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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old) 3.8 288

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old)

Percentile
98
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
2883.82/5.03.8/5.08%96.2English 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?  
 jkwalking05 (1501), Arlington, Texas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/103/516/20
Feb 17, 2009  
Deep brown in color with a small tan head. Aroma is of oak, whiskey, chocolate, molasses, and toffee. Taste is of oak, molasses, vanilla and whiskey.


 paiste2002 (158), Saugus, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/517/20
Feb 15, 2009  
Pours dark brown with almost no head. Aroma is smoke or maybe peeted malt, oak, whiskey very pleasing. Flavor is smoke, oak, coffee, malt. Medium body with a great warming whisky finish. Very nice.


 Ughsmash (4102), Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/103/514/20
Jan 23, 2009  
Bottled. Poured deep brown, but rather clear with a tan head that stuck around for a short while. The aroma picked up sweet whiskey over baker’s chocolate in a very nice presentation.. charred smoke and oaky notes highlighted.. warm and inviting. I didn’t like the malt bill as much in the flavor department with less-defined chocolate and other black malts down there.. whiskey was present from the initial tangy impression on the tip of the tongue through long after the finish.. touch rough, but it kept me interested.. kiss of vanilla sweetness joined the whiskey and semi-sweet chocolate on the finish. Medium-bodied and dry on the palate with some tacky feel on the back.. OK flow, but not as smooth as the 30.


bookman10 (95), Osseo, Minnesota, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/103/514/20
Jan 23, 2009  
Pours a very dark, caramel color, with little, if any, head. Very complex variety of flavors--some smoke, some sweet vanilla and molasses, a bit coffee and chocolate. Overall, just a bit too sweet to my taste, but certainly worth a try.


 maniac (2774), Richmond, Virginia, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/105/517/20
Jan 16, 2009  
Bottle #02075 from September 2007. Sampled on 09/20/2008. Dark black body with a medium frothy light brown head. Sweet scotch aroma, some light smoke and caramel. Sweet scotch flavor, some peat, caramel, and light smoke. Medium full body with low carbonation and a smooth finish.


 TheBeerGod (3177), Newport News, Virginia, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/103/517/20
Jan 3, 2009  
Bottle. Labeled 02014/Sept 2007. Black pour with a frothy tan head. Aroma is very peaty with roasted malts, light vanilla, molasses, burnt wood and smoke. Taste is delicious! Smoke, burnt wood, light vanilla, peat, molasses, treacle and light scotch. Very tasty! Body is light-medium to medium with soft, almost faint carbonation feel on the tongue. Rather smooth overall. Light warmth as well. Ends with a bit less of the smokiness in it, more roasted malts, vanilla, wood and treacle. Can’t wait to try the 30!


 HonkeyBra (1403), Lemont, Illinois, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jan 3, 2009  
Bottle 08997, from sept 2007. Black pour with a tan head. Aroma is expensive scotch: vanilla, smoke, peat. Flavor is subtly scotchy, with some chocolate and slight bitterness. Lots of smoke and oak. Really nice and warming, loved it.


 Syd (911), Waconia, Minnesota, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/515/20
Dec 30, 2008  
Bottle 09899 September 2007 pours black with a creamy surface haze foam. The aroma is smoke, wood, malts, dark fruits, and peat. The flavor is smoke, vanilla, and dried plums. The palate is smooth and silky. Overall, good, but glad I got it on sale.



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