The tip that came home a clear winner
THERE are some people who are just really believable. If they gave you a tip for a sure thing in the last at Randwick you would mortgage the house and quickly find a TAB – they are to be trusted absolutely.
There are others whose judgment is sometimes found wanting – if they told you it was Saturday you would automatically look for a calendar.
Hugh the neighbour and I often get suggestions about what would be a good beer to try on our regular Sunday sipping session, and frankly, over the years, some of them should have been left in the camel.
So it was with the tiniest amount of trepidation that we approached a brew that came highly recommended by a friend in the medical profession – erudite and trustworthy to be sure, but more acknowledged for his knowledge of the fermented grape rather than fermented barley.
Our fears were groundless.
The Innis and Gunn Original Oak Aged
Ale is something of a revelation.
Made by a craft brewery in Edinburgh,
Scotland, this ale was the first beer they made back in 2003, and, whether by accident or great idea, it is a pearler.
Unlike any other beer HTN and I have tried, this one is matured in oak casks for
77 days, during which time the most incredible flavours are imparted to the ale.
The taste is so complex, so tasty, that it is difficult not to get properly carried away.
There are toasty caramels, toffees and vanilla all on a background of balanced maltiness.
It has a creaminess about it and finishes without any bitter after taste.
HTN found the nose a bit biscuity and said the oak balance would put many good wines to shame.
If there is anything against it it is the price – $21 for a pack of four and $85 for the carton means you are not going to load up half a pallet for the Fraser Island tailor run, but as a drink for a special occasion it is hard to beat.
Hugh and I thank you all for your feedback, and hope that you have a happy and safe Christmas.
We look forward to joining you again in 2017. Innis and Gunn Original Oak Aged Ale ◗ 330ml bottles; 6.6% ABV
◗ $21 per four pack; $85 per carton of 24