Okay fellow suds-heads…it’s time to take a trip overseas.
Not just any place overseas…I’m talking Scotland. We’re heading over to the
home of kilts, awesome battle scenes, castles, and one of the greatest Football
(Soccer) teams on the planet…Celtic FC. Why am I going overseas…because every
once in awhile, you need to see what’s available across the pond. Worldwide
perception right now is that American Craft Beer is on top, but there are Breweries
all over the world that are slowly coming close to what us Yanks have had to
offer. In Europe, their proud brewing tradition continues to drive them, and
Scotland is no exception. This fine brew in my glass tonight goes by the name
of the Skull Splitter…let’s see what the website has to say about it:
THE BEER:
Skull Splitter is our strongest ale: which is named after
Thorfinn Einarsson who was the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney. Sophisticated, satiny
smooth with a deceptively light character, it is a tribute to our colorful
forbear.
On the nose, this strong beer has a fruity malt character,
with hints of dark fruit, spicy hop, dates and figs.
On the palate, rich and complex with sweet toasted malt,
molasses, fresh and dried fruit and hints of warming spices.
Appearance
A crystal-clear, rich tawny-red color beer; a tight, smooth
head with hints of red and amber color
Aroma
Juicy, almost fruity malt character, together with a medley
of fresh and dried fruits, dates and figs, hints of ginger and cinnamon spice,
hints of vanilla
Palate
A rich, fruity, wine-like complexity on the palate includes
fresh and dried fruits, warm exotic spices, and light summer citrus fruits
Key Ingredients
Very best pale ale malt – and plenty of it – together with
crystal and chocolate malts provide a rich, fruity backbone, which is perfectly
balanced by the spicy herbal character of East Kent Goldings hops
THE BREWERY:
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| The Orkney Brewery |
The tranquil Orkney Islands, with their fertile farming
lands and fishing grounds, have been inhabited for over 5000 years. The Orkney
brewery is housed in the former schoolhouse in Quoyloo 1 mile from Skara Brae
in the heart of Neolithic Orkney. The unrushed culture with its traditional
values influences the way we make our beer. We give undivided attention to each
stage of the brewing process to ensure that our beer reaches you in perfect
condition. This timeless approach has helped us win many national and
international awards for both our cask and bottled beers, which we hope you
will enjoy.
ABOUT THE TEAM:
Andrew Fulton – Head
Brewer
Joined the Orkney Brewery in 1994, having graduated from
Heriot-Watt University with a degree in Brewing and Distilling. Tinkers with
the beers to maintain their outstanding quality, and inspires the staff with
his endless diligence in the sampling room.
Favorites
Orkney beer – Red McGregor
Other refreshment – Red wine
Likes – Fly fishing, football, music
Dislikes – gardening in the rain (or at any other time,
really)
Kevin Sarling – 1st
Brewer
Orkney’s leading South Londoner, involved in all sorts of
transport related businesses down south prior to coming ashore in 2005. Found
his true calling in brewing and it has been impossible to stop him brewing
great beers ever since
Favorites
Orkney beer – Dark Island
Other refreshment – Guinness, wine, vodka, port and brandy
Likes – Fun and games, motorsports, fishing
Dislikes – Traffic jams caused by caravans
Magnus Flett –
Brewery Assistant
Born and bred from solid Flett stock in Harray, Magnus
worked on his family farm until he joined us in 2001. He has dedicated himself
to being the face of the Brewery locally and the scourge of weeds generally.
Favorites
Orkney beer – Dragonhead in bottle
Other refreshment – Madiera
Likes – a yarn, foreign “art” cinema, the international
financial markets
Dislikes – travelling, a downturn in commodities.
ABOUT ORKNEY:
Orkney is proud to be home to some of the best-preserved
archaeological sites in Europe, including Neolithic villages, burial tombs and
impressive stone circles. Orkneys 5,500 year-old Neolithic Heartland was
granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1999. This includes the magnificent
Ring of Brodgar. Close by are the Standing Stones of Stenness, Barnhouse
Village and the tomb of Maeshowe, which is considered to be one of the finest
architectural achievements of prehistoric Europe, and is Orkney’s largest and
finest chambered cairn. The Vikings visited Maeshowe during the 12th century
and left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions known.
For any visitor to Orkney, a visit to Skara Brae, only 1
mile from The Orkney Brewery, is essential. It is an incredibly well preserved
stone village containing an intricate maze of dwellings, with stone beds,
lintels and cupboards are all intact, and dates back some 5,000 years. The site
was revealed in 1850 by a violent storm and is now one of the most famous
Neolithic sites in Northern Europe.
The Vikings didn’t only leave their mark on Maeshowe, but
their influence on place names, pattern of settlement, culture and language is
a constant reminder of our Norse heritage. The names of islands and streets in
Orkney are a constant reminder of the past and echo like an Ancient Norse
litany. Along with the Shetland Islands to the north, Orkney remained under
Norse rule until 1468, the last outposts of a dwindling Scandinavian dynasty to
fall under Scottish influence.
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| Orkney Rugby Football Club |
In the heart of Orkney’s main town, Kirkwall lies St Magnus
Cathedral the most spectacular Viking structure. Earl Rognavald built it in
1137, in memory of his uncle Magnus who was earlier murdered by another cousin
Haakon, co-ruler at that time. Today the beautiful sandstone building continues
to be a place of worship for the local people. There are many other structural
remains around the islands to visit including Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces,
Kirkwall; the Round Church, Orphir; Cubbie Roo’s Castle, Wyre; Tomb of the
Eagles, South Ronaldsay; Mine Howe, Tankerness; Earls Palace, Birsay; and the
Brough of Birsay Church, to name a few.
For more recent history that is, even more vivid, go to
Scapa Flow – a 50 square mile expanse of deep water, which forms one of the
largest, sheltered anchorages in the world. Evocative relics of two world wars
lie both within and around the Flow – seven German ships, the Churchill
Barriers with their beached blockships, the inspiring Italian Chapel.
In modern times, The Orkney Brewery is fiercely proud to
have links with the community and subsequently is delighted to be the main
sponsor of the Orkney Rugby Football Club.
THE WEBSITE:
THE REVIEW:
I will be honest, my experience with Breweries from the
Highlands of Scotland is pretty limited…but this one impressed me. There is a
lot going on with this brew. The pour was smooth as silk, and the head was
built at just the right pace, trapping a tremendous amount of flavor within the
confines of your glass. The first sip hints at molasses and spice, as well as overtones
of figs. Halfway through the brew, you definitely get the hints of the fruit
that the Brewery mentions. It is a well-balanced brew. What sealed the deal
however was that my wife, who is NOT a beer drinker loved it. She mentioned the
fact that there was no bitter aftertaste. Keep in mind that this is beer that
clocks in at 8.5% ABV. The fact that she barely noticed the alcohol was a true
selling point. Smooth as silk, and heavy on taste, makes this one brew to look
for.
RATING:
9/10 – Look for it
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