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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old)

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old) - Old Ale

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 Percentile 
97
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
3013.8/5.03.78/5.0Special8%95English pint, Snifter
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 alafito (334), tijuana, Mexico
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
May 25, 2008  
The most impresive palate ive felt in a beer. Tastes of oatmeal, wiskey, wood and roasted malts, honey and sweet chocolate with a dry finish of lingering hops (or sour grapes?) and a bit of smokeiness too. Very niicely done.


 jaymobrown (1343), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/102/513/20
May 22, 2008  
Pours super dark black with no head. Super dark. Oatmeal nose. Strong alcohol taste. The alcohol is probably the most predominate feature. Sweet taste with some sugar.


 hotstuff (3175), Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
May 21, 2008  
Bottle No. 12948 Dated Sept. 2007. Small light brown head that mostly diminished, no lacing, opaque, no visible carbonation, and a black hue with a red tint. The aroma was roasty, chocolate, malt, alcohol, and hints of smoke. The flavor was semi-sweet, roasty, chocolate, malt, wood, scotch, vinuous, and finishes dry. Slightly tingly, oily mouthfeel and medium-full bodied. A very, very delicious, interesting and well crafted beer that left me wanting more and more and more. Definitely worthy of a try and one I will seek out again.


Peregrinari (53), Washington, Washington DC, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
May 15, 2008  
Bottle Number 19546 (Thanks Argo0!) Vertical of 12 - 16 - 30 years. Aroma on this beer is nice with notes of molasses, peat, some mild coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and dried fruit. Flavor is quite good with dried dark fruit, mild yeast, molasses alcohol and vanilla. Finish is sweet with mild sourness and stickyness. Flavor lingers a bit long for my taste. Overall, a nice drink but not one I would buy regularly. See 16 and 20 years for comparisons.


 argo0 (6861), Washington DC, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
May 15, 2008  
(33cl bottle, #19546, Sept07, vertical with the 16 & 30) Black body with small, quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma is medium sweet, caramel, vanilla, plum/raisin, some smoke, molasses. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, smoke/roast, light lactic sourness, plum. Light alcohol burn. Medium-full body, some stickiness. Scotch is complementary rather than overpowering.


 Walt (2289), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
May 15, 2008  
Drank as a vertical of 12, 16, and 30: Pour is opaque black with a thin skin of a tan head...roasty molasses and chocolate nose...some alcohol too...taste is roasty and sweet with smoke and wood and some peaty flavors too...tasty...


 RagallachMC (631), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
May 14, 2008  
11.2 oz bottle. Bottle #01532. Aroma: Roasted malt, caramel, light peaty smoke, chocolate, wood, and some light fruit. Appearance: Black in color with no highlights. Medium tan head was medium sized and frothy with good retention. Fair lacing. Flavor: Roasty malt with a lot of wood, peat smoke, and caramel. Alcohol, coffee, and a touch of vanilla. Finishes with a fair amount of roasted malt bitterness and wood. Palate: Medium-light bodied. Moderate carbonation. Overall: Nice barrel flavors, a decent underlying beer, but the mouthfeel seems to buckle under all the flavors. Need to find the 16 and 30.


 aracauna (2357), Georgia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/516/20
May 11, 2008  
I wish I’d known that there was a 30 year when I found the 12 and 16 year. Oh, well. It’ll have to be tasted another time, if at all. This is a pretty well-done whisky-barrel-aged beer. The beer itself is fairly light in body (for its size) and lacking the aggressive flavor of it’s American counterparts, it could have easily been overwhelmed by the whisky. As it is, there’s a definite, but reserve note of alcohol, a bit of char and vanilla. A little cocoa underneath that.



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