Innis & Gunn original - A second chance

I decided to give this beer another try. The last time I had it I was not impressed and it was one of the few beers I have actually poured down the drain. I am pretty sure the last bottle I had was off, due to an overpowering rusty metallic taste, a flaw with the clear bottle.
This time I was hit with an immediate vanilla on the nose and a lovely vanilla sugar sweetness balanced with the oakiness in the background. The oak did not overpower the beer and I quite enjoyed it.
As you can see in the picture I had this with a cheese plate. The cheese plate was not too impressive, one of the tesco ones. The Cheddar was the tastiest thing on there and it was mediocre. The cashel blue I am sure is a good cheese but I have not got in to blue cheese yet, I am trying to get there though a little at a time.