Innis and Gunn Oak Aged beer

Photo: innis and gunn logo.

News: July, 2010. Innis & Gunn, continue to go from strength to strength, having recently scooped four awards at the 2010 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, including "Product of the Year" for its original oak-aged beer and "Business Of The Year" - the company is now to take its domestic distribution operations in-house.

Managing director, Dougal Sharp, points out that this move would help Innis & Gunn "achieve its potential in the beer market by working more closely with UK customers to deliver consumer-focused growth strategies". More on this story.

News: May, 2010: Innis & Gunn Wins Business of the Year Excellence Awards Logo, revealed as the winner of the 2010 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards at an awards ceremony held at the Benromach Distillery in Forres:

"Innis & Gunn swept the board winning four awards including the prestigious Business of the Year award, International Business of the Year, Drink - Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic category and Product Innovation category for its Oak Aged Beers".

Innis & Gunn. A Beer Discovered by Accident

It all began back in 2002 when a famous Scotch Whisky distillery contacted us. They wanted to make a beer-finished whisky. They had tried dozens of beers, but none of them were working. "Can you help us?" We liked the sound of this. So we created a special beer that we believed would season their oak barrels with a sweet, malty character. The distillery filled this beer into empty barrels and put them into their granite warehouses to mature.

After 30 days our beer was poured away and the oak barrels filled with whisky. This whisky turned out to be exceptional and the distiller ordered thousands of litres of beer from us to season more barrels. We thought no more of it until we received the call that would change everything.

"You have got to taste this beer that we are pouring away. It's absolutely delicious," said the distillery manager.

Tasting this 'oak barrel' beer for the first time was an unforgettable moment - it was delicious, and had a flavour unlike any beer we had ever tasted. It had been completely transformed by its time in the special barrels used at the distillery.

We did not realise it then, but a whole new style of beer had been born. From that moment we have been travelling around the world introducing as many people as possible to the unique flavour of our Oak Aged Beer.

The Innis & Gunn core range:

Innis & Gunn Original 330ml, 6.6%abv:

Delicate vanilla and citrus aromas with hints of honey. The palate is lightly oaked with vanilla and biscuity malt combining with a light carbonation to give an exceptionally refreshing, moreish beer. Clean and malty in the finish.

Innis & Gunn Blonde, 6%abv:

A pale golden colour, Innis & Gunn Blonde is both delicate and fruity, with gentle and refreshing aromas of citrus, apricot and vanilla oak combined with a gentle sparkle.

Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Finish, 7.4%abv:

This beer has been matured in barrels which previously contained rum, producing a lively, spicy character. Surprisingly light in texture, this is balanced with a mellow oak background.

Limited Editions

Keep your eye out for some of Innis & Gunn's limited editions: beers produced in even smaller batches, such as Highland Cask, Triple Matured, IPA, Canada Cask. Only a very limited supply is released in each market.

Photo: innis and gunn bottle.Innis & Gunn is the king of food friendly beers

Innis & Gunn goes well with many different foods, the oak imparts a creamy smooth palate and the kind of complex, diverse flavours you might be more used to experiencing in a good wine. This makes it a natural match with a wide range of foods.

The caramel & vanilla flavours make Innis & Gunn ideal for:

Seafood - Seared scallops with pancetta; poached salmon bearnaise; smoked salmon (naturally creamy); delicately battered haddock or lemon sole; salmon; smoked trout

Meat dishes - Barbequed or seared steaks or sausages; roast loin or caramelised belly of pork; roasted rack of Scottish lamb

Creamy stews - Boeuf bourguignon; venison stew; steak diane; moussaka;

Creamy pasta dishes such as spaghetti carbonara

Devilled kidneys

Creamy curries - Korma in particular

Puddings - especially those with a creamy or caramel base including creme brulee, panacotta,; rice pudding; apple crumble

And the fresh citrus flavours make it great with:

Cheeses - very versatile with soft and hard cheeses, particularly Gouda style cheeses

Tarts - Tarte tatin, poire tatin, fruit tarts, treacle tart; bakewell tart

Cakes - Christmas cake and pudding/ Madeira cake

Dark Chocolate with orange peel (Manjari Orange)

Suppliers of Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer in Glasgow

  • Oran Mor
  • Wee Pub - The Ubiquitous Chip
  • UISGE BEATHA
  • Republic Bier Halle West at 372-374 Great Western Rd;
  • Republic Bier Hof Sauchiehall Street.
  • Republic Bier Halle 9 Gordon Street;
  • ANTIPASTI (SAUCHIEHALL STREET)
  • Chinaski's 239 North Street Glasgow
  • Black Sparrow, North St Glasgow
  • Red Onion
  • Caf? Gandolfi
  • Soho. Miller St
  • FIFI AND ALLY
  • Arisaig

New stockists

  • Booly Mardys
  • Bo Bar
  • Bar 91. Candleriggs
  • Beer Cafe. Candleriggs.

Also available in Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury?s, Morrisons and Asda (and other supermarkets /outlets)

Please enjoy Innis & Gunn responsibly www.innisandgunn.com

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