Innis & Gunn Brewing

P.O. Box 17246, Edinburgh, Scotland EH11 1YR

Phone: (0)1993 890800

Website: www.innisandgunn.com

Innis & Gunn was founded in 2003 by brewer Dougal Sharp, son of Russell Sharp, founder of Caledonian Brewing and Edinburgh Brewing. Innis and Gunn specializes in beers matured in American white oak casks from the state of Kentucky that were previously used for maturing bourbon. The newest product has now expanded the maturation to casks formerly used for rum aging as well. Brewing the beer takes roughly seven days. The beer is then racked to the oak casks where it matures for from one to thirty days (this is because every cask is different in its affect on the maturation process). After this time, the casks are emptied and the beer blended to be further aged in the "marrying tun" for thirty to seventy-seven days. The beer is then bottled. All casks are only used once.

How did this all come about? According to the company's website, by total accident. Dougal was enlisted by the whisky company, William Grant & Sons, who were experimenting with maturing whisky in casks previously used for aging ale. Dougal produced a smooth malty ale that was aged for thirty days in former bourbon casks. The ale was then discarded and the casks filled with the whisky for aging. This Ale Cask Whisky was a big success but when the distillery staff analyzed the beer (after some time) they discovered the ale had greatly changed in character after having been aged in the casks. Industry experts then tasted the beer and ranked it a nine out of nine. So, in August, 2003, Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer was put on the market.

Innis & Gunn ales are available in the U.K. and in parts of Europe and North America. The IPA, however, is not easy to come by. Innis & Gunn plan to only produce 64,000 bottles and available only in Canadian liquor stores and in Waitrose, England. The newly released Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer is also only available for a limited time.

Products:

Oak Aged Beer - 6.6% ABV
The original flagship ale, a truly unique product. Hints of oak, toffee and citrus with a smooth warming finish.
Cask Strength Oak Aged Beer - 7.7% ABV
A stronger version of the Oak Aged Beer made from select casks and blended. Described as "outrageously smooth" and malty with flavors of oak, vanilla and spice.
IPA - 6.4% ABV
In a manner similar to the original India Pale Ales of the 1800s, the beer is aged in oak casks with fresh hops being added to selected casks.
Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer - 7.4% ABV
A deep red beer produced by blending beer matured for equal lengths first in oak casks, followed by navy rum barrels. Upon blending, the beer was then aged for an additional forty-seven days.