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Highland Cask Ale

Innis & Gunn
United Kingdom·Scottish Export Ale
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Vanilla and toffee run through this smooth, complex and warming Scottish ale. It is a special bottling matured in oak barrels that previously held 18-year-old single malt Scotch whisky from the Highlands. At 7.1 % ABV it sits well above the 6.6 % of The Original.

ABV
7.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
oakvanillacaramel
oak
vanilla
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with vanilla and caramel sweetness derived from the ex-whisky oak maturation.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Highland Cask Ale

◎ Appearance

A bright pale gold hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The lacing clings to the glass with notable adhesion as you drink. Moderate carbonation lifts the beer with gentle effervescence.

pale goldclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vanilla and caramel sweetness derived from the ex-whisky oak maturation. Beneath these sit soft, biscuity malt notes and a restrained herbal hop character. The spirit influence is present but never aggressive, warming the overall impression.

vanilla, caramel oakbiscuit maltherbal hopswhisky influence

◐ Taste

The palate opens smooth and full-bodied, with toffee and light vanilla coating the tongue. A gentle bitterness from noble hops emerges in the mid-palate without dominating. The higher alcohol strength (7.1% ABV) provides warmth and body that enhances the complexity, while the malt backbone remains clean and supportive throughout.

toffee, vanillasmooth, warminggentle bitternesscomplex malt base

◑ Finish

The finish is long and gently warming, with toffee sweetness lingering pleasantly into the aftertaste. A subtle drying effect from oak tannins emerges without harshness.

long finishwarmingtoffee aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Highland Cask Ale

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About Scottish Export Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Scottish Export Ale?

Scottish Export Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Scottish Export Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same oak, vanilla, caramel character as Highland Cask Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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