Dark Island Reserve
Orkney Brewery
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Orkney Brewery
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
Ranked #1 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,478 - Avg:
- 4.13 | pDev: 9.93%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 18, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 15, 2008
- Wants:
- 107
- Gots:
- 32
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
None
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.25 by steverx8 from England on Mar 18, 2022
3.94 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois on Feb 13, 2021
4.56/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by puboflyons from New Hampshire
2016 limited edition bottle. Sampled December 25, 2020.
Handsome dark brown pour with a quick fading tan head.
The aroma is roasted dark malts, black licorice, and alcohol.
Full mouthfeel.
The taste is sweet and malt forward with those whiskey barrel characters in play. Warming, satisfying finish.
Dec 26, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by puboflyons from New Hampshire
2016 limited edition bottle. Sampled December 25, 2020.
Handsome dark brown pour with a quick fading tan head.
The aroma is roasted dark malts, black licorice, and alcohol.
Full mouthfeel.
The taste is sweet and malt forward with those whiskey barrel characters in play. Warming, satisfying finish.
Dec 26, 2020
4.43 by DarrellK from Florida on Nov 25, 2019
4.12 by PugsandBeer from Florida on Sep 29, 2019
4.15 by Biggiekrock627 from Maryland on Aug 23, 2019
4.19 by tux_alin from Romania on May 25, 2019
4.32 by wordemupg from Canada (AB) on Sep 15, 2018
3.53 by djrn2 from New Jersey on Jul 05, 2018
4.04 by TheCrowsEye from California on Jan 31, 2018
4.89/5 rDev +18.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by goodbeergoodfood from North Carolina
Just an absolutely fabulous world-class beer. I now have 5 bottles and I'm celebrating for special occasions.
Dec 12, 2017
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by goodbeergoodfood from North Carolina
Just an absolutely fabulous world-class beer. I now have 5 bottles and I'm celebrating for special occasions.
Dec 12, 2017
4.05 by Vader444 from Scotland on Nov 10, 2017
4.4 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania on May 30, 2017
4.35 by rodmanfor3 from Vermont on Jan 02, 2017
4.25 by Sweffin from Wisconsin on Apr 23, 2016
3.91 by atone315 from Wisconsin on Apr 18, 2016
4.23 by mattreitz49 from Florida on Mar 20, 2016
3.76/5 rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
Consumed on 02/14/2016.
Feb 15, 2016
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
Consumed on 02/14/2016.
Feb 15, 2016
3.99/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by vinicole from England
Thick, oily and almost black. Wispy dark brown head.
Complex bouquet. Rich, roasted malt. Smoky.
Taste follows the nose. Burnt bitterness is rather off-putting. Hint of vanilla.
Viscous. A very slow sipper.
Dec 31, 2015
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by vinicole from England
Thick, oily and almost black. Wispy dark brown head.
Complex bouquet. Rich, roasted malt. Smoky.
Taste follows the nose. Burnt bitterness is rather off-putting. Hint of vanilla.
Viscous. A very slow sipper.
Dec 31, 2015
4 by changdulla from Rhode Island on Nov 06, 2015
4.25 by striker2160 from Minnesota on Nov 01, 2015
4.25 by Howlader from Canada (AB) on Oct 22, 2015
4.26/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by bluejacket74 from Ohio
750 ml swing top bottle, bottled on November 15, 2013, Gyle 682. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with maybe a half inch tan head. Head retention is decent, and there isn't much lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like dark fruit (figs, dates), whisky, chocolate, caramel and vanilla. The taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of burnt/charred malt, coffee, red grapes, woodiness, and sweet spices. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit creamy and slick with low carbonation. Overall I thought this was a pretty good brew. The whisky barrel character is certainly noticeable, but not overpowering. Definitely worth a try if you've never had it before.
Sep 06, 2015
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by bluejacket74 from Ohio
750 ml swing top bottle, bottled on November 15, 2013, Gyle 682. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with maybe a half inch tan head. Head retention is decent, and there isn't much lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like dark fruit (figs, dates), whisky, chocolate, caramel and vanilla. The taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of burnt/charred malt, coffee, red grapes, woodiness, and sweet spices. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit creamy and slick with low carbonation. Overall I thought this was a pretty good brew. The whisky barrel character is certainly noticeable, but not overpowering. Definitely worth a try if you've never had it before.
Sep 06, 2015
4.52/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by shigg85 from Japan
What a wonderfully smooth, rich, and DARK Scottish ale! The oak barrels imparted a lot of vanilla and whiskey notes into this, but its smoothness is deceptive and wonderful. Definitely recommended if you can find it!
Jul 22, 2015
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by shigg85 from Japan
What a wonderfully smooth, rich, and DARK Scottish ale! The oak barrels imparted a lot of vanilla and whiskey notes into this, but its smoothness is deceptive and wonderful. Definitely recommended if you can find it!
Jul 22, 2015
4.25 by His_Royal_Hoppiness from England on May 06, 2015
4.46/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
330ml swing top bottle, purchased at the brewery.
Black with tan head. Nice pleasant aroma of whisky, vanilla, milk chocolate. Great taste and very smooth mouthfeel. This ones a winner.
May 02, 2015
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
330ml swing top bottle, purchased at the brewery.
Black with tan head. Nice pleasant aroma of whisky, vanilla, milk chocolate. Great taste and very smooth mouthfeel. This ones a winner.
May 02, 2015
4.12 by Prost76 from New Hampshire on May 01, 2015
4.25 by heygeebee from Australia on Apr 26, 2015
3.97 by leitmotif from Romania on Apr 11, 2015
4.34 by Ciocanelu from Romania on Apr 10, 2015
4.4 by UniversitateaDeBere from Romania on Apr 09, 2015
3.96 by gratefulbeerhead from Indiana on Mar 03, 2015
3.88 by WynnO from Florida on Feb 27, 2015
4.77 by Rwalford74 from Australia on Jan 25, 2015
4.21/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by oberon from North Carolina
Bottled on 3rd April 2012.Pours into my Isle of Arran glass a deep dark chocolate brown with a half finger cappuccino colored head atop.Dark fruit,brown sugar,and buttery caramel in the nose,a decent amount of alcohol is detected.Brown sugar and buttery caramel on the palate with alcohol infused dark fruit as well,light to almost zero carbonation in the feel.A great CHRISTmas eve sipper,expensive but hey it's the holidays.
Dec 25, 2014
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by oberon from North Carolina
Bottled on 3rd April 2012.Pours into my Isle of Arran glass a deep dark chocolate brown with a half finger cappuccino colored head atop.Dark fruit,brown sugar,and buttery caramel in the nose,a decent amount of alcohol is detected.Brown sugar and buttery caramel on the palate with alcohol infused dark fruit as well,light to almost zero carbonation in the feel.A great CHRISTmas eve sipper,expensive but hey it's the holidays.
Dec 25, 2014
3.75 by Lare453 from Florida on Nov 30, 2014
4.25 by olradetbalder from Sweden on Nov 24, 2014
4 by closisinthehouse from Florida on Nov 03, 2014
3.75 by spycow from Illinois on Nov 01, 2014
4.15 by 2GOOFY from California on Oct 31, 2014
Dark Island Reserve from Orkney Brewery
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
146 ratings