Harviestoun Ola Dubh (40 Year Old)

	Score
100		99
	OVERALL	Style

Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale
Alva, Central, Scotland

Serve in English pint, Snifter

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution

send corrections | shelftag

| edit barcodes |

RATINGS: 255 WEIGHTED AVG: 3.99 EST. CALORIES: 240 ABV: 8%

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 first with genuine provenance. This version is aged in Highland Park 40 Year whisky casks.

Most Recent Top Raters Highest Score Rated By

3.8

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20

nbondi (155) - Chicago, Illinois, USA - FEB 20, 2012

Very dark maple brown with thin, quickly dissipating tan head. Complex nose of Scotch, caramel, dried fruit. Lots of heat for 8%. Subdued carbonation. Flavors of oak, molasses, vanilla, and Scotch. Scotch flavor and heat last. Very good, but too hot. Maybe better after a couple years on the shelf.

3.8

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20

Plovmand (4702) - Helsinge, DENMARK - FEB 19, 2012

Bottle at home to celebrate my rating no. 4700. Pours black with a medium tan head. The aroma is smoke from the whisky, dark fruit, tobacco, tar, ash and hard roasted malt. The flavour is mostly whisky notes with some chocolate, dark fruity and hard roasted notes.

4.2

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 18/20

Vaiz (1868) - Den Haag, NETHERLANDS - FEB 18, 2012

Bottle at home. Aroma of leather, aged whiskey, licorice and roasted malts. Flavor is iodine, leather, sweet old whiskey and some bitterness. Not very thick bodied, but very flavorful. Amazing brew.

4.4

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20

dEnk (1623) - Den Haag, NETHERLANDS - FEB 18, 2012

Bottle @ home, tfs vaiz! Aroma is roasty malt, peat, liquorice, some smoke, subtle but nice. Flavour is liquorice, whiskey, loads of wood. But not just wood, it’s like you can taste every year of aging apart. Creamy palate. Awesome.

3.7

AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20

Rune (4683) - Tromsø, NORWAY - JAN 19, 2012

330ml bottle, no. 38858, bought at Ølbutikken in Copenhagen almost two years ago. Pretty to look at with its black foil around the neck, tan-coloured head and jet black body. Sweet malty nose, woody and with whisky undertones. Malt and vanilla oak flavour with smooth whisky notes beneath. Warming alcohol. Works fine for me (shared with Finn, Tromsø 12.01.2012).

3.1

AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20

Finn (2487) - Tromsø, NORWAY - JAN 16, 2012

Flaske 0,33l - nummerert 38858 -spandert av og delt med Rune på seanse hjemme hos ham 12 Jan 12. Svart. Høyt lysebrunt skum. Klar whisky-aroma. Smaken tørr & røykfylt. Litt krydret. Avslutningen har et visst øl-preg.

3.2

AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20

markwise (2709) - North of Tampa, Florida, USA - JAN 11, 2012

Thanks to BigSound for sharing this one. Cheers, Henri! Pours a medium stout brown with an off-tan head. Nose is peat, band aid, nail polish remover, booze, and unsweet chcocolate. Flavor is similar- peaty whiskey with wood, roasted malts, peat, smoke, band aid, and booze. Medium in body and ok, but peaty as all hell.

4.1

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

patrick767 (2772) - fort wayne, Indiana, USA - JAN 9, 2012

bottle #39152 dated Jan. 2009 - Pours dark brown with a very small tan head. Smoky scotch clearly dominates the aroma and there’s a bit of chocolate under it. The flavor is full of smoky whisky goodness with sweet chocolate malt. It’s smooth and the whisky and smoke lingers pleasantly in the finish. I liked this one more than the 12 year bottle. I like scotch. Of course if I didn’t, why on earth would I have bought this brew?

We Want To Hear From You

Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

Join Us »

View Page

1 2 3 4 » 26

Tick this beer

Currently 0/5 Stars.
1
2
3
4
5

More Old Ales By Style
McNeills Old Ringworm 74
Robinsons Old Tom (Bottle) 78
Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old) 98
Fish Tale Old Woody English Old Ale 97
Terrapin Georgia Theatre Session: The Iron Tankard Old Stock Ale 83
Cambridge Bad Knees Old Ale 75
Arcadia Pappy’s Big Dick Bourbon Barrel Olde Ale 69
Great Divide Hibernation Barrel Aged 97
Goose Island Oak-Aged Christmas Ale 90
Kuhnhenn English Strong Ale 88
Hornbeer Old Ale 76
Eel River Triple Exultation 92
Highgate Old Ale (Bottle) 64
Cigar City Oak-Aged Christmas in Ningxia Old Ale 82
Samuel Adams Longshot Old Ben Ale 82

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (40 Year Old)

We Want To Hear From You

tags