I&G lays down an ale for posterity

Unprecedented demand for Innis & Gunn’s latest limited edition beer has seen the Scottish craft brewer take a step to preserve a bottle for posterity before stocks disappear. The 7.7% ABV beer named Vintage will be placed in a time capsule with instructions to the opened in the year 2116.

Innis & Gunn fans have snapped up almost all of the limited edition bottles produced, leaving only a few hundred left in its online shop and The Beer Kitchen by Innis & Gunn restaurants in Edinburgh and Dundee. Vintage is a bottle-conditioned strong ale that becomes richer and more complex the longer it is left. Although the beer is brewed to be drunk on the day of release, time is on the beer’s side as the yeast contained in the bottle continues to condition the beer beyond its official ‘Best Before’ date.

• The time capsule sees Innis & Gunn’s Vintage displayed in sealed transparent enclosure at Innis & Gunn’s Inveralmond Brewery in Perth.
• The time capsule will be opened by the Innis & Gunn brewers of the future in one hundred years time.
• The absence of food spoilage bacteria in the beer will mean the century old Vintage will be drinkable, with a flavour profile far different from how it tastes today.
• Vintage comes in 500ml bottles and the last few bottles are available for purchase onhttp://shop.innisandgunn.com/ and at The Beer Kitchen by Innis & Gunn in Edinburgh and Dundee.
• The beer is matured in American Bourbon casks and only 8,000 bottles were produced for sale.
• Created with Super Styrian hops, Vintage’s malt profile includes Innis & Gunn Ale Malt, Crystal, Roasted Barley and Raw Wheat. Innis & Gunn brewers describe the beer’s taste profile as “Buttered toast, creamy toffee, a little sharpness from the yeast and a creamy full mouthfeel.”
• In April, Innis & Gunn announced the acquisition of the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth, Scotland. Innis & Gunn will embark on significant investment in the Perth facility to support its innovative brewing processes and continue its reputation for experimentation with ingredients and flavours.
• The acquisition also allows Innis & Gunn to meet the growing demand for its beers, and the site offers room and flexibility for further expansion in the future as the company continues to grow. From its headquarters in Edinburgh and the new brewery in Perth, to be called the Innis & Gunn Inveralmond Brewery, the company will continue to expand its scale in the UK and abroad, where the business already successfully exports to over 40 countries.

Dougal Gunn Sharp, Founder and Master Brewer said:

“I’ve been brewing beer for the past 30 years and with each new recipe there’s always something new to learn. This was certainly the case with Vintage which has been a labour of love that takes another giant step in our innovative approach to beer. 
"The fact the beer continues to mature and change over time inspired us to preserve it in such a unique way. We want the time capsule to serve as a reminder for us to keep innovating, keep pushing boundaries and keep expanding people’s ideas of what beer can be. Just like Vintage, we’ll continue to get better with time and I just wish I could be there in one hundred years when the brewers open up the capsule and taste the beer.”