Orkney Skull Splitter (Bottle)

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

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.

Aroma of peat, malt, burnt fruit and caramel. Pours a dark brown with a tannish head. Vinous flavours with burnt malt, sweetness, alcohol. Alcohol is well hidden. A fine sipping beer.

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy brown/amber with a small light beige head that fades to a ring leaving some lacing. Aroma of caramel, dark dried fruit, port wine, and alcohol. Taste is the same as aroma. Full silky mouthfeel with mild bitterness, and light alcohol warmth. Very mild for a BW but still very good.

Pours a deep reddish brown with a small, creamy, beige head and good lacing. On the nose: sweet roasted malts, raisin, plum, faint woody smokiness and light alcohol. Full-bodied and creamy smooth, it finishes lightly bitter and with a nice alcohol warmth. Round, sweet, roasted malts, dark fruit, wood and alcohol come together in the flavor. Perhaps not as complex as some barley wines, but it is quite warm and satisfying.

I wake up this morning smiling with a hangover. I really went all out last night. I go to the bathroom for my morning ritual. I look in the mirror...my skull is split in half...but I’m not dead. No wonder I had a headache. How can this be? No NORMAL man could survive such a mortal wound...suddenly, my head begins to mend itself...slowly and gracefully...every fiber melding perfectly. Once I’m whole again, the room goes dark.......BOOOOOOM!!!! WHITE LIGHT!!--ANGELS!!� KNOW EVERYTHING!!. I AMMMM EVERYTHING!!". The World stops turning. It’s silent. I am..........The American Grandmaster of Beer Tasting.