Harviestoun Ola Dubh (30 Year Old)

The pour is black with a slight brown ring around the rim. The aroma comes of as whisky with some smoke and char. There is some fudge with frosting on top, and dark berries. The flavor seems to be the most balanced of the three varieties, I don’t really think its a good thing. Its good, but not memorable. Medium body with a nice amount of carbonation. Dry finish with a nice amount of heat. I think this is my least favorite or the three, but not at all a bad beer.

courtesy of Laurent Mousson - dark black colour with a little dark beige head; roasted whisky-like aroma with strong notes of pralines; solid carbonation with a full malt body, some sweetness and a touch of acidity, moderately dry, very bitter aftertaste where roasted chocolatey notes meet some wood and whisky

Draft. Pours a black oil body with a thin matching head. Aroma is scotch and malt with a nice wood character. Flavor is sweet and then dry scotch and wood. A delicate beer and very easy to drink, oddly enough I enjoyed the 16yr more.

On tap at HopCat, Grand Rapids. Deep brown coffee-like body, thin ochre head. Leathery aroma, smoky and salty, with soy and molasses. Soft, nearly flat body, with smoke and apple notes. Leathery and oily. Interesting, but the body is a bit too lifeless for me to be considered great.

Bottle No. 06175 and dated Sept 2007. Tan small head that mostly endured, splotchy lacing, opaque, no carbonation observed, and a black hue. The aroma was dark fruits, malt, wood, some licorice, and whiskey. The flavor was malt, roasty, chocolate, whiskey, and earthy. Tingly mouthfeel and medium bodied. A tasty beer, but not as good as the 12 and 16 versions IMO. Still, worthy of a try.

On tap: The aroma consists of whiskey, chocolate, vanilla, and faint coffee. A little too much whiskey. Dark brown with no transparency and a small off-white head that quickly fades to a ring. The flavor starts with moderate chocolate with light vanilla in the background. Lots of whiskey in the finish with some light coffee. Just a tad too much whiskey in the flavor for me. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

Motor oil pour (if only a touch thinner). The aroma is malt with peat. Boozy. The flavor is fine. Peat (of which I am usually not a fan but fine pleasing in this brew), dark roasted malt, hints of unsweet chocolate are what come to mind, but this is primarily peat, roast and booze. I like it. The mouth feel is outstandingly smooth. Wow. All and all this is a very interesting and enjoyable brew. I would not go so far as to say it is excellent, but it is certainly something you should try. I would get it again. I’ve adjusted my overall score as my usual rating systme gave this a 4.2. While I think this is good, I would not say it is 4.2 good.

On Tap @ Hamilton’s Tavern S.D. Pours a deep brown mahogany with a small beige head. Lots of dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. Flavors of Plums, cherries, chocolate, smoke and bourbon were dominate. Paid $20 for a pint.....ouch!!