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Dark Island

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A smooth, complex Scottish dark ale inspired by the ancient Norse brewing traditions of Orkney. Rich roasted malt, dark chocolate and a hint of peat smoke with a mellow finish.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedmaltychocolate
roasted
malty
chocolate
smoky
toasty
earthy
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent roasted malt and dark chocolate notes, complemented by subtle hints of peat smoke and coffee undertones that whisper of Orkney's ancient brewing traditions.
also:dark fruit
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dark Island

◎ Appearance

Dark Island presents a deep mahogany to near-black hue with excellent clarity, revealing its true color when held to light. A modest tan head forms with good retention, topped by fine carbonation bubbles that create an inviting visual presentation befitting its heritage.

deep mahoganycleartan headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent roasted malt and dark chocolate notes, complemented by subtle hints of peat smoke and coffee undertones that whisper of Orkney's ancient brewing traditions. Warm caramel sweetness balances the deeper roasted character without overwhelming the senses.

roasted maltdark chocolatepeat smokecoffee

◐ Taste

The palate delivers a rich, malty foundation with pronounced roasted and caramel flavors that create excellent complexity. Mid-palate reveals dark fruit notes and subtle nuttiness, while moderate bittering (28 IBU) provides pleasant balance without aggression, allowing the malt-forward character to dominate.

maltyroastedcarameldark fruit

◑ Finish

A smooth, clean finish follows with lingering roasted and chocolate notes that fade gracefully without harshness. The mellow aftertaste demonstrates excellent craft and restraint, leaving a pleasant grain sweetness.

clean finishsmoothlingering chocolate
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
81
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
82
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Dark Island

More from Orkney Brewery

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Skull Splitter
Scottish Ale
8.5% · 20 IBU
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About Scottish Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Scottish Ale?

Scottish Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Scottish Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, malty, rich character as Dark Island will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Scottish Ales in hopIQ

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