Orkney Skull Splitter (Bottle)

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

This is a rich, malty, strongly flavoured wee heavy. It is deep red, with a moderate but dense tan head that thins to a ring only slowly. The aroma is srong: caramel, yeasty bread, grain, fruit, and leaves. The taste is similar: rich, pungent, winey musty, caramel, malt, somewhat meaty, very fruity, sweetish with a strong alcoholic note and warmth before a toasted grain finish. The palate is full but not sticky or oily. Michael Jackson hit it on the mark when he described it as tasting like "fruitcake duked in port," which is exactly what this is like after a few sips. The flavours are strong and bold, and for about 6 ounces this is great, but after that it becomes too much, numbing the taste buds and mouth. This is definitely one to sip a small amount, rather than drink a full bottle.

Bottle. Poured a darker ruby color, with a light off white head. Very strong hoppy nose with strong alcohol smell, tastes malty and finishes dry. Ive had this beer several times prior to rating it, and I’ve enjoyed it every time I’ve had it. Also a great beer for people to get introduced to the stronger beer styles, although I feel that this particular beer is not very representative of the style.

Bottle. Pours a dark bourbon color with a thin bubbly off-white head. A yeasty mild aroma. Fairly full malty flavor did not discern much outstanding. Medium bodied and very smooth.

bottled. Deep copper ale w/ nose of bready yeast, malts & alcohol. Taste is malty, smoked Scottish ale w/ an obvious alcohol finish. Very well balanced, def. buy again.

11.2 oz bottle purchased at Spirits. Pours a deep dark mahogany with burgundy hues and a quickly dissipating tight light beige head. The color makes this look more like a cordial then a beer. Very nice aroma of peat, sweet toffee, dark fruits (figs and raisins), brown bread and a hint of smokiness. Medium palate with a creamy mouthfeel and light carbonation towards the end of the swallow. Nice sweet flavor that has notes of peat, raisins, figs and toffee and just a slight hint of smoke. Funny I tried this a few years ago (straight rom the bottle....ahh) and HATED it, actually thought it was disgusting and the worst beer ever. Thank God I got off the Miller Lite train and can appreciate a good beer now!!

Bottle: Amber coloured, small lacing white head, sweet malt and vanilla in the nose with traces of alcohol and apples, spicy hops in the background; moderate sweet-bitter flavour, medium bodied; slightly vinous, sweetish-malty finish with illusions of oaky hops in the aftertaste. A good, complex Ale with well hidden alcohol.........

My personal favorite, all time champion, which probably says something about my taste in beer. Its a malt wallop explosion in your mouth with a huge honey sweet kick and a clean finish with a lingering peaty smoked out aftertaste. Mix in one of the best names/bottle combinations of all time and we got a winner. I think I’m going to move to the Orkney’s just so I can drink this straight from the tanks.

From bottle. Poors well, a deep ale in color with a small thick head. nose is toasted malts and some fruit/hops. taste is bitter and dark and alcohol. finish has a memory of good Scotch in it. not bad at all.