Orkney Dark Island (Bottle)

Brewed by Orkney (Sinclair Breweries)
Style: Old Ale
Stromness, Orkney, Highlands & Islands, Scotland

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.

Oh this is a tasty one. Brown shot through with ruby red. Tan head which persists. Coffee, plums, smoke, raisins, caramel, cocoa, so complex. Finishes bitter and drying, like a great espresso.

Dark brown with hints of red and two fingers of tan head. Fruity, roasty, chocolate aroma. Taste is solid coffee roast, berry fruits and a light chocolate bittering.

Slight coffee in the nose, nice dark color but thin looking. Every sip of this beer is almost drinking watered down chocolate. Once nearing the end of the bottle, it thickened up a little, and i could pick out some more malt and espresso. Not what i was expecting and overpriced when i bought it ($7.59), not terrible but just not what i wanted in an Old Ale.

Pours mahogany-tinged black into an English pint. Mocha head with good retention leaves spotted sheets as it recedes to coat surface. Earth, soy and pit fruit aromas. Sweet smoke upfront with a dry cocoa finish.

An almost black colored beer, dark thick and big beige head. The aroma of coffee, smoked malt, a little chocolate, fruity, like dark cherries. The taste of rich dark malts, a little chocolate with dark fruits, some sweet. The aftertaste has some sweets with a little bitter.

Bottle. Pours a black body with a tan lacing. Smoky, peat, campfire accents, and burnt malt. Smoke, toffee, and a hint of licorice to round this one out. eh.