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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?  
 Beerman6686 (1281), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Aug 20, 2008  
Pours a very dark brown color with a small off white head. Aroma is of sweet malts, and bourbon. Flavor is much the same, really sweet, covers up the alcohol very well but the whiskey is still there but blends in well.


 Dogbrick (2855), Columbus, Ohio, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Aug 18, 2008    Updated: Aug 29, 2008
Bottle #25197 from The Anderson’s. The beer pours nearly black with a medium thin and foamy beige head that recedes slowly. Rings of lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet malt and molasses, plus a bit of espresso. Medium-bodied with a nice roasty character. Flavors of burnt malt, coffee and oak. Whisky notes are very subtle. The finish is roasty and sweet with a lingering malty aftertaste. Very good overall, but it better be considering the price tag. I will definitely look for the 16 and the 30 after trying this.


 Immy (1912), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Aug 14, 2008  
11.2 oz bottle, #06629/Sept 2007. Black with a small brown head. Rich, sweet nose, molasses, caramel and vanilla, thick malt. Smooth medium body, silky. Somewhat sweet flavors of smoky molasses and roasty malt, whiskey is apparent but works well with the other flavors, adds a touch of booziness. A nice sipper - complex, tasty, not overbearing and rather drinkable.


2L2L2Q (3), decatur, Georgia, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old) does not count
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/103/515/20
Aug 12, 2008  
bottle 11290, Sept 07. Smelled strongly of molasses and poured a very smooth dark color. Tasted like a combination of molasses and coffee. I expected a stronger whiskey taste and smell which I didn’t get but it did leave a nice warm feeling in my belly. Really enjoyed it but at the price, not a beer i would drink all the time.


 nbutler11 (741), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/514/20
Aug 10, 2008  
Poured like espresso from the bottle with a tirm head of tan foam that quickly dissapates. Brimming with the flavors of smoke and pete. Syruppy body with plenty of heat on the finish.


 drfabulous (1235), Columbia, Missouri, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/516/20
Aug 3, 2008  
Very unlike the bourbon aged beers I’ve come to like. Strong taste of scotch whiskey greets you as you smell the beer. The taste lingers throughout the stout. Not like anything I’ve had before. Still trying to work out some of the flavors.


 nearbeer (1834), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
4.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/105/520/20
Jul 31, 2008  
33cl, bottle no 11322, Sept 07. Opaque black with the creamiest, lasting inch of non-nitro head you’ll ever see. Smoky-sweet aroma of chocolate, molasses, and hickory-smoked pork. Flavor is a superb blend of the same with some dark fruit, vanilla, charred oak barre, caramel and whiskey. Heavy body is smoooooth and lightly oily, with just enough warming and drying on the finish. Brilliant sipper that could be a gulper. I didn’t give this one a 5.0 because Nirvana is the only place for that, but oh my Buddha....


 jeffwilliams11 (310), hooterville, Michigan, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Jul 27, 2008  
bottle number 3630, brewed sept 07. heavy aroma of whisky and chocolate/coffee. fairly syrupy, a little sweet, but balanced out well by the bite of whisky. flavor changes about three times as the glass warms closer to room temp. yum...



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