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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (30 Year Old)

Percentile
99
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
2903.94/5.03.92/5.08%98.5English 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?  
 caesar (3032), Bunnik/Utrecht, Netherlands
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/516/20
Jul 26, 2008  
Bottled. Clear redbrown color, short head. Aroma of peat, whisky, oak casks. Slight burning ashy taste, peat, slight roasted. Nice balance. Great beer.


 Odeed (1673), Bakersfield, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/516/20
Jul 25, 2008  
aroma is more rounded with this one.more vanilla and scotch coming out.better head as well.flavor is well rounded as well.the best of the 3.


 after4ever (2711), Brier, Washington, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/105/515/20
Jul 25, 2008  
Draft at Uber. Black, light golden amber highlights. Thin gray rim. Nice dark tree fruit and smoke on the nose. Creamy, smooth, delectable...lots of flavor but very harmonious. Mild finish. Nice to be able to compare tap and package with such a relatively small release. Great stuff.


 DaSilky1 (1970), San Diego, California, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/105/517/20
Jul 22, 2008    Updated: Aug 4, 2008
Draft: I’ve gone like 2 1/2 years without really rating beers...I would rate a beer here and there, but I haven’t had much time to keep up with the craft brewing industry...and now that Im getting back to rating, I’m finding that there’s so many new beers out there to rate, that I’m having as much fun as i did when i first started rating beers...up to a few years ago, it was hard as hell for me to find a beer offered that I hadn’t already had...things have changed. How lovely. This beer here, this was fucking lovely. Lovely Lovely Lovely! at $18 a glass, it probably should be lovely...though I did get it for $14, but the blackboard said $18. It poured deliciously dark with a large fluffy brown head. The nose was a beatiful thick caramelly molassis with tons of matured malt notes and waves of antique must. Flavors were refined to say the least...think smokey peat with such a meaty and chewy mouthfeel. This is a beer you could easily sit and analyze for hours upon hours...waves of chocolate, figs, spice, peat, vanilla, alcohol, whiskey...and on and on and on and on and on.


 beerinmarch (2781), Alabama, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jul 21, 2008  
PIB 2008. Having this from cask was a treat. Pours very dark brown, almost black, small brown head. Big scotch not, even more then the 12 year. Soft smoked flavors give this a lot of complexity. Chocolate and toffee flavors lead to a dry earthy and peaty finish. Very nice.


 Sammy (3979), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/518/20
Jul 19, 2008  
The best and the most expensive of the trio, all tried in a week. Pours black with small bubbly head. Aroma of whisky, a little bourbon. The taste is rich and complete, how would it be after a few more years?A unique ale with a whiskey character. Above average mouthfeel. Feels more "cooked" or complete than the previous two others.


 LooseCannon (927), Norfolk, Virginia, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Jul 19, 2008  
11.2oz bottle, Bottle No & Date 04581/Sept 2007. Pours pitch black in color with thin brown head. Aroma sweet, chocolate and butterscotch. Taste of roasted coffee, dark chocolate and whiskey with bitter finsih.


 jerohen (1612), Bussum, Netherlands
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/57/103/515/20
Jul 19, 2008  
Dutch tasting session Bunnik. Bottled, at the courtesy of a collegue (Michiel) who brought this from Maryland, USA. Opaque, brown head. Malty nose, peaty, lots of chocolate, fantastic. Smooth flavour, malts and chcolate again. Bitter finish. Mouthfeel not as thick as a thought it would be. Good, but not as exceptional as i thought it would be.



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