Orkney Dragonhead Stout (Bottle)

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

16oz bottle. Pours a dark brown with a decent tan head. Nose is interesting, some grape, vanilla, and coffee. The flavor is utterly unique as I have come to expect from this brewery. Sort of like eating toast and vanilla beans with coffee. Very bready and malty with tons of vanilla and a little coffee with no bitterness. A little peat smoke but not alot. Slightly watery, to be expected given the low abv, but complex and unique.

Black pour with a thick long lasting chocolate mousse head and nice lacing. Nose of dark chocolate. As to the flavor, I’m going to use a comparison that those familiar with New Orleans culture will understand: "Coffee with Chicory". Translated: Deep roasted, practically burned coffee taste with a distinctive nuttiness. Notes of smoke and chocolate as well. Bitter finish of coffee and smoke. Excellent balance, overall.

Pours dark with a medium brown head. Aroma and flavor of dark chocolate with a hint of roasted coffee.

0,5 l bottle. Almost pitch black in the glass, with a moderate tan head. Powerful smoked and roasted aroma, almost like smoked bacon. Delicate roasted taste which turns slightly bitter, notes of dark chocolate. Dispite its watery mouthfeel, a decent stout

Big bitter roasty stout, lots of coffee and bakers chocolate flavors. Very smooth on the palate, feels very big for a 4% stout with a ton of malt character. Finish is of dry cocoa powder and burnt chocolate.

50cl dark brown bottle, label different from the one pictured (it’s black, like the beer). Colour is pitch black, with a impressively huge, soapy beige head. Decent retention, generous lacing. Intense aroma of caramel, oak and banana, with a slight note of vanilla. Low to medium carbonation, medium body, smooth mouth feel. Taste is mostly of roasted malt - again, nowhere near as sweet as the smell indicated. Coffee dominates throughout, with a whiff of vanilla on top. Kind of like a strong Italian lungo with whipped cream. Stout character is not dissimilar to Guinness Draught Original. Short bitter finish and mildly coffeeish after taste. Not the most complex stout in the world, nor one of the heavier ones, but it’s impressive for its dry character and easy drinkability. For those who like their stout lean and dry, this is actually nicely sessionable.

Bottle at home. Appears as an opaque black beer with a large dense cafe latte coloured head that provides decent lacing. Strong roasted malt aromas of burnt coffee beans, bitter dark chocolate with hints of herbal hops and smokiness. Nice and smooth on the palate with a medium body and bittersweet dark malt flavours before a gentle spicy hop finish. At 4% ABV it is less rich and filling than other stouts I have tried but I am certainly not complaining.

Bottle. Similar to the Old Ale. But a little more bitter. Good. Dark, and roasty. Good flavor. Would drink again. Recommed.