SkullSplitter Orkney Ale

Today we will be reviewing the SkullSplitter Orkney Ale by Orkney Brewery.




The SkullSplitter is available usually in single 11.2 ounce bottles although it can be purchased at some specialty stores in a four-pack. The beer is 8.5% ABV The single bottle price varies around 3-4 dollars. The price for the four-pack is unavailable.

History

The label to this particular brew features a photo representation of "Skull-Splitter", a "7th century Viking Earl of Orkney". Orkney being a set of islands off the coast of Scotland. This would make it, of course, a Scottish ale. But the names in Thorfinn's history read far more interesting than just the label can provide. Thorfinn "Skull-splitter" Turf-Einarsson married the daughter of Thorstein the Red and they had a son who married the daughter of Eric Bloodaxe. Reading up on a history like this, one can only hope that the beer will be as metal as the history reads. Unfortunately, there is little else available in terms of information on Skullsplitter. All I know is that this beer looks like it was taking down bears with a small knife, all the while just waiting for me. Am I intimidated? The answer is "yes" and "my pants are a little wet".

Taste

The initial pour and aroma of Skullsplitter was.... decieving. The beer had a good sweet and dry aroma. There was very little head to speak of upon pouring. What was this? I was expecting it to start swearing in foreign languages right upon being opened. The color was a good reddish-brown copper color, very beautiful throughout but showing a strong reserve.

Then came the tasting.

It was an ambush. The Skullsplitter was not smooth, but it really didn't need (or want) to be. The initial tastes had strong bitter and slightly nutty notes. Though the brew initially attacked the front of the tongue, it started to make it's way back and leave semi-sweet notes. Finally, after the beer had finished rampaging and sacking the countryside of my tastebuds, it left a bitter yet strong and dark aftertaste on the back of my tongue. Overall I appreciated the strong showing, and was more than eager to subject the poor, peace-loving farm folk of my palate to the savage beating once again. This is definitely a choice for the more excited palate.

Food Pairing

Choosing the appropriate food pairing for this beer selection really was not that hard to make. The Skullsplitter had strong bitter and sweet notes with a dominant, satisfying taste. Given that, and the fact that there is a FREAKING VIKING on the front of the bottle, eating anything less than a plate of barbecue ribs would make the All-Father ashamed of you. The tangy taste of ribs with the correct sauce would definitely be the perfect compliment for this beer.

Song

Lastly, we come once again to the whole point of this: the music selection. So, in review, we have a Scottish Ale created in honor of a Viking that was most likely engineered to burn your village down, all the while laughing and having a damn good time. So we are looking at a strong beer that holds no punches, keeps the whole tasting process exciting, and has a good potency to it. Given that description, it really only makes sense to hear "Beer Beer" by Korpiklaani and say that it is pretty much the musical equivalent to this brew. Non-stop ass-kicking, good times, and a good shout make this song appropriate to match this beer.
"Beer Beer" by Korpiklaani on Youtube (offsite)


So, in closing, we reviewed a strong and good showing of an ale. Skullsplitter is a brew that is more or less not afraid and holds no punches. Well crafted bitter and sweet notes compliment the full-body taste and fragrant aroma. In the end, Skullsplitter Orkney Ale receives a 9.25 out of a possible 10.


Until the next round, make sure the only flat notes are the ones in your music, not your beer.


All photos copyright their respective owners. Sources cited : Wikipedia.org and Orkney Ale.

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

For the first review on Same Ol' Song and Drink, we will be taking a look at the Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout.


The drink comes in 1 pint bottles available at most retailers for a little under $5.00. First, we will be taking a quick look at the history of the brew.

History

Oatmeal Stouts such as this one have a strong history, particularly in the U.K. Oatmeal stouts had their starts in medieval England, where ale was actually a type of alcoholic porridge. (Yes, the kind that required chewing. Bleh.) However, the oatmeal stout would fall out of favor during the mid 20th century and not enjoy a strong revival until the Samuel Smith offering was made popular in the 1980's.
Differing from the traditional ingredients of barley and wheat, oats used in beer were usually expected to yield a smoother taste when used in the correct proportion to the brew. Too much would lead to a more bitter taste. The first stouts expected the brew to be around one-third oats, where modern versions now favor a greatly decreased 5%.

Taste

Right out the gate, the Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout is upfront, honest, and not going to whack you over the head with a billy club when you are not looking. The initial taste is a very balanced darker presence without being too strong on the tip or the middle of the tongue. The beginning notes of the beer can best be described as being "hearty" and nothing else. The brew does not feel a need to beat you in the face until you call it manlier than you are.
After the initial tastes, this particular brew then goes on to leave more bitter notes on the sides of the tongue and a slight sweet aftertaste on the back of the tongue if you are really paying attention to it. When all of the tastes are combined, it gives you a very nice "blanket" effect all around the tongue. It more or less covers everything that it needs to, again, without being too strong or dominant in the tastes.
However, since the oatmeal stout does not beat you over the face and the tastes are very simple, that means that the beer has little else to offer aside from that. While it does not stand out very much on the palate, it is still a very formidable offering to other somewhat darker brews.

Food Pairing

The beer has a U.K. background and given the overall calm yet noticeable tastes the beer is offering, I would ideally like to enjoy the beer with a shepherd's pie. Both the beer and the dish would display the appropriate hearty essence while at the same time complementing one another with their strong-but-not-too-strong tones.

Song

Lastly, we get to the very point of SOSD: what song is the equivalent of this beer. The beer puts it all out there and is honest without yelling. It has few components and those mix well together. Bitter? Check. Sweet? Check (barely). So therefore.... bittersweet? You got that right. So with the hearty and strong parts of the ale, those give it a clear "rock" attitude. So if we are looking at this beer as a song, we are looking at a bittersweet, simple, rock anthem. Ladies and gentlemen I point to this beer and hear "My My, Hey Hey" by Neil Young. Both the ale and the amazingly well written and performed song have much in common and are not there to cause screaming and shouting, but rather simplistic enjoyment.
The song by Neil Young on Youtube (offsite)


In the end, due to the Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout giving a solid delivery, but not putting anything extra into the mix, I would have to give this beautiful offering an 8.5 out of a possible 10. Well done, Mr. Smith.

Until the next round, make sure the only flat notes are the ones in your music, not your beer.



All images copyright their respective owners. Sources cited: http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/5_breweries/samsmith_oatmeal_stout.html , Wikipedia.org