Skull Splitter - Orkney Brewery

Weizenmensch

Japan

5/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

First of all, this is like no other wee heavy I've ever had. I was just going to enjoy this ale quietly, musing on its merits without reviewing it, because I thought I knew what I was in for.

There are flavours in this beer I've seldom had before, and never all at once: the brewer who created this combination is truly skilled. There are elements of Kelpie Seaweed Ale, and other herbal ales I've tried, but also understated and richly satisfying christmas pudding, pepper and cinnamon flavours.

I'm not one for English nut-brown ales with these flavours normally, as they are usually too overstated. It's easy to make a brown ale with rich raisin, plum and spice notes, but very hard to have them balanced to such an extent that the overall impact isn't astringent and generally unpleasant in the mouth.

Skull Splitter works. It tastes like a seaside brewery - you can taste the bitter herbs, seaweed, sharp hops, and also the rich, flavoursome characteristics of the malts. I will remember this beer, not only for its awesome name and bottle, but for reminding me that ALL styles of beer can truly be made excellently, even the ones I personally am not so naturally attuned to.

Bravo, Norman Sinclair!

P.S. I'm giving this a straight five, but only because it's the best ale of this style I can possibly imagine. I've never had anything close to this in this style. However, I've had other excellent beers in other styles that have approached and sometimes merited a five. When it comes to the Scottish beer world, this is the leader of the pack.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2008 16:05:14 | More by Weizenmensch

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A big, malty beer, with lots of caramel and sweetness. Very different from the other Scotch Ales I've had--a bit more in your faces. And why not considering the name? But still, while others are a bit more subtle, this provides a bold taste keeps you enticed and wanting more. Very tasty and glad I tried this.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 01:51:22 | More by Beer-A-Lot

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

On cask at the brewery.
A - dark chestnut brown gold, slight lacing, dark thick body.

S - dark toffee maltiness, sticky toffee pudding, red fruits with cherries, nice rich caramel, molasses.

T - cherry syrupiness, sweet caramel start, tons of malty sweetness then drying alcohol spice, some herbs and nice dry mildly hoppy finish. Long lingering finish.

M - big, malty body, yet a light fruity element, coating caramel feel.

Found this overly sweet with tons of caramel brown sugar dextrose but still some nice hop character coming through. It holds the alcohol strength really well but I was expecting a bit more from this, tasty and full bodied though, I have a bottle so will have to do a reappraisal soon.

Serving type: cask

06-18-2013 20:15:16 | More by mick303

swinyeju

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-16-2013 15:45:00 | More by swinyeju

12packpoet

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

06-16-2013 01:59:34 | More by 12packpoet

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.94/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

in many ways the quintessential scotch ale, although not my favorite one out there. it pours a syrupy dark bock color, dense, with a small off white head showing very little carbonation. the nose is peaty but not smoky like some tend to be. its alcohol is obvious, and its sweet grain is saturated with a toasted aroma and a very earthy vibe. no hops to speak of. the taste is like birch syrup or something lighter and a little less sweet than maple. the texture is like that too. earthy, right from the soil sort of autumn compost heaviness really challenges me in warmer weather, but I am imagining a cold snowy night in front of a fire, a much more enjoyable setting for this brew. I love the grain features, complex and rich. the feels is odd, but I like it. its thick, almost sticky in my mouth, lacking carbonation. American scotch ales have bastardized this intentional weight with high carbonation gimmicks and lighter grain bills, but this feels more authentic, although very heavy and hard to drink a whole bottle. it improves as it warms, and just takes me to the dead of winter. its a nice beer, but not the first scotch ale I would reach for, even though its authenticity is appreciated.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 14:54:07 | More by StonedTrippin

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Clear copper pour with a tall tan head, very compact. Slow dissipation leaves rich lacings.

S: Sour and tart. Cherry kernel bitterness. Very rich and sweet maltyness - molasess. Dark dried fruits.

T: Rich sweet malt, caramell. Molasses. A bit sour. Dark dried fruits. Very complex. Some alcohol.

M: Full thick body and low carbonation makes this a very smooth beer. Aftertaste is rather short and very sweet.

O: A nice and complex Wee Heavy. The high ABV adds to the complexity.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 19:02:41 | More by Sunnanek

Lanstrum

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-12-2013 03:22:11 | More by Lanstrum

Lpfanatic87

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

06-11-2013 15:39:29 | More by Lpfanatic87

kyle86

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

06-10-2013 11:59:25 | More by kyle86

WaterCzar

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-08-2013 04:16:52 | More by WaterCzar

lonewolfcry

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-08-2013 03:51:04 | More by lonewolfcry

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

06-07-2013 01:34:35 | More by ZEB89

ajzy

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2%

06-01-2013 15:56:42 | More by ajzy

zdeck37

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-31-2013 02:01:50 | More by zdeck37

cannunzi

Florida

2/5  rDev -51%

05-29-2013 19:33:37 | More by cannunzi

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%

05-27-2013 19:45:59 | More by BeerForMuscle

RyanTheLion13

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-27-2013 02:11:22 | More by RyanTheLion13

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-27-2013 01:07:09 | More by NightINgale

bigbelcher

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Great full bodied Scotch Ale, travels well from Scotland because of the high alcohol. Deep rich color with some red hues. Malty, sweet and strong. Very satisfying. Pairs well with a good steak. No hop aroma or flavor but there really shouldnt be ny in this beer. If you are looking for a smokey scotch ale well then this isn't it. It is clean and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 19:40:08 | More by bigbelcher

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-26-2013 19:32:12 | More by mikeincharleston

SpruceMoose

Australia

4.86/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

It's going to be extremely hard for me to not be ridiculously biased in this review. I love, love, love my scotch ales and I especially love Skull Splitter. It's my bloody avatar, for god's sake. However, after trying several other scotch ales, I decided to return to the good old Orkney brew and compare it to others I've enjoyed in the past couple of months. Almost nothing has changed (what a surprise, he lied).

Serving Type: 330ml bottle poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: An aggressive pour leaves a dark-brown opaque body with a thick white head. Bewdeful.

Smell: Chicory, caramel, toffee, plum, apricot and wood(?) dominate the nostrils, with some subtle booziness unraveling itself as smelling persists. It literally begs for me to take that first, prolonged sip. Oh, temptress!

Taste: Wham! There's so much going on here that it's hard to isolate the flavours. Fruitiness, nuttiness, bitterness, sourness...it's all here. Wrapped up in a neat little bow (or glass?) for you to enjoy.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light for a scotch ale, but not to the point where it comes off as watery and plain. The body is definitely there, but it takes a few sips to truly embrace the intensity of this ale. The taste throws the first punch, and the developing body is the knockout hit.

Overall: There's a reason I hold Skull Splitter above the many other scotch ales I've had, and that's because I'm biased. But why, you scream and point accusingly? Because it's simply everything you'd want in a beer of its kind (strong caramelised taste, decent strength, consistent body) plus more. Open a bottle, take a sip and split your skull. Split it beyond the point of repair. You won't regret it.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 13:37:13 | More by SpruceMoose

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

05-25-2013 08:46:55 | More by vicsju1991

ramblinwreck101

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-24-2013 23:20:22 | More by ramblinwreck101

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-24-2013 04:34:34 | More by Phillyz