Innis & Gunn, Oak Aged Like No Other Beer
Innis & Gunn – 2 years on…
Innis & Gunn, the pioneering Scottish brewing company based in Edinburgh, is celebrating the start of its third year of business with the launch of two new products and yet more awards:
- Innis & Gunn Cask Strength Oak Aged Beer (7.7% ABV) is a premium line extension exclusive to Asda until early November (RRP £1.85 for 33cl). The beer will then be available to specialist independent retailers.
- Innis & Gunn Limited Edition Oak Aged Beer 2005 is exclusive to Sainsbury’s and will be on-shelf by early October (RRP £1.99 for 33cl). Only 50,000 bottles have been produced.
The Off Licence News BLOBB (Back Labels on Bottled Beers) Gold Medal for its ‘beautiful design and helpful wording.’*
Innis & Gunn’s Oak Aged Beer, which was launched in 2003, was the first British beer to seek to use oak flavours to influence the palate of the final beer. It has created an entirely new oak aged beer category in the UK market, its flavour-packed 6.6% ABV going through a unique 77-day maturation process in lightly toasted American White Oak (ex Bourbon) barrels.
Dougal Sharp, Managing Director of Innis & Gunn, comments: “Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer has grown to become the number two best selling Scottish bottled beer in the UK off-trade and we are working with our on-trade agents, First Drinks Brands, to build national distribution in the on-trade.
“Innis & Gunn Limited Edition 2005 is matured for 154 days in total, of which 107 days are spent in oak casks. This is a lot longer than for Innis & Gunn Original, which is matured for 77 days, but in fact the Limited Edition spends over 3 times as long in the cask. As a result the oak influence is enhanced in this beer, and complements the hoppy flavours that we brewed into the base beer.
“It is bottled at 7.2% ABV, pretty strong, but as with all of our beers the cask has completely mellowed the character making it surprisingly light in texture.
“By contrast, Innis & Gunn Cask Strength has been drawn from specially selected casks which when sampled displayed incredible mellowness and complexity. This beer is outrageously smooth, but of course has to be treated with respect at 7.7% ABV compared with 6.6% ABV for Innis & Gunn Original. The character of this beer is very definitely classic Innis & Gunn, but with a greater toffee and honey influence from the oak.
“By developing a portfolio of Innis & Gunn products in the UK, we are offering choice to retailers and consumers, while reaching out to new beer drinkers with real innovation and style.”
Two years since launch, Innis & Gunn is listed in all major UK multiple grocers where sales continue to grow strongly. The recent distribution deal with First Drinks has given national on trade coverage and has created a surge in on trade sales. The two new products follow recent launches of Innis & Gunn in New York and Denmark, building on export success in Canada and Sweden.
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company Ltd is part of the independent, family-owned distiller, William Grant & Sons Ltd.
* ‘Labels need more love for beer to progress’ by Graham Holter, OLN, September 2 2005 (Page 44)
EDITOR’S NOTES:
Innis & Gunn was founded in August 2003 by Managing Director, Dougal Sharp
Oak Aged Beer is great with food, especially cheese, seafood and smoked fish, steaks, sausages, spicy dishes and dark chocolate.
Oak Aged Beer is the second best selling Scottish Beer in UK supermarkets, and is the 4th best selling ‘strong beer’ in Sweden.
Oak Aged Beer is also available in the USA and in Canada.
Oak Aged Beer won more awards for its flavour, quality and packaging than any other British beer during 2004.
William Grant & Sons is an independent family owned company and award-winning distiller of Glenfiddich, Grant’s and The Balvenie Scotch whiskies.
To sample the new Innis & Gunn beers, please request with your name to Natasha Claxton by fax 020 7384 0335 / email natasha@randr.co.uk by 7th November 2005
Innis & Gunn Limited Edition Oak Aged Beer 2005 7.2% ABV
RRP £1.99 Sainsbury’s
The base beer used is fundamentally different from Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer. Roasted barley gives a light roasted character, with Slovenian hops providing a citrus aroma and zesty flavour. In April 2005, a specially brewed batch of this beer was filled into 100 hand selected ‘first fill’ bourbon casks to begin 107 days of unique character transformation. This lengthy oak-maturation has a greater effect of flavour on the finished product.
Ruby in colour, the nose is chocolate and vanilla with hints of lemon zest. The devilishly luxurious palate of rich chocolate with a flourish of zesty hop is complimented by mellow oak. The rounded and satisfying finish is biscuit malt giving way to orange marmalade.
Innis & Gunn Cask Strength Oak Aged Beer 7.7% ABV
RRP £1.85 Asda
While routinely nosing and tasting casks of Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer, it was noted that some casks were displaying truly incredible, complex flavours. By selecting the finest, most mellow casks and bottling them together, Innis & Gunn has produced amazingly smooth Cask Strength ale that belies its 7.7% ABV.
A burnished gold colour; there are vanilla and banana aromas with hints of marmalade, oak sweetness and malt. The palate is outrageously smooth with rich malty character, complimented by toffee oak and spice. The vanilla finish warms to biscuit malt and dried fruit.
For further information on Innis & Gunn or Refresh please contact:
Rosamund or Natasha at R&R Teamwork on 0207 384 1333
rosamund@randr.co.uk or natasha@randr.co.uk
For further information on First Drinks Brands please contact:
Lucy Cope or Debra Pieri at Touch PR on 0870 774 0707
lucy@touch-pr.co.uk or debra@touch-pr.co.uk
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