Skull Splitter - Orkney Brewery

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BA SCORE
91
exceptional
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1,288 Ratings

THE BROS
100
world-class
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rAvg: 4.08
pDev: 12.75%
Reviews: 860
Hads: 428

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Brewed by:
Orkney Brewery

United Kingdom (Scotland)

Style | ABV
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy | 8.50% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (855), on-tap (3), cask (2).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (9) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by TappaKeggaBrew:

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

3.55/5 rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Almost clear, amber, with a touch of red. The head is 1-finger of off white, fair retention, minimal lacing.

S: Perfumy and floral. Next some citrus notes. Then spicy with white pepper.

T: Very sweet initially, but that does calm down as tart fruit takes over. The hops are an interesting mix of moderate bitterness and citrus, but they aren't overpowering. There is also a faint spiciness late -- not exactly greenpepper, but that's the closest thing I can relate it to -- and a little of the sweet malt appearing again. The lingering taste in the end is a mix of the above, plus a little fatty acid.

M: Moist at first, with good carbonation, but a touch of astringency in the finish. Less boozy than expected -- except for the effects on my brain, I wouldn't have known it was 8.5% ABV by just drinking it.

O: Above average, but not exceptional at all. It just seemed some pieces didn't quite fit together as they should have. Better brews can be had for less.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 00:12:13 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

More User Reviews:

DeekNayvuz

Montana

4/5 rDev -2%

05-22-2013 19:12:58 | More by DeekNayvuz

MacStinson

Michigan

4.75/5 rDev +16.4%

05-21-2013 23:41:41 | More by MacStinson

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5 rDev -2%

05-21-2013 00:41:19 | More by Kmat10

johntfox

Florida

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-21-2013 00:13:02 | More by johntfox

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.2/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dark rusty mahogany with a satiny tan head. Very deep and murky. Etches a few thin lace rings.

Malty dark fruits (plum, raisin, and fig), an exotic yeast with complexity, and robust grain roastiness. Notes of leather and vanilla. Exquisite.

More caramelized dark fruits. Lots of date and fig, but still with malty and savory elements of a Wee Heavy, proper. Plum, leather, tobacco, fig, vinous tones, blackberry, meaty malts, and herbal phenolics. Almost reminiscent of a Belgian Quad. Alcohol is soft and rosy. Some tannic bitterness and a strange presence of earthy aged hops. Hints of spiciness toward the late-middle.

Wooly body with some girth. Still, rather soft, with some thinning alcohol. Carbonation is gentle, but pleasingly so. Nice feel for a big beer.

One of my favorite Scotch Ales. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:11:48 | More by thecheapies

bcuz7

Florida

2.75/5 rDev -32.6%

05-19-2013 21:57:38 | More by bcuz7

Ceballonegro

Ohio

4/5 rDev -2%

05-19-2013 03:52:56 | More by Ceballonegro

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 22:31:08 | More by Photekut

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5 rDev -2%

05-18-2013 13:25:16 | More by InspectorBob

SeasonEnds

Ohio

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 04:46:45 | More by SeasonEnds

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 03:04:35 | More by Casey3236

2GOOFY

California

4/5 rDev -2%

05-16-2013 01:50:42 | More by 2GOOFY

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -2%

05-15-2013 16:51:02 | More by twenty5

Craigory

South Carolina

4/5 rDev -2%

05-15-2013 01:27:07 | More by Craigory

drummermattie02

Texas

4/5 rDev -2%

05-13-2013 14:33:24 | More by drummermattie02

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5 rDev -2%

05-12-2013 17:22:07 | More by mikeburd1128

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

4.45/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Amber brown. Small head. Little carbonation. Some lacing

Aroma: Dried fruits, toffee, caramel, some alcohol

Taste: Sweet almost port wine quality. Alcohol all around. Raisins, caramel, roasted barley, slight oakiness

Mouthfeel: A tad chewy. No carbonation to speak of. Dry

Overall: Great for the style. Certainly worth getting again

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 02:47:48 | More by MistahBeah

Jade

Ohio

3.25/5 rDev -20.3%

05-10-2013 23:54:51 | More by Jade

Bill235

Ohio

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%

05-09-2013 18:16:10 | More by Bill235

stckhndlr

Virginia

3.7/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- a dark cloudy brown with red hues to it. About a finger of creamy head the thins out quickly.

S- Dark fruit notes, figs, and the faint pierce of the alcohol. 8.5% is well hidden. Not overwhelming. As it warms the raisin/fig notes become more dominant as well as the alcohol. Almost reminds me of a barrel aged whiskey with spice.

T- The 8.5% is definitely there. Hits you right off the bat. The dark fruits are next mixing in an earthy peat flavor with a slight bitterness coming in on the finish. Very complex.

M- Creamy medium body.

O- The initial notes and flavors of this one are good. The only thing that didn't sit well was the aftertaste it left. Kind of a bitter alcohol woody taste that just didn't work. The rest of it was delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 23:56:33 | More by stckhndlr