Innis and Gunn: Highland Cask

Psst...psst...over here.

Hey fellow survivors, I apologize for my absence as of late, but regardless I am back with another choice brew from a brewery I have previously reviewed but as I count it among my favorite breweries so here we go!

6/23/2013

Brew: Highland Cask
Origin: Innis and Gunn Brewery Edinburgh, Scotland
Style: English Strong Ale
ABV: 7.1%

A smooth even pour with just enough aeration running up the outer circumference of the glass.  Held upto the light this brew has a deep amber hue and the first sniff brings about the deep smokey and slightly sweet aroma of a fine aged single malt akin to a Glenfidditch neat.  The beer has a silky lacey head which settle ever so delicately upon the crown of the beer.  Then the taste, oh my friends the taste.  This brew has all the subtle and well crafted tastes of a fine single malt so the aroma bouquet does not disappoint.  I took a deep sip of this and closed my eyes for a few moments.  I was transported back to a joining of clans, perhaps a wedding of the daughter of one chieftain to another chieftain.  For I feel a deep well aged brew of this caliber would be saved for such an occasion.  To be honest I was almost tempted to jump up on a table and roar with the revelry of my celtic ancestors in celebration.  It almost seems fated as I chose to sample this brew just after the dawning of the summer solstice.  While a strong ale like this would normally not be favored during this time of year, even with its well aged single malt scotch taste, this brew is more than light and refreshing enough to be enjoyed on a warm summer day.

The finish of this beer is clean with the smallest hint of a scotchy bite just to remind you that indeed this brew and a fine single malt may have shared a home at one point.

So in conclusion, if you want to enjoy a refreshing beer but don't want to settle for a light zombeer or an ill conceived summer ale with god knows what sort of fru fru ingredients to make it more summery (cough cough lemonade cough) get to your nearest house of delicious brews and grab as many of these as you can.  If your brew haven does not have Innis and Gunn Highland Cask, jump up on the counter tap deep into the primal roots of your ancestors and with a great warcry proclaim "Highland Cask or death"  As to what language you cry out in, I'll leave that upto you.  And for my local readers this brew can be located at Seaford Beverage on Merrick Rd.

Drink smart and Drink Responsibly!

Cheers!
~J. Christopher Patricks