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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?  
 saxo (3572), Højbjerg, Aarhus, Denmark
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Apr 30, 2009  
Bottle. Nice head with good duration. Color is close to black. Aroma and taste are whisky, malt and licorice. Some raisin too.


 FrankJohansen (3367), Århus-Randers Crew, Denmark
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Apr 30, 2009  
Bottle. Dark brown colour with a huge light brown mostly lasting head. Complex aroma and taste of chocolate, malts, fruits, sugar, coffee and whisky. Lasting finish.


 HenrikSoegaard (4323), Randers, Denmark
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/104/514/20
Apr 29, 2009  
Bottle. Creamy excellent mostly lasting head. Amber colour. Moderate malty and hoppy aroma. Perfumed. Heavy bitter flavor. Roasted and smokey. Long finish. Creamy palate.


 dutch23mp (161), Mount Prospect, Illinois, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/105/516/20
Apr 27, 2009    Updated: Jun 7, 2009
OMG pours dark with very smal creamy unlike the 16 year muddy in texture.12 oz bottle pours like motor oil almost more of a stout very smooth the only time the ABV came through was near the finish. YHints of vanilla. strong aroma of roasted malts toffee, molasses, caramel. Wonderful treat.


 andersand (308), Malmö, Sweden
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Apr 27, 2009    Updated: Apr 28, 2009
Thin blackish look with a good beige head. Very clean, sweet and pleasant aroma of chocolate, smoke, ashes and plenty of vious fruit notes. Body is extremely slick, almost too smooth with flavours similar to the mouthfeel. Once you get past the whiskey kick theres a pleasant, smooth fruity base making it fairly entertaining, not for too long though.. The aftertaste is oaky, dry and very lasting.


 Floback (333), Naples, Florida, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/102/516/20
Apr 26, 2009  
Bottle No. 05915. Dated September 2007. This is a semi-viscous pour displaying no head and a body of black color with brown-tinges. The aroma is strong with dark fruits, toffee, and caramel. Flavors are similar to the nose with an aftertaste of smoked cocao and a subtle whiskey bitterness. Flavors are full-bodied but the mouthfeel is surprisingly thin for the style. This is a good beer, but could possibly use more body.


 gnoff (3568), Göteborg, Sweden
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Apr 25, 2009  
33 cl bottle at Haket, Göteborg. Shared with a friend on April 24, 2009
Bottle no 08004 - Bottles Nov 2008 - BB Jan 2012
Black color, brown head. Smooth, sweet, vinous, chocolate, raissin, alcohol scent. Smooth yet almost thi, chocolate, grainy, alcohol taste. Medium mouthfeel, medium bitterness. Big warming alcohol. Dry oak and also licorice aftertaste.


 porterhouse (1152), Alna, Maine, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/517/20
Apr 24, 2009  
(330 ml bottle (Sept. ’07) from Belfast Co-op) Pours black (or nearly) with just a wisp of a dark brown head. Aroma of aged liquor (actually the sweetness of it makes it seem more like brandy than Scotch to me), wood, roast, dark fruit, molasses - nice. Mouthfeel is fairly smooth maybe slightly oily, very lightly fizzy. Very light spots of lacing inside snifter. Flavor of dark molasses, roast, chocolate, aged liquor, wood, perhaps light plum. Warming ABV presence but only slightly hot. Has a very nice old, aged feel to it. Is a bit grassy on the back end which detracted for me, otherwise I was impressed and enjoyed this much more than regular Old Engine Oil.



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