Dark Island Reserve
(has 7 batches)
Orkney Brewery in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland 🏴
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy Regular|
Score
7.71
|
|
Dark Island reserve is a rich strong Orcadian Ale. After a gentle fermentation at our brewery, the beer is finished in old oak casks formerly used to mature fine scotch malt whisky. This unhurried process creates a timeless classic full of fruit, spice, oak and roast malt flavours.
Sign up to add a tick or review
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
[i] [b] Bottle big, big thanks to Craig, ’cgarvieuk’ for getting this for me, cheers mate! Had this 03-04-08 [/i] [/b] Pours shark eye black looks like a bottomless pit or grimping mire, Stephen Hawkins has written books on things that aren’t as black as this, even the tan head seemed to cling to the side of the glass desperately trying to avoid being sucked into the black void. Aroma of vanilla, some light whisky and also woody. Bitter orange on the first sip and noticeable in the fact that this lacks the sweetness of many of its ilk. Quite drying at times and the bitterness forces its way back through, a slow drinker especially if you have it all to yourself save for 125ml that I gave to Loz’s dad. I liked this beer, very tasty and most enjoyable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Apr 2008
at 11:30
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Bottled at RBESG 2007. A pitch black beer with a thin brown head. The aroma is sweet and acidic with strong notes of whiskey and wood. The flavor is sweet with a powerful note of whiskey as well as brettanomyces which lends it an acidity, but also medium notes of alcohol, prunes, and wood, as well as hints of salt.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Apr 2008
at 15:19
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
750 ml bottle, shared by after4ever on 3/20/08 with hogfodder and myself. Bottled on November 10, 2007 according to the label. Pour is deep brown almost black with a slight off white head. Head fades quickly. Aroma of the whisky and wood primarily with malt caramel very quickly behind. Taste reflects the nose nicely, with some booziness. This was a very in your face beer, though well made and quite tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Mar 2008
at 14:25
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Creamy lightbrown fair mostly lasting head. Black colour. Heavy malty powerfull aroma. Strong rasin notes. Very spicey complex flavor. Long nice finish. Very creamy palate. Great stuff but expensive.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Mar 2008
at 16:06
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottled 20th of March 2006. Small head with short duration. Color is pitch black. Aroma and taste are fruits, wood, caramel and vinegar. Sour long finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Mar 2008
at 09:27
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Rating #1300
Huge thanks to Degarth for opening this much anticipated brew. Pours deep dark brown with dark tan head. The aroma is simply huge and inviting. I get sweet rich Concord grapes in high volume along with earthiness, faint peat, dark roasted malts, faint dark chocolate and a mild, yet building, sense of alcohol. The taste is very similar to the nose with caramel candy, earthiness, mild peat that slowly turns into sweet rich ripe dark fruitiness of dark grapes, prunes and sweet plums. I also get notes of fudge brownies, moderate booze sensation and wood. Some mild acidity lingers into the after taste along with layers of roasty – earthy – dark fruity notes.
Huge thanks to Degarth for opening this much anticipated brew. Pours deep dark brown with dark tan head. The aroma is simply huge and inviting. I get sweet rich Concord grapes in high volume along with earthiness, faint peat, dark roasted malts, faint dark chocolate and a mild, yet building, sense of alcohol. The taste is very similar to the nose with caramel candy, earthiness, mild peat that slowly turns into sweet rich ripe dark fruitiness of dark grapes, prunes and sweet plums. I also get notes of fudge brownies, moderate booze sensation and wood. Some mild acidity lingers into the after taste along with layers of roasty – earthy – dark fruity notes.
Tried
from Can
on 16 Mar 2008
at 22:18
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
[Courtesy of Myrup, tasting @ Ølbaren] Dark brown with tiny head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, ripe fruits and.oak Sweet flavor with roasted malt, whisky, overripe fruit, oak and smoky notes. Delicious.
Tried
on 16 Mar 2008
at 08:09
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
75 cL bottle, thanks to Myrup. Pours dark brown to black with a lacing tan head. Vanilla, liqourice and roasted malt. Flavour is roasted malt, tar like and woody with a little sweetness and a solid liqourice note. Lingering liqourice and light vanilla finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Mar 2008
at 03:43
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle. Pours an almost black color with a small brown head. Aroma of malt raisins, dark fruit and oak. Also some weak aroma of chocolate. Has a slightly roasted malty oak flavor with lots of dark fruit and chocolate. Also a little vinous hints. Warming roasted malty finish with hints of dark fruit.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Feb 2008
at 09:03
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
First rating75 bottle at Bishops Arms, V Hamng, Göteborg Bottled 2006Shared with ekstedt, Marsiblursi and a non-ratebeer friend.Pitch black color, small brown head. Acidic, malty, raissin, oak and wood scent. Also alochol. Sweet malt, oak, raissin and acidic taste. Oak and roasted aftertaste. Some smoke in the taste. Feels dry once the acidic main part of teh taste settles a bit. Not worth the €55 we paid for it. Might be too oxidized or perhaps in infection? Did not deliver what I had expected.7/4/6/4/13=3.4RerateShared bottle at Haket on November 13, 2010, during SÖ 25 year anniversaryBlack color, brown head. Sweet, licorice, chocolate scent. Sweet, cocoa, milk chocolate taste. Medium mouthfeel, low bitterness.7/3/6/3/13=3.2
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Feb 2008
at 06:24