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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old)

Percentile
97
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3053.8/5.03.78/5.0Special8%95English pint, Snifter
Commercial Description:
Ola Dubh (or ‘Black Oil’) is a collaboration between Harviestoun Brewery and Highland Park, Distiller of the Year*. It is based on Harviestoun’s award-winning Old Engine Oil. With more than a stylistic nod to the classic Imperial Porters (and Stouts) of the nineteenth century, this deliciously rich, dark, 8% a.b.v. beer is the first ale to be aged in malt whisky casks from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, the rest with genuine provenance. Ola Dubh will initially be available in three different expressions; the initial release will be of small batches aged in casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 12 Year Old, Highland Park 16 Year Old and Highland Park 30 Year Old. Further variants are planned for the future. Ola Dubh is, in the words of beer afficionado Owen D.L. Barstow: “The most interesting new British beer I have tried in years.”
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 puzzl (2619), New York, New York, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jan 28, 2009  
Cask at Rattle’n’Hum. Muggy, whisky and oxidized malt aroma, plenty of prune, vanilla. Good body, lightish briney whiskey, corn meal. Nice and thick, but pretty much just a typical whiskey overload. Works fairly well though.


 PorterPounder (3137), Tallahassee, Florida, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/104/516/20
Jan 23, 2009  
Tallahassee, Fl. - Liquor Loft - 12 oz bottle - bottle #20892/Sept 2007. Viscous, black as tar pour with a thin khaki colored head that rings the glass. In the front end, warming flavor, with some hints of licorice, pipe tobacco, and some smoky notes. As it settles, some sherry notes wander in, with hints of raisins and just a hint of chocolate. Finishes with just a hint of Scotch - reminding you of where this had been aged. Mouthfeel is warm and thickish. Excellent winter warmer.


 Sigmund (2275), Hafrsfjord, Norway
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/105/516/20
Jan 22, 2009  
330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Bottle No. 04062. ABV is 8.0%. Pitch black colour, big to moderate and creamy tan head. The whisky oak cask with peaty smoke and notes of vanilla and sherry comes through immediately in the aroma, followed by notes of roastiness (roast malts, coffee) and chocolate. The flavour has loads of rich malty sweetness, immediately followed by distinct notes of peaty smoke - it is quite amazing what impact the whisky cask has. Dark chocolate in the middle. The finish has a firm bitterness from the hops and burnt malts, while the peaty smoke lasts through the long aftertaste. A truly impressive beer, but if you don’t like scotch whisky at all, this might not be the beer for you. Not easy drinking, but a great sipping beer, and a real treat for any lover of peatiness.


 notalush (2647), Denver, Colorado, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Jan 16, 2009  
Pours looking like an imperial stout, thick black, with a soapy head, but very low carbonation - initially, the nose has the dry, earthy, peaty character of the whiskey, but deeper whiffs reveal chocolate, smoke, roasted malts, oak - the peaty notes of the scotch remain the dominant aroma, though, and it is wonderful - very low carbonation, slick mouthfeel - the whiskey is less apparent in the flavor at first - chocolate and roasted malts manifest first - however, that lovely, peaty, earthy, dry scotch flavor eventually comes through, especially in the finish - some warming alcohol on the tail end enhances the whiskey flavors - if you are a fan of scotch, you have to try this - now I just might shell out the coin for the 30 year.


 maniac (2628), Richmond, Virginia, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/516/20
Jan 16, 2009  
Bottle #06444 from September 2007. Sampled on 09/20/2008. Dark black body with a small frothy light brown head. Smokey malty caramel aroam with some molassas and faint scotch. Sweet caramel and scotch flavor, some peat, smoke and a bit of chocolate. Medium full body with low carbonation.


 DKTN (110), Mc Donald, Tennessee, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Jan 11, 2009  
Pours solid black with a very small tan head. Whisky alcohol aroma. Thick mouthfeel with whisky flavor dominant. Malt heavy. Dry finish that leaves a distinct burning alcohol sensation in your mouth. I look forward to comparing this to 30 year version.


 IMtheOptimator (1161), Bethel, Connecticut, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/515/20
Jan 9, 2009  
Bottle 3313, Sept 2007. Poured a thick black with a creamy light brown head. Light aroma of caramel, toffee, coffee, some faint tobaccoish whiskey notes. Flavor is soft but complex with notes of oak, scotch, roasted chocolate, and tobacco, leading to a bitter finish. Alcohol well hidden. Started out full and complex but got more watery through the glass... not completely sure why.


 RichJ7 (1175), Cullman, Alabama, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jan 8, 2009  
Shiny black pour with a tiny off-white head, almost non-existent. Malty aroma, slight touch of whiskey. Flavor is rich, dark malt with a touch of the whiskey cask in there. Subtle, though. Smooth, silky mouthfeel. Nice.



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