Harviestoun Ola Dubh (30 Year Old)

(Bottled) Almost black with a partly lasting, beige head. Very intense, dry aroma with tannins and woody whisky barrel, along with slightly boozy alcohol. Flavor is very malty, but the sweetness is well balanced by the woody whisky barrel with vanilla, tar, and smoke. Also some licorice and black coffee. Full-bodied and slightly oily palate with not too much thickness, and - thanks to reasonable ABV - also nice drinkability. Very interesting and balanced package overall. Could be drank quite quickly, if it wasn’t as pricey as it is.

Bottled, Beer Hunters (#03519, Mar 2009). Opaque black/brown color with small brown head. Oak, whisky, some vanilla and licorice in the nose. Flavor is roasted, it has tobacco ash and licorice with vanilla. Very dry mouthfeel. Vanilla and oak are dominating the aftertaste. Balanced flavors, perhaps just a bit too carbonated. Sampled side by side with Ola Dubh 40.

Pours dark in color with thin tan head. The aroma is rich and inviting. I can draw on this all night long. I get rich earthiness mixing with caramel, a bit of smokiness and sticky grape jam. Wow! Smells just like yum. The taste has a peat note that must be what seemed like smoke and earthiness in the nose. I also get a bit of a distinctive smoke note to go along with roasted malts, chocolate, a hint of wood and dark fruity goodness. Wow, smooth and very very nice.

Pours dark brown with a thin white head. Smells of cherries, oak, roasted malt. Tastes of molasses, oak, pepper, spice, some fruit. Full bodied and enjoyable.

Pours solid black with a tan head. Deep roast and chocolate aroma. Smooth bourbon texture with bourbony flavor and dark choc. Great balance between sweetness and rich oak/bourbon flavors.

Draft. A pitch black beer with a brown head. The aroma is sweet malty combined with notes of hard roasted malt, whiskey, and wood, as well as light notes of smoke. The flavor is very powerful with strong notes of whiskey as well as medium notes of hard roasted malt, and a bit of smoke. Nice - reminds me of the Paradox beer - no wonder.

MMMmmmm, hmmm! Got this bottle at Sam’s in Chi. Really interesting how this differs from the 12 & 16. Opaque like the 16, more aroma and going on than the 16, but not as coarse (& the 12 isn’t coarse at all - relative) as the 12. Much more silky. Divine. Peaty, malty, roasty in the nose. Boozy again. Opulent. Rich and sort of bitter. Excellent beer. Not a session tho.

Bottle. This beer was better than the 12 year old. However i don’t believe worth the difference in price. But that doesn’t mean i won’t try the other two versions.