Dark Island Reserve
Orkney Brewery (Sinclair Breweries) in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland 🏴
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy Regular|
Score
7.71
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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.
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6.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
A black beer with an off-white head. The aroma has notes of malt, spices, caramel, and hops.
Tried
on 01 Jan 2013
at 12:00
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bottled 11.11.2011, just over one year old bottle. A black beer almost without head, but there is a brown circle around the glass. Aroma is intensive and powerfull, dark fruits, raisins and sweetness, liquirice, oakbarrel, some vanilla and turf. Taste is very powerfull, but also gentle and pleasant, liquirice, roastiness, salt liquirice and dark fruits. Also some whiskey barrel with strenght in the aftertaste with nice sweetness that combines the taste to the great balance. Full bodied, smooth, slippery and even easy to drink. Intensive and complex beer, roasted world combines with dark fruits and whiskey barrels, a total delicacy.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Dec 2012
at 10:59
8.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle at the Anderson, Fortrose (April 2012 bottling). It pours black, with a thin tan head. The nose is roasted malt, spice, dark fruit, plum, date, flame raisin, vinous notes, some umami and saltiness. The taste is plum, currant, cherry, roasted malt, light coffee, spice, wood, light whisky, blackcurrant jam, charcoal, underlying alcohol warmth, fruit cake, umami aspect, treacle, light smoke and chocolate caramel as it warms up, with a dry, warming finish. Full body and fine carbonation. Brilliant balance and level of complexity. Tastes more of a "traditional ale" than a barley wine. Either way it is delicious!
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Aug 2012
at 14:08
8.4/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottle. Vintage 2011. Has a black colour with a medium compact brown head. Nice aromas of wood, leather, port, dark berries and some dark chocolate and alcohol. A lot of wood in the flavour with coffee, dark bitter chocolate, bonfire, sauna, some smoke and a wonderful touch of roast. Slick and smooth mouth feel. Bitterness = light+. A fantastic beer with a lovely touch from the lagering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Jul 2012
at 09:48
8.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
750ml bottle. Pitch black colour with small, reawakening, moderately lacing, brown head. Intense and complex aroma has notes of whiskey, a peppery touch like green onions, oak, leather. Complex taste evolves in several steps from dark malty, slightly spicy, via moderately sweet balsamico, whiskey to dry leather. Almost light for its abv. Wonderful.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Jul 2012
at 13:54
8/10
Tried
on 07 Jul 2012
at 22:59
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 3
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Nice and chewy! Looks lovely and thick when being poured. Lingering head. Hint of whisky. Lovely palate. Very smooth. Alcohol not overpowering. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Tried
on 23 Apr 2012
at 12:02
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle at home tasting. Dark brown pour with small beige head. Aroma of oak, whiskey, vanilla, dark fruits, chocolate. Vinous flavour with Whiskey, chocolate, dark fruits. Thick oily body with low carbonation. Sweet finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2012
at 12:01
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
75cl bottle supplied by Kermis and shared with Kermis & friends. Decent thick off white head. Deep dark ruby pour. Smooth taste. Vanilla whiskey notes. Yummy!
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2012
at 11:56
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle. Notes of soy, alcohol, red-wine like earthiness and cream. Complex but not my cup of beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Apr 2012
at 07:16