Dark Island is an iconic beer: a standard-bearer for traditional Scottish ales. In cask, this beer has twice won CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Scotland.
On the nose, this dark beer offers bitter chocolate, figs, toffee and hints of fruit.
On the palate, this resolves into beautiful, silky-smooth, coffee-and-chocolate flavours, followed by figs, dates and dried fruits, with a very appealing, lingering aftertaste of fruits and hop bitterness.
Appearance
A very dark beer with a deep ruby tint, displaying a tight, smooth, almost white head
Aroma
Chocolate, winter fruits and dried fruits, with hints of smooth roasted malt, coffee, nuts and toffee
Palate
Chocolate, coffee and roast malt flavours, giving way to warm winter fruits and a balanced, more-ish aftertaste
Key Ingredients
Chocolate malt, crystal malt and wheat give this beer its smooth, full-bodied, maltiness and sweetness; First Gold and Goldings hops combine with the malt flavours to deliver the winter fruits and dried fruits aspects
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by Retroman from Taylorsville, KY, USA who has tried this beer once. (2/28/2008 4:58:40 AM)
"Not a bad beer. Poured a rich, dark color with a somewhat fleeting head. I can't exactly place the aroma, but it was quite pleasant. A chocolate/coffee taste with a hint of smoke. I had it in the frig and that was a mistake since as the beer warmed the flavor really came out. Definitely worth a try."
Aroma:
6/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
6/10
Overall:
6/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 22oz @ $1.99 Unit Cost: $1.45 per Pint
[2] Review by Stoutlover72 from Northern, California, USA who has tried this beer once. (11/15/2007 6:33:58 PM)
"Nothing really special about this nice beer. A little bit of sweetness on the palate gives way to a smokey, chocolatey, carmelish flavor that reminded me more of a smoked porter than a Scottish Ale. Aroma is malty sweet, perhaps a bit fruity and gives you no early signs of what is to comes when the beer his your tastebuds. Very nice beer."
Aroma:
6/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 550ml @ $0 Unit Cost: $0 per Pint
[3] Review by jonmoore from United Kingdom who has tried this beer once. (6/19/2006 11:45:18 AM)
"Bottle. Near black with a thick tan head. Aroma of roasted malts & coffee. Flavours are roasted malts, chocolate, coffee and caramel. Some dark fruit and brown sugar in there as well. Creamy medium bodied mouthfeel. Would benefit from a bit more alcohol, but still very good."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.9)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[4] Review by oh6gdx from Vaasa, Finland who has tried this beer once. (1/23/2006 7:52:59 AM)
"Dark ruby red colour, mediumsized creamy head. Chocholate, weak roasted malt and flowery sweet aroma. Flavour is caramel and roast with some weak bitterish notes. Chocolate strong in finish and aftertaste. Wellbalanced and pleasant thing from Orkney Brewery. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
10/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.2)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by aracauna from Adairsville, GA, USA who has tried this beer (1/15/2006 10:21:41 AM)
"Nicely dark. The head is sluggish and short-lived. There's a nice dark maltiness in both the aroma and flavor, but the flavor suffers from being a bit thin. Nice chocolate and charcoal in the flavor, a little cookie. A bit sweet but not cloying."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
6/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure Compared to this brewer's other beers: Not Sure
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(3.1)
