{"title":"Innis \u0026 Gunn","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"innis-gunn-the-original-6pk","title":"Innis \u0026 Gunn The Original 6Pk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInnis \u0026amp; Gunn The Original 6Pk\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bourbon cask-aged Scottish ale at 6.6% ABV, sold as a six-pack of 330ml bottles. Winner of a Grand Gold medal and the prestigious Prize of the Jury at the 2021 Monde Selection Quality Awards, this oak-aged beer has earned consistent international recognition for its rich, toffee-forward character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 6.6%  |  Origin: Edinburgh, Scotland  |  Style: Oak-Aged Ale  |  Brewery: Innis \u0026amp; Gunn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInnis \u0026amp; Gunn is an Edinburgh-based brewery that built its reputation on oak-aged beer. Rather than aging beer inside intact barrels, the brewery uses a proprietary process involving specialty vessels called \"Oakerators.\" Bourbon barrels are dismantled and broken down into stave pieces, which are then toasted to a precise level before being submerged directly into the beer for aging. This method maximizes the surface contact between oak and liquid, extracting deep bourbon-influenced flavors more efficiently than traditional barrel aging. The Original uses a grain bill of Innis \u0026amp; Gunn Ale Malt, Crystal Malt, and Raw Wheat, hopped with Super Styrian hops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweet malt leads the nose, followed by distinct toffee and caramel. Vanilla from the bourbon-soaked oak emerges alongside a faint woody barrel note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is smooth and malt-forward, with caramel and rich roasted malt flavors coating the palate. Mid-palate, vanilla and toffee build in intensity while orange marmalade and citrus notes add brightness. A light hop fruitiness from the Super Styrian hops balances the sweetness without dominating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medium in length with a lingering toffee sweetness and subtle oak warmth. The bourbon barrel influence rounds out the close with soft vanilla and a gentle woody dryness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink The Original\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eServe at 8–10°C (46–50°F) in a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the vanilla and oak aromatics. Pouring slightly warmer than a standard lager allows the barrel-aged complexity to open up. The Original also works as a beer cocktail base: try it in a \u003cstrong\u003eBeer Old Fashioned\u003c\/strong\u003e, where its toffee and bourbon notes replace the whiskey element naturally; in a \u003cstrong\u003eShandy\u003c\/strong\u003e with fresh lemonade, where the citrus marmalade character pairs with the tartness; or in a \u003cstrong\u003eBlack Velvet\u003c\/strong\u003e variation blended with stout, where its vanilla sweetness softens the roast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroducing a whisky drinker to the world of craft beer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAutumn and winter evening sessions that call for something richer than a pale ale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting to someone who appreciates barrel-aged beverages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing alongside a charcuterie or cheese board at a dinner gathering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Innis \u0026amp; Gunn The Original taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Original delivers a smooth, malt-driven profile dominated by toffee, vanilla, and caramel with supporting notes of orange marmalade and citrus. A light hop fruitiness and subtle oak warmth keep the sweetness in check.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does The Original compare to BrewDog Paradox?\u003c\/strong\u003e Both are Scottish barrel-aged beers, but The Original uses bourbon cask staves aged through Oakerators, producing a sweeter, vanilla-rich profile at 6.6% ABV, while the BrewDog Paradox series uses ex-whisky casks and tends toward darker, more intensely smoky and roasty imperial stout territory at higher ABVs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs The Original good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — its 6.6% ABV and smooth, dessert-like complexity make it an ideal standalone sipper, particularly when poured into a tulip glass at cellar temperature to highlight the oak and vanilla layers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is The Original made?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Original is brewed by Innis \u0026amp; Gunn in Edinburgh, Scotland. The brewery is known specifically for its oak-aging techniques using reclaimed bourbon barrel staves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with The Original?\u003c\/strong\u003e Aged cheddar or Gruyère complement the toffee and caramel sweetness. Smoked salmon works with the subtle oak character. Sticky toffee pudding mirrors the beer's dominant flavor profile. Barbecue ribs benefit from the vanilla and malt richness. Dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the citrus and barrel notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does The Original come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Original is commonly available as a 6-pack of 330ml bottles, as well as individual 330ml bottles and occasionally in larger multi-pack formats.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs The Original worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Original positions as a premium craft beer within the barrel-aged category, but its six-pack format brings the per-bottle cost well below most single-serve barrel-aged releases, making it accessible for regular enjoyment rather than special-occasion-only drinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy The Original?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Oakerator process is genuinely unusual in brewing — dismantling bourbon barrels, toasting the staves, and immersing them directly in the beer gives Innis \u0026amp; Gunn a level of oak contact and flavor extraction that conventional barrel aging cannot match at this scale. The result earned a Grand Gold score of 90–100% and a unanimous Prize of the Jury selection at the 2021 Monde Selection, alongside a 2015 Grand Gold reserved for products achieving gold medals three consecutive years running. For drinkers drawn to bourbon's vanilla and toffee sweetness but looking for something sessionable at 6.6%, The Original occupies a distinctive middle ground between craft ale and barrel-aged specialty beer. Few six-packs on the market deliver this depth of oak-driven complexity at this price tier.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Innis \u0026 Gunn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838642450601,"sku":"36424","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/innis-gunn.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}