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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old)

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old)

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 Percentile 
96
overall
An Old Ale brewed by
Harviestoun

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
1853.79/5.03.78/5.0Special8%92.9English pint, Snifter P  Stats

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?  
 nearbeer (1388), 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....


 Bov (4744), Bienne, Switzerland
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Jun 2, 2008    Updated: Jun 4, 2008
<i>courtesy of Laurent Mousson</i> - dark black colour with a little dark beige head; roasted aroma of dark chocolate and cocoa, rich and robust; a touch of vanilla and highland whisky; oily and full-bodied, very bitter; long bitter chocolatey, roasted aftertaste - what a beer!


 dwyerpg (2143), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/58/105/518/20
Jun 13, 2008  
What an aroma! should get a 12! Flavor doesn’t start with ehaviness but it grows into an intense finish. Sweet and intense, yet it doesn’t seem to strong. Best aroma of the bunch.


 Cobra (1041), In the snake pit, Maryland, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/105/518/20
Mar 20, 2008  
11.2 oz. brown, longneck bottle. Number 19403/Sept 2007 date code on front label. Poured out an inky black, viscous and almost still. Aromas are definite whiskey barrel, oak, vanilla, and barrel house funk. Flavors are of vanilla, oak wood, burnt sugars, honey coated espresso beans, strong roasted malts. Wildflower honey in the finish. Not your typical Old Ale by any means. Finished like a Turkish coffee spiked with a shot of Scotch Whisky. Damn tasty ale overall.


 GreatLibations (1330), Sasquatcho, Arizona, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/58/104/520/20
Apr 17, 2008  
Here we go folks. This one pour blackish with a modest spattered head that reduces slowly leaving behind textbook lacework. The aroma is delicious to say the least with an aroma I remember from childhood. It was a smoky marinade recipe for pork chops that my grandfather held close to his vest. It was an aroma that made my mouth water. Smoky Worcestershire, leather, iodine, grilled steak, and dough. Medium nectar and low carbonation with soft and creamy effers. Mildly sweet and smoky with a moderate roast. A defined and penetrating bittering component adds to this complex brew a worthy drinkability. Flavors of smoky sweet malts, roasted peat and coffee bean, leather, iodine, Worcestershire sauce, cocoa, aspirin. The finish is bittered well and a smoky lingering like a fire put out stains my palate. Overall: this is a rather exotic brew with defined barrel influence although mild. It’s refined rather than over the top and very delicious indeed.



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