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Orkney Dark Island Reserve

Orkney Dark Island Reserve

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 Percentile 
98
overall
A Barley Wine brewed by
Orkney (Sinclair Breweries)

Stromness, Orkney, Highlands & Islands, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
1133.92/5.03.91/5.010%89.4 Snifter P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Bottled, Filtered, Special;
Dark Island Reserve is a strong and full Orcadian Ale - lagered for 3 month in old Dalmore whiskey oakbarrals. This slow proscess makes a classic - a fruity, spiced, oakroasted maltflavour.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 thewolf (3392), Kolding, Denmark
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20

May 11, 2008    Updated: May 12, 2008
Bottle, bought @ Skjold Burne, Store Torv, Århus, Denmark.
Pitch black with a small, beige, film head. Rather creamy. Aroma is lightly fruity tart, heavily peity with a dose of chocolate. Low carbonation, very fat mouthfeel, nice oiliness. Flavour is initially tart, lots of dried fruits, good dose of dark chocolate, good roastiness. Wonderful, long aftertaste of peity smoke and light wood.


MakeItDrinkIt (50), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jul 11, 2008  
Deep black color with a thin brown head. Aroma is chocolate and walnut meats, figs and leather. Flavor is big, bold, walnutty, whisky, chewy chocolate, black strap molasses, figs - WOW! Not too sweet, not bitter - very well balanced. Texture is velvetty smooth on the tongue. A truely lovely beer from Scotland!


 juiceisloose (281), Orlando, Florida, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Jun 28, 2008    Updated: Jul 1, 2008
Courtesy hopscotch, thanks Eric. Pours a dark chocolate brown color with a small foamy tan head. The aroma shows notes of dark chooclate malts, caramel, vanilla, and a touch of smokey whiskey. The aroma is nice and complex on this one. The flavor is really amazing with the dark chocolate and vanilla from the oak dominanting the flavor. The whiskey adds just a touch of smokiness that is integrated seamlessly without ever overpowering. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and very smooth and leads into a warm, smoky finish. This is one well crafted beer and really glad I got to try it.


 Beerded_one (1551), Croydon, Pennsylvania, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/104/515/20
Jun 24, 2008  
Bottle. Pours black with a tan head. Rich aroma of oak barrel whiskey, malts, chocolate, peat and a hint of vanilla. Flavor is tart with dried fruit, chocolate, licorice, whiskey, and with some peaty/smoke notes. Mouthfeel was oily and heavy with a mild bitterness


 goldtwins (3672), Nesconset, New York, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Jun 23, 2008  
Thanks to jjpm74 for the treat. Poured a deep copper brown color with a very thin tan head. The aroma had a nice complexity to it. Smoky, roasty, sweet dark chocolate, and alcohol. The flavor had a dry roast to it with a touch of soy. Medium bodied.


 Beerlando (1157), Orlando, Florida, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/518/20
Jun 16, 2008  
Courtesy hopscotch. Thanks Eric! Pours a deep, dark chocolate brown color. A small but dense, foamy tan head leaves spotty lacing behind. The aroma shows a dark chocolate malt base, with notes of vanilla and caramel. A smooth, lightly smoky scotch element permeates the nose, proving to be seamlessly integrated into the rich chocolate goodness. Likewise, flavors are bold but very well blended. Semi-sweet dark chocolate is highlighted by the vanilla laden oak, with the scotch lending a warm, smoky edge that never overpowers. The body is medium-full and slightly chewy, sporting a smooth, light carbonation. Similar to the BrewDog Paradox series, though a bit less aggressive. Absolutely loved this one.




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