Swannay Brewery Barrel Aged Orkney Porter (Isle of Arran)

Barrel Aged Orkney Porter (Isle of Arran)

 

Swannay Brewery in Swannay, Orkney, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  Porter - Imperial Special
Score
7.77
ABV: 11.5% IBU: - Ticks: 58
Aged for 18 months in Isle of Arran Bere whisky barrels and made with Orkney-grown barley, you'd be hard pressed to find a porter as Scottish as this one! That long ageing period has given it a brooding, deep brown pour that carries dark scents of chocolate-laced leather. That slightly sweet cocoa carries over onto the tongue too, where its offset with red fruit and a subdued whisky kiss.
 

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7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8
Bottle 330ml. @ The Chris and Ruth's House, London. [ As Swannay Barrel Aged Orkney Porter (Isle of Arran) ].Clear dark brown colour with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, beige head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, chocolate, sweet chocolate, vanilla, alcohol. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and light to moderate bitter with a long duration, vanilla, chocolate, whisky, dark malt. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft, finish feel is light alcoholic. [20170804] 8-3-8-3-16
Tried from Bottle on 06 Mar 2018 at 16:18


9.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 10 Flavor 10 Texture 10 Overall 9
Bottle from a trade. Many thanks GlasgowTad! Dark brown/black colour, beige foam. Very complex nose of roasted malts, dried fruit, plums, raisins, caramel. Fruity sweetness along with subtle whisky notes. Note very thick body but very drinkable and subtle. Complex and not too boozy. Wow, really nice beer!
Tried from Bottle on 08 Jan 2018 at 08:16

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
330ml bottle from Alko. Pours deep dark brown, almost black with a smooth head. Lovely aroma of whisky, oak, roasty malts, wood, hints of peat, toffee, vanilla and chocolate. Taste is smooth, sweetish and heavy with oaky whisky notes, wood, hints of peat, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, coffee and roastiness. Finish is sweetish, slightly roasty and earthy with loads of oak, wood, whisky, toffee, vanilla and hints of peatiness. Quite nicely balanced and tasty.
Tried from Bottle on 06 Jan 2018 at 15:43

8.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 9 Texture 10 Overall 8
Smell of rye bread, mämmi, some licorice. Black colour, small brown head. Aroma of rye bread, mämmi, licorice, coffee, some oak and smoky notes. Whisky and rye bread in finish. Very heavy body. Viscous texture. Sweet, medium bitter. Very smooth palate.
Tried on 23 Dec 2017 at 15:48

7.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Clear, cola looking beer with small head. Aroma has licorice, dried fruits, vanilla and whiskey. Taste has dried fruits, licorice, vanilla and dry whisky at the end. Soft. Long lasting, a bit spicy ending.
Tried on 22 Dec 2017 at 13:05

7.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
33cl bottle from Alko. Poured near black with a thin off white head. Vanilla nose, roastedness, wood, barrel notes. Flavor has vanilla, some chocolate, whisky notes, barrel, mild ash. Smooth, long finish.
Tried from Bottle on 25 Nov 2017 at 02:24

7.8/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 8 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8
Bottle. Black beer, head disappears really quickly. Smell is absolutely heavenly. Rich, malty toffee, dried fruit and whisky. taste has pretty much the same qualities. The single malt is distinct without making it a burn-y, alcohol-y mess. This is lovely stuff.
Tried from Bottle on 10 Nov 2017 at 15:22

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottled 330ml (Alko web)
Dark ruby colour, small steady beige head. Toasted, a bit peaty, whisky aroma. Medium-bodied. Chocolate, toasted malty, smooth palate. Some vanilla sweetness. Some whisky backing the nicely balanced porter. Doesn't show its 10.5%. Delicious. Not so robust but nice.
Tried from Bottle on 09 Nov 2017 at 14:02

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
(Bottle, 0.33 l - batch #2 - BBE Feb 2019 - ABV 10.5%, from Alko, 20171102) The beer poured very dark brown and clear. Its head was medium sized and lightly brown. Aroma had vanilla, wood, whisky and burnt malts. Palate was full bodied and dry with medium carbonation. Flavours were vanilla, dark chocolate, cocoa, whisky, ash and bitterness. Aftertaste was burnt, woody and bitter. I wish I knew the base beer but this was pretty good. Bit too much wood.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Nov 2017 at 16:21