Orkney Skull Splitter (Bottle)

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

Seems closer to a scottish ale than a barleywine in my opinion. Pours from the bottle a garnet red with little head, slight lacing and continuous streams of tiny bubbles resonating from the base of my glass. The nose is sweet with some piney tang, the initial flavor is of sweet malts, some fruity yeast and again strong pine, very little hop bitterness. It’s unclear whether the sickly sweet pine is from hops or pine straw. Still, an interesting beer, one that relatively well hides its alcohol and is pleasant on occasion.

My favorite barley wine. Possibly one of the best beers i’ve had. The alcohol is hidden so well and the flavor is smooth and refreshing. pours dark and has a niceeee head. i want another one right now. Oh yeah and the label is extremely badass too. (subject to rerate - 2/19/09)

11.2 oz bottle. Wow. Did not realize this was a barley wine, thought it was an old ale or something. Pours a dark reddish body with disappearing head. Aroma is nutty and malt. Taste is same. Not a big fan of this beer, but only because I am half a man.

Pours a nice maple-syrup/amber color with medium fluffy off-white head. Aroma is fairly sweet of raisin and molasses and subtle notes of nuttiness, yeast, and alcohol astringency. Extremely smooth mouthfeel with almost no bitterness up front. What really stands out to me in this brew are the hints of nuttiness that balance out its sweetness. Very enjoyable and quite a unique, although mild barleywine.

12 oz bottle received in trade from Acknud (thanks Bill). Pours a nice reddish brown color. The color of maple syrup.No head to speak of. Mouthfeel was a little heavy, speaking of maple syrup. Nose and taste was of molasses and dark fruits, raisins, plums,etc. This was a sweet tasting brew. Not a guzzler by any means. Alcohol was right out front. No attempt to hide it. Good brew.

Hmmmm... aroma of sweet malt and alcohol. Pours a light brownish red. Flavor is sweet malt, some fruity notes like prunes, dates, raisins, and lots of alcohol. This is very astringent as I noticed alot of alcohol warmth, but it was not unpleasant in any wa. This is obviously meant to be savored and drank slowly as there is alot going on here.

Smells of rich toasted malts, barley, dates, maple, figs, and red grape. Pours sap colored, with a slight beige head, that leaves fairly quickly. Tastes of light molasses, heather, bitter caramels, and slight peanut butter. Has a very dry, but full palate, and non-lingering finish. Definitely a musky barley wine. Very enjoyable, like most products of Scotland :)

330ml bottle, 25th Jan 2007. Pours a clear mid to dark brown. The aroma is very savoury (reminds me of Spezial Rauchbier) and this carries over into the flavour - hints of cheese, smoke and lots of rich malt and caramel flavours. There is a lingering aftertaste as the beer gently coats the mouth. It’s very drinkable with little evidence of the alcoholic strength, but best sipped to ruminate upon the complex flavours.