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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (12 Year Old) 3.79 324

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
3243.81/5.03.79/5.0Special8%96.1English 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?  
 eaglefan538 (2399), Wilmington, Delaware, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Jun 14, 2008  
Bottle 12227, 2007. Pour was pitch black, decent tannish colored head. Aroma is strong vanilla and tapioca notes w/ some chocolate underneath. The flavor is tapioca-vanilla, chocolate, light roast, enjoyable. Alcohol a little sharp, but the whiskey flavors do not over-run the beer. Neat stuff, short of great, though.


 19641948 (491), Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/104/515/20
Jun 14, 2008  
Bottle No. & Date: 08869 / Sept 2007. Pours jet black with a tight tan head that reduces to a thin collar with a swirled galaxy floating in the middle. Quiet aromas of mild whiskey and peat. Understated. The first sip absolutely glides across the lips. Tobacco, molasses, wood, scotch. Warming alcohol, but it begins to turn southward as it goes on. A tasty sipper in a snifter, but dispose of it quickly to minimize untoward flavors.


 dwyerpg (2545), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/58/105/518/20
Jun 13, 2008  
What an aroma! should get a 12! Flavor doesn’t start with ehaviness but it grows into an intense finish. Sweet and intense, yet it doesn’t seem to strong. Best aroma of the bunch.


 LinusStick (1851), Moon Twp, suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/102/517/20
Jun 12, 2008  
Great old ale. LIked this better than the 16 because this was a little mellower and subtle. Aroma of chocolate with just a hint of whiskey and smoke. Pour was a nice black with no head or bubbles. Looked dangerous. Taste was very mellow and complex. Peat, wood and chocolate dominate. The whiskey is most noticable on the tip of the tongue at first sip then in the back of the throat in the aftertaste. Very nice.


 bierkoning (6097), La Tropica, Netherlands
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/516/20
Jun 11, 2008  
Bottle from Solan, thanks! Pitch black and opague. Peataroma with dark chocolate, cream and coffee. Malty sweet flavor with peat, cream and dark chocolate. Peat dominating in the aftertaste. A marvel of balance, this beer. Malt, oak, peat and alcohol in almost perfect harmony.


 jeremytoni (1122), Swedesboro, New Jersey, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/515/20
Jun 9, 2008  
From a bottle poured black with a small brown head. Aroma from the barrels of whiskey, flavor of toasted malt/coffee. Followed by a lingering aftertaste.


 pepsican (885), The Student Ghetto, Iowa, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Jun 8, 2008  
Black pour with a thin tan head. Young whiskey aroma. Flavor is more whiskey, chocolate, peat, smoke, and caramel. Finishes pretty chewy, slightly boozy


 highibus (441), Mill Creek, Washington, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/517/20
Jun 8, 2008  
Pours a pretty deep black with not much head but a little lacing. Aroma is nice, whiskey mostly with some roastiness coming through. Flavor is roasted and chocolate malt flavor with some alcohol. Body is actually a little lacking. Overall a decent beer, but definitely not worth the $7 price for 12 oz.



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