Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old)

Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a thin .5 finger brown head that quickly fades into a lasting ring. Not much in the way of lacing, just some sporadic small spots. Strong roasted malt aroma with a decent amount of malt whiskey that doesn’t overtake the other aromas. Dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean and roasted nut notes. Again, the aroma is dominated by a deep roasted maltiness but there is a good bit of oak and whiskey to balance things out. Again the flavor is dominated by a deep roasted maltiness with lots of complexity and bitter dark chocolate flavor. However, they whiskey presence is much more prominent in the flavor than in the aroma. Lots of hot whiskey alcohol warmth but fortunately the other flavors still shine through. Not one-dimensional at all. Plenty of roasted coffee bean, burnt toast, hazelnut and dark chocolate notes. Sligthtly sweet because of the strong alcohol, whiskey and chocolate malt components but is overall nicely balanced with even some subtle hops, resulting in a big beer that is quite drinkable. Recommended.

pours an impenetrable black with a ring of creamy foam and just a bit of lacing. Lightly peaty aroma, wonderful dark malt sweetness. Yum! All of the peaty notes from the 12 but a bit more tempered and balanced: earthy peat, malty molasses sweetness. Thin body and light carbonation. Tasty and more refined than the 12, definitely more quaffable. Would have liked a little more engine-oil thickness in this one.

Intensive aroma of wood barrels, hints of coffee and bitter chocolate. Black color, foamy brownish head. Flavor is malty and sweet, sherry notes, wood barrels and hints of alcohol and coffee. Dry, quite bitter end. Lovely brew.

Bottled. A black beer with a brown head. The aroma has notes of malt, alcohol, and whiskey. The flavo ris sweet with notes of sweet malt, roasted malt, whiskey, tar, wood, and vanilla, leading to a dry woody finish.

(Bottle) Very dark colour, almost black, with ruby hints when seen through light. Creamy, beige head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of chocolate, cocoa, dark fruit and woody, slightly smoky hints of whisky. Malty, roasted taste with creamy coffee, chocolate, dark fruit, raisins and oaky, smoky hints of whisky. Bittersweet finish with moderate bitterness and a warming puff of alcohol. More than medium body, smooth mouthfeel. Brilliant balance, the whisky character stays in the background but is always evident. Subtle but impressive wood ageing. Lovely beer!

Bottle courtesy of BeerandBlues2 at a blind Imperial Stout tasting at his house on 9/22/09. This was bottle #13104 / Sept. 2007. Color is black with average carbonation and a fizzy tan head. Aroma of molasses and raisins. Starting with a lighter full body it goes down with an almost creamy mouth feel. Finish has a big dark molasses punch with some prune and raisin showing through then a wine like taste and a touch of bitterness. In the after taste it comes off with a dry feel even though it is sweet. This is a big complex brew that may have to much going on.

Bottle@Home. Chocolate and Highland Park light peated whisky aroma. Opaque, light brown firm head, good lace. Sweet, chocolate, malty, subtle peated whisky, light bitter, roasted. Soft and full. Flavourful, excellent balanced.

Bottle. Pours black with an average, fizzy light brown head, somewhat diminishing with fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, molasses, toffee), light hop (perfume), average yeast (leather) with notes of prune, dates, wood, and vanilla. Full bodied, creamy and alcoholic texture, average carbonation, and an astringent finish. Long duration, moderate sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.