguide]

@BeerGogglesReviews Are you going to do a beer review on Trafalgar Square, that would be truly awsome mate, cheers

[BeerGogglesReviews]

@realaleguide Yeah bit of a celebration there on July 1st mate. Will be cool filming.

[07liberian]

@realaleguide Which Innis & Gunn Do You Like The Most And Why? 

[realaleguide]

@07liberian I have only had this one, but I am so looking forward to reviewing the rest of their range soon, cheers

[TheBeeraholic]

Finish or even start your night. It's a shame they didnt send you any of their specility beers.The highland cask is just phenominal as well as the tripel matured and even Winter Warmer. All in all a solid brewery they've got. I've had em all. and I have the 2011 in the cellar. Great review Simon.

[realaleguide]

@TheBeeraholic Thanks very much, would like to try the rest of the range you mentioned, sounds, great

[JohnS1704]

For what it is worth, Innis and Gunn do not actually brew any beer. They contract the brewing to Belhaven in Dunbar then have the beer tankered down to William Grant Whisky in Ayrshire.There it is put into whatever casks Innis and Gunn have opted for.

I agree their products are very, very good ( had a bottle of the Blonde last night).

Cheers,

John.

[realaleguide]

@JohnS1704 Thats fantastic info John, I didnt know any of this, I will review the Blonde soon, cheers

[ChadzBeerReviews]

I like the color - it's pure red!

[realaleguide]

@ChadzBeerReviews I hope this Canada Day special ends up in your hands my friend, its a great beer, cheers

[kowalski37]

Looks like an amazing beer - thanks for the review, and I will do my best to find this and try it. Cheers.

[realaleguide]

@kowalski37 Hope you find it, its a stunner, cheers

[BeerGogglesReviews]

Yeah he retweeted my Innis & Gunn vid tweet. Nice guy. Already asked if I'll email him.

Well, I am their number one fan. If they did merchandise such as bed spreads curtains etc, I'd be a real saddo. Humpty Dumpty Porter came close but it's a small company and nowhere near as easily available. And the gnats whisker Innis beat it by is still a country mile. That probably makes no sense, but my three brain cells understand me.

[realaleguide]

@BeerGogglesReviews Great, hope he sends some to you, would be great if you got the Canada Day 2011, cheers Terry :)

[dethwizard]

Now THAT'S a f'n bottle opener!

[realaleguide]

@dethwizard Thanks, also a big CHEERS for favouriting the video :)

[realaleguide]

Hello there thanks for commenting, the Thornbridge Raven sounds great will try and find that one, I have reviewed the Proper Black, search my review in Youtube, I liked it a lot. I am using a JVC Everio 1080p Full HD camera, focuses on all the small etails like the small bubbles etc, cheers again for watching :)

[elharlock]

Great review. Can't wait to try this one. The previous editions have been great stuff. The change up the recipe slightly every year, as far as I know. I've never had a skunky Innis $ Gunn...it does help that their special brews come in boxes. You're spot on with the sort of scotch whisky look they go for with their pacakaging.

[realaleguide]

@elharlock I hoped you would get to see this review as I noticed you liked the Innis and Gunn. It must be very popular in Canada? I hope you get to try this one, cheers :)

[elharlock]

@realaleguide Yeah, very popular in Canada, which is why they do this Canada Day beer every year. Don't worry, brother, I'll be having far too many of these, I'm sure.

[realaleguide]

@StravRealale Thanks very much, I will add it to my list, I have reviewed their Jaipur, that was fantastic. Cheers

[emiliano17ar]

nice review, price?? nice looking beer!!

[realaleguide]

@emiliano17ar I am not sure on the price to be honest, beer was sent to me straight from Innis and Gunn, well worth a try though, very special beer, cheers

[g4rdenspoon]

Ooh yes, that does look a bit special. You've got yourself such a great job on the go here. Watching this I feel like going back to the beer review videos a little, as while drinking the stuff there is really is stuff to talk about. Isn't it wonderful appreciating a proper beer. I must try this one if I see it.

Thanks buddy. :)

[realaleguide]

@g4rdenspoon I liked your reviews when you were making them, I think I watched them all, you should definately get back into reviewing beer, its a great subject, one which unites the whole world. Also on the back of these reviews I have managed to judge for SIBA and Camra (this friday) would be great if you got a beer judging card too, cheers :)

[friendlymunki]

oh man, nice review simon...now i gotta go find myself a bottle!

[realaleguide]

@friendlymunki I hope you find one, in my opinion it was a top 5 beer of all time, cheers

[Wineword]

See, I told you that we Jock's do it better. and don't forget my surname is Brewster! Good and just a tiny slightly enthusiastic review Simon! A MASSIVE 10! Wow!

Cin-cin!

[realaleguide]

@Wineword Oh my word, I couldnt get over the smoked Oak taste, it was a first for me and one I will savour forever. I am going to keep a couple of bottles of this for us to have with our xmas dinner this year. I have also saved a bottle or 2 of Chocolate beer for the girls too. Cheers

[bluelebowski]

I have will have to hunt this one - I have only had one Innis & Gunn beer before and I wasn't too impressed with it, found it overly fizzy - can't remember which one it was. My local Tesco stocks the blond but it's not in a box, sits on the shelf in it's clear bottle for I don't know how long!

[realaleguide]

@bluelebowski Thats the only issue isnt it. How long has it been on the shelf?? Probably worth the gamble though, cheers :)

[bluelebowski]

@realaleguide You could be right although I have just bought a few others including Thwaites Indus IPA, Old Hooky, Marstons Double Drop, Badger First Gold and Trashy Blonde by Brewdog so I am a bit busy this week!

[BeerGogglesReviews]

7:39 That is THE BEST BEER I'VE EVER, EVER TRIED.

SIMON, DO THAT ONE, DO THAT ONE, DO THAT ONE.

You'll need fingers and toes to mark that one so make sure you've washed your feet for the camera. PMSL.

[realaleguide]

@BeerGogglesReviews It would be great if you could get this one mate, I got the range from simply asking Adam from Innis and Gunn on Twitter, he seems a nice guy, perhaps you could ask him for some? Cheers

[BeerGogglesReviews]

I'm very jealous mate. I haven't had this version. Though their cask version wasn't as balanced as the original.

[sofakingdrunk66]

Beergoggles was goin on about Innis Gunn Beers i need to get a few of them this is 2nd great review i seen about their beers..Looks a poss Rollsroyce Ale..

[BeerGogglesReviews]

@sofakingdrunk66 Rolls Royce is a very good analogy. I love some of you phrasing. Join the reviewers mate. I'd love to hear your thoughts on diferent beers.

[sofakingdrunk66]

@BeerGogglesReviews I plan to have a go maybe in the near future...

[realaleguide]

@sofakingdrunk66 Yes definatly start reviewing I bet you would be great at it, the first couple are hard with the nerves but after that it starts to come easier, cheers

[sofakingdrunk66]

@realaleguide From a pure Pro of Reviewing..I thank you lol..

[HopZine]

Are you coming to GBBF?

If you are I have a challenge for you my friend. I'll buy you a half of something you've never had and you have to buy me a half of something I've not had. Something that'll challenge both your view points and experiances.

[realaleguide]

@HopZine I hope too mate, but my funds are very limited, im hoping Wells and Youngs invite me on the Bombardier bus, other than that I might Credit Card it, lol.

Could you make the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival this friday at the Motorpoint arena Cardiff, would be great to see you there, cheers

[StumpyJoeJr]

Yeah, you don't have to worry about that one since it's in a box. Definitely a great looking beer. I wish I could get their line.

Now you know why barrel aging and higher ABV beers are all the rage in the States.

As soon as you smelled it I knew you were going to give it a 10.

[realaleguide]

@StumpyJoeJr Im glad you liked the review Ryan, I my mind its a top beer, I absolutly loved it. Wish I could get some barrel aged beer from America in the UK, cheers mate

[HopZine]

@realaleguide If you want barrel aged beers in the UK try Hardknot AEther Black, Thorbridge Bracia, Brewdog Paradox or Harviestoun Ola Duh.

Many US barrel aged beers are avilable in this country including the epic Angel's Share from Lost Abbey.

[realaleguide]

@HopZine I have just written all them beers down, going to try and get them, cheers

[HopZine]

@realaleguide Beermerchants have Port brewing Older Viscosity, 2 versions of Lost Abbey Angel's Share, plus Moor Brewing of Somerset's Fusion an old ale aged in cider brandy barrels.

Mybrewerytap have Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, Flying Dog Wild Dog, Plus from UK Hawkshead Brodies Reserve, 2 versions of Hardknott Aether Blaec plus Thornbridge Coalition & Coalition.

Enough barrel aged beers available in the UK for you?

[HopZine]

I've not had this version but had one last year as well as Triple matured version. Both I bought as present for I&G fans and even those guys thought they were a mess.

The brewery makes big claims about barrel ageing and been the first at doing this and that and it all rubbish...its just a big marketing machine selling a gimmicks.

[realaleguide]

@HopZine I really really liked it, thought the smoked oak smell was awsome, it was like discovering something new all over again, cheers

[HopZine]

@realaleguide Yeah, fair play you seemed to love it. Innis and Gunn seem to split beer drinkers, people seem to love them or hate them.

[HopZine]

This is my personal opinion , OK.

I absolutly hate Innis & Gunn beers. I've found them flat, skunked, sour and jam pack with diacetyl.

This type of beer seems unsuitable for barrel ageing. They need a bold and robust beer to barrel age. A beer tough enough to last the maturation in the cask and not be a mess when I finally emerges.

On theri website they bang on about barrel aging but never mention what ingrediants are going into the beer its self?

[BeerGogglesReviews]

@HopZine Of coarse you're entitled to your opinion. It'd be a crap world if we all thought the same thing. Not sure what you mean by jam packed with diacetyl. A rich beers oily luxuriant nature doesn't mean rancid butter. And also it seems that the second a clear glass is seen people (Not just yourself) pronounce the drink skunky and light struck before cracking the crown. SOUR? Mate, it's a rich robust toffee box. Are you mixing this up with a different drink. Me, it's my ABSOLUTE favourite.

[HopZine]

@BeerGogglesReviews Thanks. When I mentioned diacetly sourness etc... I wasn't refering to this beer, just my general experience with I&G. Yes the near-jerk reaction to a clear bottle is a fear of being light stuck, but St Austell's Proper black was spot on, no problems at all. The fear is more when it been sat on a supermarket shelf in under those harsh striplights and I&G are in many supermarkets.

[BeerGogglesReviews]

@HopZine Most good supermarkets use a uv filter over the lights of the beer and wine aisles for that very reason. Plus there turnover is usually pretty rapid. Sometimes the uninitiated beer drinker leaves them on view instead of hidden. I'll do a Pint Size Bits tip about that. I've always thought Free Radicals would be a great name for a rock band. LOL

[shearer2929]

nice review mate, I have the blond and the original here to try and i'm looking forward to it, wish I could get my hands on some sample beer from these guys :)

[realaleguide]

@shearer2929 After this one I am totally looking forward to trying the rest, cheers