Orkney Skull Splitter

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours out clear brown in color with a massive foamy lingering head. The aroma is not blended well enough to hide the alchol. The mouthfeel border line thick. The taste okay just not very pronounced. This beer is not very deep or complex. It's not but but not interesting enough to try again for the third time.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours a clear dark brown with no head to think of. Lots of tiny bits floating around in there so it make me think it is unfiltered. No carbonation what so ever. Aroma is very sweet and roasty. Taste starts off as a malt bomb then hits with a decent bozzyness after a few seconds. Dark fruit sweetness reminds me of dates. Finishes off like you just had some gummy bears a few hours before. I like it.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours an average size foamy head and goes away pretty quick. Has an amberécopper appearance and has pretty good lacing. Faint aromas, mainly toasty and nutty malts, with a herbal hop type scent. Flavours of spice and resin hops, raisins, other dry fruits and mild spices. Pretty good balance between sweet and bitter. Prickly and tanigling sensation. Medium carbonation. Very mild bitterness in the finish. Pretty good stuff.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Single 330ml brown bottle from the LCBO. Pours a clean dark amber colour (almost copper) with an off-white head, decent retention and nice wet lacing. The carbonation is quite pleasant to look at... going up very slow, with bubbles of different sizes. Aromas of caramel, malt and fruits, with a soft yeast note balancing things. Did not taste much at first, but as it warmed up, the flavours came out. Caramel malt, hints of banana (and other fruits), very mild alcohol, very light hop, with some wood in the aftertaste. Decent brew, but not something I would have a lot of (lacking a bit of character for a Viking beer).

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours clear, dark copper/red with a moderate head that disappears quickly without a trace. I like Scottish ale but this one seems to lack some punch despite it being 8.5%. Caramel malt flavour with fruit and a little smokiness.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

331ml bottle - This filtered bottle version is not too shabby - pours a shimmering clear ruby red-amber with tight beige cap that reduces to surface lace and modesty laces the glass walls. Moderately carbonated. Aroma is still complex but not as pungent as the unfiltered version I tasted...some cereal notes under ripe fruits, some sherry notes some smoke but very demure. Medium body. Flavour is also ripe fruits and some smoke with light herbal hopping very much like a tawny dry sherry with a bit of malting and peppery mouth feel to it. A very unique and flavourful barley wine - even if it is filtered

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

330ml bottle
8.5% ABV
King/Spadina LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
December 6, 2012
The beer pours a translucent ruby red with a short-lived generous head. Aroma is tart fruit, malt, some roast, and caramel. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Not digging the flavour as there is a cherry cough syrup like taste to go along with caramel and roast.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Clear and dark ruby brown, a nice thick creamy cap is floating on top. Aroma is yummy but so much milder then i thought it would be. Wood, astringent........ aroma has been perplexing me but i just nailed it Amaretto!!! Possible cherry................ smells dry. Smooth and easy drinking, slight dry sourness in the finish. Big cherry, massive wood,and a great spice. Ok i just drank the entire bottle in 5 min. I can feel it in my brain all ready, Not one bad thing say about this beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Love the name and can't complain about the beer. The beer pours a mahogany colour, somewhat clear, with a thin head. Aroma is quite malty with some floral tinges and fruit in the mix. Flavour has complex notes of fruit and malt with a good hop finish. Weak for a North American barley wine but perfect for an English example.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Aroma is rich and fruity with a firm malty undertone and just a whisper of fruity sweetness. It pours an appealing dark coppery brown with a decent, if not persistent, pale-bronze head. Fresh, crisp flavor is malty with a fruity undertone, a hint of caramel, and a bit of a bite to it. Texture is tingly, fizzy and edgy, leaving a satisfying finish.