Happy Canada Day all!  Whatever your plans today, I hope they’re relaxed, joyful and spent with friends and family.  We have so much to be thankful for, living in one of the greatest countries on earth. (I’m leaving politics aside for the day.) :D

I popped into the local Liquor Store to stock up yesterday, and would you look at what I found right beside the register?  A very special bottle of Innis & Gunn.

Not that every bottle of I&G isn’t special — cause it is.  But these ones were brewed especially for July 1, and even comes in their own box, designed by Canadian artist Gary Whitley.

I also bought a bottle of “standard” I&G to compare.  Let’s see how they stacked up in a taste test.

The Canada Day edition is aged 49 days in oak barrels, as compared to the 77 given to regular I&G, the addition of Aromatic Barley Malt to the July 1 bottles imparts a deep toffee colour and rich maple flavour.  It’s a BIG beer for a big day.

Highly recommended…especially after tomorrow, when it should go on sale and you won’t have to pay extra for the box, which, although a nice touch, doesn’t add much to my beer glass.