 Cobra (1029), In the snake pit, Maryland, USA
May 15, 2008
My 1000th rating. 11.2 oz. brown bottle, comes in a special black box, with a metal seal around the neck. Bottle number 09563. Bottled Sept. 2007. Poured out an inky black color, with a 1/2" thick mocha colored head. Aromas are of whiskey barrel, Highland Scotch, vanilla, roasted espresso beans.
Flavors are of Highland Scotch, oak barrel, roasted coffee beans, vanilla, burnt sugars, earthy hops. Thick mouthfeel, rich and chewy. Flavors linger on your tongue for a good long while after drinking it.
Damn good beer by any standard.
Good pick for my 1000th rating too.
kiefdog (390), Tampa, Florida, USA
Aug 17, 2008 12oz bottle from Kingdom Liqours (Tampa, FL). Pours the color of dirty motor oil, pitch black with small off-white head. Minimal retention and lacing. Aroma is woody and smoky with notes of tobacco, whiskey, chocolate, sweet malt. Flavor is smoky and chewy with woody whiskey notes and flavors of malted chocolate, charcoal, slight hoppiness. Medium to full body with a slightly bitter finish.
NoiZe (875), Zeist, Netherlands
Aug 17, 2008 Tasted @ the Uber Tavern in Seattle.
Black colored brew. Roasted malty aroma. Some smoke and wood. Flavor is smooth, wood, smoked and roasted chocolate malts. Some spices. Interesting combination of flavors.
markwise (257), Orlando, Florida, USA
Aug 11, 2008 Wow. This is a unique beer, and maybe it needs to age some more, but I was not necessarily impressed with it in all of its subtleties. It pours the color of motor oil with a very shy off-white head. It smells like wood, smoke (LOTS), tobacco, more smoke, and chocolate malt. The flavor is chewy and oily with a very woody, bitter, smoky pieces to this puzzle. It is very different. It has unique properties, and I am glad I tried it, but I could not drink a whole bottle.
502Flavors (208), Kentucky, USA
Aug 8, 2008 12 oz bottle (around 16 dollars with tax included) into sniffer - why does RB instruct one to serve it (an Old Ale) in a dimpled mug or stein????? Black pour with a nice dirty tan, frothy lasting head. Smells rich and roasty with definite hints of dark chocolate and mellow whiskey (and vanilla) - smells like an impy stout. The more I nose it, the more I am getting dark cherry and wood notes. The flavor is very smooth, well rounded, and balanced. It has creamy chocolate and vanilla notes, some woody and smokey roastyness, with an easy going and soft whiskey finish (that is much more subtle than I expected). The flavor is not unbelievably potent or bold, but its infallible balance awards it a sturdy 9. It is medium bodied on the palate - silky smooth with soft carbonation. Overall: there is nothing wrong with this brew; it is delicious and very well balanced. HOWEVER, it is way to tamed with its subtleties and its 8% abv. to be worth 16 dollars per 12oz. This price obviously has to do with a certain rarity factor regarding production and availability of 30 year old Highland Park Barrels (as well as the name "Highland Park" itself), but I would suggest anyone interested in this brew split the cost with at least one other person. On the last and final note, everything about it defines this beer undoubtedly as a stout - an (almost)imperial stout - not an old ale. Cheers to Ola Dubh 30 taking my 200!!
yespr (6162), Copenhagen O, Denmark
Aug 6, 2008 From tap at OBrians. Pours pitch black with a lacing tan head. Aroma is dense roasted malt, dense oily and distinct barrel base presence. Dense roasted malt an dark barrel/whisky base presence. Solid smooth and nicely spiced. Smooth finish yet dense and mild spiced with alingering whiskey presence.
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