Orkney Skull Splitter (Bottle)

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

(Scotland) Ruby color ale with a dissipating tan head. The aroma is of spices / raisins with a creamy malt taste. Mouthfeel is heavy but robust, with a slight alcohol finish. Very interesting brew, would keep you warm on a cold night......

330ml $3.19 Sam’s Marcey Skullsplitter pours a beautifully clear glowing cherrywood. Tiny suspended particles are noticeable when backlit but in no way take away from the clarity. The off white head grew to one finger and died fairly quickly but left decent lacing on it’s way. Rich somewhat syrupy malts greet the nose upfront. Figs, prunes, and spicy alcohol mingle with molasses, brown sugar, and a dark bready malt to create a very tempting combination. Surrounding peat smokiness. Flavor follows the nose. The dark fruits add a nice layer of complexity over the top of the complex maltiness. The peat smoke floats throughout without being over powering in the least. Good example of a wee heavy! Body leans toward the heavier side of the spectrum with a nice slick coating mouthfeel. Goes down easy for such a high abv. Will keep you warm without a doubt. A good example of a wee heavy. Tried side-by-side with Belhaven Wee Heavy, and although I enjoyed the Belhaven slightly better this was up there. 3/22/08

Dark reddish mahogany, almost opaque, with a small but strong head, this has the look of a serious beer. Subtle aromas of caramel, with a touch of dark fruit. Flavors are stronger, with a more evident caramel taste, raisin, bread, and hops in the aftertaste. Silky smooth, generous carbonation, and no hint that it’s as strong as 8.5%. Excellent.

Pours a very dark ruby/copper with a half inch of very small bubbled, creamy looking tan head. Aroma is earthy with a slightly tart malt sweetness. Taste is very malty at first, with a thick caramel and fruity body. A little spiced up too. Goes down like cream, with a pretty crisp finish that lets the alcohol slowly fade. Very warming, and easy to drink.

12 oz bottle from Bevmo. Pours a translucent amber color with a big creamy off-white head that leaves oodles of lacing. The Aroma is strong with sweet roasted malts, spices and breads. The flavor is sweet with brown sugar, malts and some dark fruits. The mouthfeel is light-malty. The finish is medium with a lingering sweet barley-rye character. Overall: A drinkable brew but just a tad too sweet for me.

12 oz. bottle - clear and ruby brown; white head last a little bit leaving considerable lacing; soapy, sweet malt aromas; medium body with slight chewiness; mild fruity flavors and great malty aftertaste

Pours a deep copper colorwith very little head. Aroma is fruity and malty, and seemingly very sweet. Flavor is mildly sweet and fruity. Creamy palate, with a touch of alcohol in the end. Really not bad at all.

12oz bottle. Thick oily looking beer, dark copper with no head or lacing. Smells like a wee heavy, with caramel malt and dark fruit coming through. The taste is starts off very wee heavy and finishes like a english barley wine. Heavy up front on caramel with a tinge of hops and finishing with a dark rich fruitiness and a slight alcohol burn. Tasty and pleasant, the heavy palate and burn keep it from being extremely drinkable but its definitely something I’ll drink again.