RateBeer

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
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
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?  
 argo0 (6890), 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 (2374), 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.


 thornecb (1757), Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
May 9, 2008  
Pours deep black into a snifter. Offwhite head recedes to hug rim leaving no lacing. Sweet smoke and dark caramel aromas. Slick engine oil upfront with a lasting peaty espresso finish.


 Gusgus (176), Mölndal, Sweden
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
May 8, 2008  
Bottle @ Vinordic 080426. Pours jet black and oily. In your face smokiness from the whisky and a lingering burnt licorice malt background. You can definately recognize the Highland Park on the heathery, salt smokiness. Some dried friuts and bitter orange marmalade is there. Thick mouthfeel, quite like it’s name - old engine oil. Not quite homogenous mix of stout and whisky, the beer comes through a bit too burnt and viscuous. Interesting though.


 Boutip (2348), Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/514/20
May 6, 2008  
Bottle courtesy of goryshkewych: Poured a pitch-black color ale with a medium foamy brown head with good retention retention. Aroma of chocolate with roasted malt is easily identifiable. The roasted malt with some medium notes of chocolate and coffee also dominates taste. Nice creamy body with some good carbonation and no alcohol was discernable. I can’t say that I distinguished a lot of differences form the regular version and likely would stick to that one considering the difference in prices.


 bb (2905), Martinez, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/515/20
May 5, 2008  
Bottle (number 08531). Ruby-black beer with a slight brown head. Big peat, light roast, and oak aroma.Rich caramel, peat, and light roast flavor. Medium bodied. Nice complexity. Barrel aging not too strong. Very drinkable. Stronger, slightly more harsh peat/roast components than the 16.



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC