Orkney Dark Island Reserve

Brewed by Orkney (Sinclair Breweries)
Style: Barley Wine
Stromness, Orkney, Highlands & Islands, Scotland

Courtesy of Degarth. Thank you, sir.

Dark brown/cola body....small head, resolves to a swirly mix of bubbles and foam....dark fruit esters, yeast, chocolate, peat and oak....flavor profile similar, mainly focused on the barrel aged notes and chocolate, with a sweet malty presence....the peaty/smoky notes pick up along the way through the back of the beer....medium bodied, lush and clings to the tongue....finish is sublime, peat and sweet notes mix wonderfully with the earthiness from the barrels....outstanding....

Bottle... March 08 Tampa Bay Tasting... This beer rocks!... Murky, practically black ale with a mid-sized, creamy, khaki head. Great retention. The aroma provides rich notes of chocolate, cashews, pistachios, subtle wood, peat and light, creamy diacetyl. Full-bodied with a melted butter mouthfeel and pillow-soft carbonation. The woodsy, lightly acidic flavor also offers bittersweet chocolate, mild bitterness and subtle alcohol heat. Finishes earthy with tangy whiskey and oak. Bottle provided by Degarth. Thanks, Joe!

[Courtesy of Myrup, tasting @ Ølbaren] Dark brown with tiny head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, ripe fruits and.oak Sweet flavor with roasted malt, whisky, overripe fruit, oak and smoky notes. Delicious.

Courtesy Degarth. POurs a murky dark brown, with a small swirly light brown head. Smells pretty sweet, dark fruits andmalts reign supreme in the nose. The flavor is smooth as all hell. Some light tartness was apparent, with the grapes, light peat, and sweet maltiness rounding out its smooth silky flavors. Very easy drinking brew, and very balanced and flavorful. Really enjoyed this brew.

Tasting at Ølbaren 2008.03.11 - Thanks Myrup for sharing. I have a bottle of this in my cellar, and I look forward to maturing it furthermore. It’s black/brown with notes of oak, roasted malt and raisin in the aroma. The flavour has sweetness, raisin, licorice, caramel, dark fruits and the finish is quite roasted bitter - but also pleasantly sweetish. It’s a harmonic and nice beer, and I look forward to re-tasting it!

Bottle. [Courtesy of Myrup] Small fizzy beige head that mostly diminished. Spare lacework. Pitch black color. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, liquorish, vanilla, roasted malt. Full bodied with an average carbonation and thick light alcoholic texture. Moderated sweet with counter bitterness in the flavor. Lingering alcoholic and chocolate finish.

75 cL bottle, thanks to Myrup. Pours dark brown to black with a lacing tan head. Vanilla, liqourice and roasted malt. Flavour is roasted malt, tar like and woody with a little sweetness and a solid liqourice note. Lingering liqourice and light vanilla finish.

Pitch black, tan creamy head. Intense aromas of cocoa wood and peat smoke that layer over warm whiskey soaked dark fruits and touches of vanilla. Smooth oaked fig and prune flavors balance on smoked vanilla notes and hints of dark chocolate. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, bittersweet finish. The highlight beer for me on this night. Thanks for sharing, jeffin7!