SuppliedSherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml bottle for $3.30
Bought for me for Christmas by my alcoholism-encouraging mother, the Innis and Gunn Winter Taster pack contained this gem of an ale, as well as a pleasantly sturdy bottle opener. Aside from the stainless-steel, top-popping trinket, the Scottish brewery’s oak-aged Rum Finish creation is delicious, even if it leads to palatal burnout.
With a substantial, fairly foamy white head and a deep, nut brown colour, the newest member of Innis and Gunn’s core range is appetizing to the eye. Resembling a stout or porter when poured, only the cream-coloured head gives away the lightness of texture.
Much like the rest of their products, the oak of the barrels it’s aged in smacks you in the taste buds from the first sip of suds. Left to get to know the wood for 57 days before bottling, the beer goes into the glass at 6.8% ABV, just enough for a crafty, taste-centric brew.
Once you get past the oak and your brain confirms you are, in fact, drinking a beer, you can begin to enjoy the intricacies in the palate. Beginning with a burst of chocolatey fruitiness, a bubbly, delicate mouth feel creates a kaleidoscope of flavors. Reminding you of dark beer, scotch, and an Edible Arrangement all mashed together, the bipolar flavors actually end up complementing each other quite nicely. Oh, and the finish tastes like rum.
Though it is completely delicious, the all-out assault it wages on your taste buds means that you’ll likely only want one glass before you move onto something a touch simpler and less highbrow.
