Dark Island
Orkney Brewery in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland 🏴
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Regular|
Score
6.89
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Dark Island is an iconic beer: The Orkney Brewery's flagship beer. Exhibiting a ripe fruity, chocolate nose, Dark Island is balanced by flavours of dark Chocolate, dried fruit, figs and nuts from the combination of roasted malts and rich hops. A standard-bearer for traditional Scottish ales.
Hops: First Gold: East Kent Goldings
Malts: Pale, Crystal, Chocolate, Malted Wheat
Hops: First Gold: East Kent Goldings
Malts: Pale, Crystal, Chocolate, Malted Wheat
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6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Total Wine & More, Fairfax 500ml: Pour is a near black with a small brownish head. Aroma is roasted malt with some strangely well-placed fruitiness. Body is kind of light. Roasted malts dominate. Nice amount of bitterness. Very mild amount of sweetness. Something tastes almost like milk stout for a second there. Sessionable. Quite good.
Tried
on 31 Mar 2012
at 16:00
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle sample at a tasting at Ariel’s place. Thanks Dagan. Clear brown color with a beige head. Malty and very fruity aroma of plums, some raisin notes and a bit of pear notes. Sweetish flavor with malt, dark fruits, a bit of roasty hints and a slightly drier finish. Medium-bodied. Interesting and nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Mar 2012
at 16:17
6.9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Poured very dark (not cloudy, just so dark it was opaque) black brown with a good tan head. Aroma a bit subtle / weak, but very nice: coffee, dried fruit, dark chocolate. Medium body and carbonation. Starts with a full creamy texture, but seems to thin to something more quaffable. Flavour has a nice start of rich chocolate and dried fruit but finishes rather thin and tart. Overall unusual, pleasant but a bit disappointing.
Tried
on 10 Dec 2011
at 15:12
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 7
Pours black with a large, fading head.Nose shows roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, port and figs. Big choc/coffee liqueur notes.Flavours are also quite roasty, but nowhere near as expressive. Weak plain coffee mixed with faint fig, red wine notes, and a roasty finish that includes an acidic bite.Body feels quite watery.
Tried
on 08 Dec 2011
at 18:14
5.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
Cask @ The Muckle Cross, Elgin.
Black with ruby edges, thick rich tan head.
Aroma of roasted malt, oak, smoked wood, chocolate.
Taste of roasted malt, smoky, wood, liquorice, some coffee, bit of earth, some fruity malt. Complex. Not as good as the aroma.
Palate of roast bitter, some sweetness, soft carb, dry smoky finish.
I’ve had this many times over the years and the flavours have always seem rather muddled, bit discordant. Complex, but not great in this case. Sort of a cross between a stout and an old ale. IMHO I’ve never been that keen - I can get sick of it by the end of the pint and it gets rather cloying. However, it’s better than average and I can understand why other drinkers do give it high ratings, but personally I feel it’s overrated.
Black with ruby edges, thick rich tan head.
Aroma of roasted malt, oak, smoked wood, chocolate.
Taste of roasted malt, smoky, wood, liquorice, some coffee, bit of earth, some fruity malt. Complex. Not as good as the aroma.
Palate of roast bitter, some sweetness, soft carb, dry smoky finish.
I’ve had this many times over the years and the flavours have always seem rather muddled, bit discordant. Complex, but not great in this case. Sort of a cross between a stout and an old ale. IMHO I’ve never been that keen - I can get sick of it by the end of the pint and it gets rather cloying. However, it’s better than average and I can understand why other drinkers do give it high ratings, but personally I feel it’s overrated.
Tried
from Cask
on 29 Aug 2011
at 09:09
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle. Dark brown with a coat of beige head. Aroma of nuts, toast, pears, grapes, a touch of smoke. Taste is sweet and fruity with light roasted malt, hazelnuts and chocolate. Quite grapey. Complex finish with fruit, grass, toast and a bit of smoke. I bet this kills from a cask.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jun 2011
at 04:50