Orkney (Sinclair) Dark Island

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The Wrong 'Un, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Nov 2023	In surprisingly good condition with all its bitterness accentuated

The Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Nov 2023	Every bit as excellent as that in The Wrong 'Un earlier this evening
Philip Pirrip		14 Nov 2023	Absolutely delightful form, holding creamy head and lacing
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Nov 2023
Philip Pirrip		04 Oct 2023	Went down well, albeit slowly
Philip Pirrip		06 May 2019

The Marine Hotel, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

The Great Harry, Woolwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		05 Nov 2023	Far too creamy to have been correctly served

The Carpenters Arms, Windsor, Berkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		27 Oct 2023	Dark smooth malty and unexciting..
Wittenden		24 Sep 2011	A wonderful dark christmas pudding of a beer,dried fruit with the tantalising sourness of a late autumn to come.

The Phoenix, Denmark Hill, Greater London

The Halladale Inn, Melvich, Highland

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		30 Jul 2022	Lovely, rich dark ale.

The Brockley Barge, Brockley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		28 Jan 2022	In fantastic condition and smooth with it

The Mitre, Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		27 Jan 2020	A ridiculous price of £5.05pp for the suburbs, which will not entice a foreseeable return visit

St Machar Bar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Rochford Beer & Cider Festival 2019, Rochford, Essex

The Cafe Royal, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of

Beerhouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

The Merchant, Glasgow, Glasgow, City of

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		13 Jul 2019	A beer I used to love but now rarely see.

The Alfred Herring, Palmers Green, Greater London

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

The Grill, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Tap East, Stratford, Greater London

The Wheel Alehouse, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		24 Jan 2016	Last one out but perfectly drinkable

The Rake, Southwark, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		22 Jul 2015	A really good, dark, fruity beer.

Hoop & Grapes, Aldgate, Central London

Sir Christopher Hatton, Chancery Lane, Central London

The Wellington, Covent Garden, Central London

The Regal, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Hamilton Hall, City, Central London

The Willow Walk, Victoria, Central London

The Crosse Keys, City, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	12 Jan 2015
Martin the Mildman		28 Jul 2009	Smooth, dark velvety strong mild/stout type ale. My score 16/20.
Ian	Not Tried	21 Oct 2008

Carriages, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

The Berry, Walmer, Kent

The Corryvreckan, Oban, Argyll and Bute

Blue Blazer, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of

The Guildford Arms, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of

The Railway, Blackheath, Greater London

Dartford Working Men's Club, Dartford, Kent

The Magpie, City, Central London

The Eagle, Hoxton, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		06 Jan 2014	Enthusiastically recommended by the barmaid who had got bladdered on it the previous week

Bruce's Well, Troon, South Ayrshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		04 Jul 2013

The Congress Inn, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Nick Willis		04 Jun 2013
Nick Willis	Not Tried	16 May 2013

The Richmal Crompton, Bromley, Greater London

The Six Templars, Hertford, Hertfordshire

Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		07 Mar 2013	Badged as Corncrake this was from the bottom of the cask. Tired and tasteless. Staff exchanged it but wanted to charge ne again. No, thank you.

The Falcon, Battersea, Greater London

The Market Porter, Southwark, Central London

Krakatoa (formerly The Moorings Bar), Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick	Not Tried	08 Sep 2012
Ian	Not Tried	28 Jul 2012
Pedro		20 Jul 2012
Andrew	Not Tried	06 Jul 2012
Ian		06 Jul 2012	Good malty beer.
Brian		05 Dec 2009	This was really good. A bit resinous and slightly sour with a smokey edge.
Mick		03 Dec 2009	Others were raving over this so maybe it's me but it seemed to have a strange taste but still OK.
Blair		22 Oct 2009	This beer is an old favourite of mine, one of the first I ever tasted and really liked. So this was a bit of nostalgia for me really. Loads of chocolate, oats and slightly sour. Lovely.

The Ale House, Chelmsford, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		11 Jul 2012	This wasn't on at the Chelmsford beer fest so chose to sample it here. On top form, a black roasted beer with coffee and chocolate notes. Midway between strong mild and stout. My score 16/20.

The Last Inn, Oswestry, Shropshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Bear & Ragged Staff		15 Jun 2012	A dark beer with the usual dark flavours all nicely balanced. Not a heavy beer which made it easily drinkable.

Old Blackfriars, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

The Duchess (formerly The Duchess of Cambridge), Hammersmith, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		01 Dec 2011	Rather tired sample, roast malt but little else to back it up with a rather vineous finish. My score 14/20 with B for quality.

Ye Olde Thirsty Pig, Maidstone, Kent

The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		05 Oct 2011	Very nice dark beer.

Aitchie's Ale House, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		15 Jul 2011

The Archibald Simpson, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Royal Dunkeld Hotel, Dunkeld, Perthshire and Kinross

The Parkwood Hotel, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham

Who	Score	When	Notes
davidg83		09 Jun 2011	Near black colour. Chocolate notes with sour aftertaste. Liquorice nose with very thin head. Nice.

Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent

Artillery Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		02 Mar 2011	Smoky, oily old ale. Smooth and velvety.

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian	Not Tried	19 Feb 2011
Pedro		19 Feb 2011
Angie		19 Feb 2011

01st Amber Valley Beer & Cider Festival (The Ripley Rail Ale Festival), Ripley, Derbyshire

The Humphrey Bean, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		18 Jul 2010	I think this was fairly well down the cask as it had picked up a sort of underlying fruitcake taste, but still dominated by the rich roast maltiness characteristic of this beer. My score 16/20.

The Paper Moon, Dartford, Kent

Globe, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		15 May 2010	Some chocolate and fruit aromas and initially smooth but thin in the mouth. Unexpected burnt bitterness in the finish.

Oyster Brewery Bar, Ellenabeich, Seil Island, Argyll and Bute

The Sugar Loaf, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen		03 Sep 2009	Lovely full malt fruitiness full mouth feel in this dark ruby ale

Far from the Madding Crowd, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2009, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		10 Apr 2009	Sinclair Dark Island it's called. Umm. I've had this before a number of times and it's a great beer... well it was a great beer. Don't know what this beer was. Watery weak sharp briney. Not the Dark Island I know.

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		11 Oct 2008	Coffee and liquorice. Too much liquorice on the after taste for me.
Ian	Not Tried	03 Apr 2008

The Haywain, Bramling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		27 Sep 2008	Smoky aroma, sour fruit dominates. Excellent.
Andrew	Not Tried	27 Sep 2008

Montefiore Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		06 Sep 2008	Lovely pint. Rich silky old ale. Nice chocolate flavour with a slight sourness at the end. Delicious.

Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		27 Nov 2007	Maybe had cider in the glass before, maybe young as had green apple flavour. Tight sparkler blands the flavour. Shame.

Coastguard, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		07 Nov 2007	Good malty dark beer in great condition.

Tennent's, Glasgow, Glasgow, City of

The State Bar, Glasgow, Glasgow, City of

Halfway House, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of

Who	Score	When	Notes
Colin		15 Mar 2007

Behind the Wall, Falkirk, Falkirk

Who	Score	When	Notes
Charles		21 Apr 2006	Beer turnover seems to be good here these days and the result is excellent quality beers all the time. A chocolatey favourite - can never resist it.
Charles		10 Feb 2006
Charles		09 Feb 2006

Four Marys, Linlithgow, West Lothian

Who	Score	When	Notes
Charles		17 Apr 2006	Fantastic dark chocolatey ale.

The Yew Tree Inn, Barfrestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		11 Mar 2006	A rich dark red-black beer with a partial cream-grey head. It tasted of a rich sharp sweetness with undertones of milk and oats. The finish was a lovely sweet milky bitterness.