Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point VP01 Imperial Stout with Dan, Ryan, Adrian & Bowick

Innis & Gunn are known for trying stuff, different combinations, interpretations etc. They’ve launched a new line called Vanishing Point, which is:

the point at which the skills and passion of our brewers converge with our ambitions to create exceptional beers that define us as a company.

Which is guess is cool as long as you like.. never drink any of their other, non definitional beers i guess. The problem with any “our new, apex product” marketing is that you gotta chose your words real careful like to avoid calling your own products shit.

Here’s the first of the new line of “apex” beers, the Vanishing Point VP01 Imperial Stout. It spent six months in bourbon barrels before being put in a bottle and then a box and then another box and then a vehicle of some kind, I assume. Or maybe there’s another level of box. Or maybe bubble wrapping – only true connoisseurs know how important Time In Bubble Wrap is to good booze. Here’s what we thought:

nose
Dan – malty, red licorice
Simon – chocolatey
Ryan – thick one port grappa
Adrian – v dark, root beer, changes
Bowick – smoky

taste
Dan – wine, prune, bitterness
Simon – fruity, complex sweet, coke bite
Ryan – cola
Adrian – molasses
Bowick – not beer, spice

finish
Dan – bitters, dark chocolate
Simon – malty, short
Ryan – Italian soda, brio
Adrian – sweetness
Bowick – vanilla

overall
Dan – 8.5/10
Simon – 7.5/10
Ryan – 6.5/10 fun buy, non comparable
Adrian – 5.9/10
Bowick – 5.something offensive/10
Laura – 6/10
Lisa – 7/10

Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point VP01 Imperial Stout – 11% 500ml – $ – Scotland

Try it? Yes. Buy it? As a gift.