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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old)

Percentile
97
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3103.8/5.03.78/5.0Special8%95.1English 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?  
 after4ever (2773), Brier, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Dec 22, 2008  
330. Bottle 19708. Pours jet black with a dense, thick, very short-lived burnt tan head that falls quickly away to sloppy suds in a ring. Huge boozy whisky nose gets you at more than arms length. Settles down to a roasty, spruce-y, old-ale-y nose. Lovely roast, charcoal, roast beef, chocolate, and black bread notes on the mid-palate. Long dryish roasty finish. Lovely stuff.


 smashteroid (251), USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/517/20
Dec 18, 2008  
Served from bottle. Very dark brown with no head. Aroma is malty, chocolate notes, raisins, and more. Flavor was smokey, a hint of whisky, more roasted malts, and a mildly bitter finish. Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Weird brew. Would drink it again.


 KAggie97 (2460), Ugly, Hot, and Humid Spring, Texas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/515/20
Dec 12, 2008  
Bottle. Pours motor oil black with a beige head that leaves thick film on the glass. Aroma is thin, dark chocolate cherry with light plastic wrap and vanilla extract. Flavor is light smoke, wood chip, and it leaves with a thin whisky finish. A nice film of flavor is left on the tonge after every sip. Body is a bit too thin. Flavors, while noticeable, seem unsure of how to come together. In my opinion, this could stand to mature more.


 BeerGestapo (740), Windsor, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/516/20
Dec 11, 2008  
Brewed in Scotland.... Pours black in color with zero head. Aroma of dark malts, dark fruit, and some whiskey notes. Taste is of smoked wood, vanilla, hops, and dark chocolate. Mouthfeel is thin and smooth with some mild alcohol burn and bitterness in the finish. Overall, pretty interesting stuff.


 rcasta (488), El Salvador
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/510/105/517/20
Dec 7, 2008  
Una buena old ale, hay que probar las otras. Black. Long tan creamy head. Aroma: Smokey chocolate malt. Flavor: Smokey chocolate malt, scotch. Bitter-sweet finish.


 fonefan (11640), VestJylland, Denmark
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/517/20
Dec 3, 2008  
Bottle 11.2fl.oz. Clear dark red brown color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly diminishing, light brown head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, burnt, peat - smoke, whisky. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a long to average duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. Very nice. 100908


 jzzbassman (846), New Albany, Mississippi, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Nov 30, 2008  
Black pour with nice ring but small head. Aroma is definitely whisky in nature, with bitter chocolate flavor up front, finishing with molasses and malt.


 astrofrk (218), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Nov 29, 2008  
Black. Long tan creamy head. Aroma: Smokey chocolate malt. Flavor: Smokey chocolate malt, scotch. Bitter-sweet finish.



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