Orkney Dark Island (Bottle)

(Bottle, purchased at Utobeer, London) Very dark brownish ruby colour with frothy, brown head. Malty nose with notes of dark rye bread, chocolate, dried fruit (figs, raisins) and toffee. Malty taste with dark chocolate, coffee, dried fruit (figs, dates, raisins), dark bread, hints of smoke or ashes and a slightly bittersweet finish. Medium body, rather dry. Smooth mouthfeel but a bit short taste. Nice and well balanced ale.

50 cl bottle at home, bought at Vaaland, Bryne. Ver dark, almost black color, fine but disappering tan head. Aroma is chocolate, dark fruit, coffee and hints of smoke. Flavor is much the same, but with much more smoke. Some acidicity. One of the best low alcohol beers I have tasted.

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.6%. Black colour, ruby in the highlights, big to moderate tan head. Aroma of coffee, dark chocolate, hints of peaty smoke and oak, not as fruity as the cask version, but nice. The flavour has the same elements as the aroma, but here distinct fruity and vinous (claret) notes come through too. The finish is slightly acidic with moderate but sufficient hops.

What a beauty. Can’t believe I hadn’t sampled this wee gem from my home country. So, so dark and opaque. Lovely smoky/peaty end to the mouth. mmm

Pours a murky dark brown color, with a smallish off white head. Smells of dark caramel malt, dark fruits, and some tofee. The flavor was much the same. Very smooth malt character, with a fruity finish, with hints of caramel and toffee. Very nice flavor to this, not as yeasty as some old ales that Ive had which was nice. Drank very easily, and was pretty complex. I enjoyed it.

bottle, pours dark brown, medium tan head. Dark fruity nose with fig and a sweet carmel note. Dark malt, cocoa powder, and a spicy yeast finish. Low to moderate carbonation, the mouth stays creamy throughout. Interesting and delicious, I would love to try this on cask.

500ml bottle. Pours ruby-blackish-brown with light beige head that settles into a slippery lace. Faint aroma of peat, damp smoke, coco powder and caramel. It has that distinctive Orkney smell that Skull Splitter has as well. Flavor is same characteristics as aroma but more pronounced. Has a bit of butterscotch diacetyl feel and flavor which I enjoy. Very subtle bitterness in the finish supports the malt body. Very smooth and easy mouth feel. Don’t expect a malt explosion because the aromas and flavors are mild, it being a dark mild after all, but it was very enjoyable.

Bottled: Coffee nose, some acid, roasted and smoked barley. Nearly black color and a thick beige head. Flavor with a intensive coffee note, some sweetness, cacao powder, soy sauce and dark berries. Roasty, dry finish with a coffee or dark chocolate bitterness.