Orkney Dark Island (Bottle)

500ml bottle. Nondescript dark brown. Meager but very finely beaded head. Rich chocolate, vanilla, toasted wood, brown sugar, and cognac aromatics. Velvety flavor... vinous but not sour... smooth coffee and blueberry flavors. Overall impression of charred marshmallows. Subdued earthy/smoked cherry phenols (brett?). Barely tingly with minimal carbonation. Light yet creamy mouthfeel features an oatmeal chewiness. Comparable to, but less sweet and more complex than a milk stout. Nicely done.

Poured a clear very dark red color with a small creamy beige head. Big smoky phenol aroma with some caramel notes. The flavor was of sweet caramel mixed with smoke. It is balanced more than the aroma.

Bottle. Very dark brown with a creamy beige head. Chocolate, coffee, earth and hint of fruit in the nose. Flavours are mostly chocolate, but also vanilla. Espresso hits lightly towards the finish. Could probably be more full-bodied. Can be recommended.

Bottle. Great taste. Great nose. Chocolate extracts. Excellent in mouth. Great aroma. Some fruit. Delicious.

From a bottle--poured a rich brown with a medium sized foamy white head. Nose of sweet fruits, chocolate, pininess, and earth. Light, slightly metallic but crisp and very quaffable. Slight bitterness coupled with smooth creaminess. I really liked this one a lot!

A rich chocolate brown pour with some brandy coloring around the edge and at the bottom. Initially lovely tan mousse head fades a bit quickly. Aroma of raisins, prunes, chocolate, raspberry sugar. Dark and earthy with leather and blackstrap molasses. Taste is slightly hollow and metallic, although the malt layering is silky and rich. Dark roasted coffee with hints of vanilla and smoke. Dull red wine. Baker’s chocolate and real cocoa; definitely dirty. Somewhat dusty in the mouth, medium bodied, with a light prickle. Finishing smack of oak barrel and caramel. Might fare better from the cask, but it’s likable.

Dark chocolate color with a thick frothy head. Nice smoky roasted malt aroma and a hint of caramel. Aromas are a bit more pronounced in the taste. Has a touch of smokiness in the aftertaste. A nice balance of hops make this an easy drinking beer. A typical scottish beer in that it is full in flavor yet low in alcohol.

Bottle. RBESG. Dark ruby, brown colour. Bit of whiskey, tar and tad sourish with notes of leather. Vineous but unforunately on the sourish side. Light yet nice bitterness.