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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?  
 radiomgb (1957), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Jul 4, 2009  
Deep black in colour with a thin lingering beige head, light lacing. The aroma is of smoke, chocolate, roasted malts, cream with a moderate sweetness. The flavour is smoky, some light chocolate sweetness, smooth with a bit of alcohol. Lightly bitter mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes long, smoky and warming.

This started off rather slowly and seemed a bit thin at first, but it did start to pick up. Rather one dimentional though.

330ml bottle from Sahara Mart in Bloomington, Indiana.
Opened on December 19, 2008.
Bottle #12924, Bottled September 2007.


 Jblauvs (549), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 29, 2009  
dark dark borwn pour, no head. peaty roasty malty vinous notes. mouth is thick, smokey, chocolate malt bomb. a bit of coffee and chalk in the finish. great sipper


 craftycarl21 (542), South Hero, Vermont, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 29, 2009  
Black pour with absolutely no head. Aroma is beautiful; vinous notes, dark fruit, caramel, molasses, roasted malt, peat, smoke are all heavily prevalent. Upon delving into the flavor, heavy concepts of smoke, peat, chocolate, booze, and heavy malt abound. Palate could be a bit fuller, but greatly drinkable considering the density and complexity of the flavors. Really really nice.


 oteyj (744), Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 29, 2009  
Extremely dark brown pour with zero head. Aroma is smoky peat, some vinous notes, whiskey, and roasty malt. Flavor is chocolate, roast and smoke. Sweet malt is accentuated by the distinct presence of dark fruit, and a very dry burnt roasted malt. Incredible.


 curly (580), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/104/515/20
Jun 25, 2009  
Pours near black with a tan head. Chocolate and caramel aroma. Creamy feel with flavors of oak, choc, and coffee. Very smooth roast finish.


 henrikb (1303), Aarhus, Denmark
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Jun 25, 2009  
Black body with a fluffy light brown head; Excellent aroma, the whisky is very well integrated as a full sharp background, in front of it there are layers of fruit, oak, caramel and chocolate malt notes, very good; Very pleasant body, very full velvet soft textured, very well balanced, slightly thin but it fit perfectly with the velvet softness, that could easily have become to much if the beer had been to chocolate full and sweet; It dies a little to fast in the finish, there are lots and long whiskey aromas but the fell of the beers disappears a little to fast. Very pleasant and I think the most drinkable of the 3 I have had.


 danielcurtis81 (886), San Diego, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/517/20
Jun 21, 2009  
Bottle. Pours a rich velvety ruby black with a nice deep brown head. Nose of whiskey, chocolate, and caramel. Flavors also of whisky, dark chocolate, smoked sausage and roasty malts. Really smooth and good beer. The other vintage barrels should be good too.


 TimE (1301), Tokyo, Japan
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 16, 2009  
Decent stuff. Had it against a couple of paradoxes. Much more subtle and balanced. Unlike Paradoxes, it doesn’t try to be too much one way or the other, the impy comes through fine then the whisky shines after that. Good and veyr drinkable.



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