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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old)

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old) - Old Ale

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 Percentile 
97
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
2763.82/5.03.79/5.08%96English pint, Snifter
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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?  
 Dorwart (1807), Robbinsville, New Jersey, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/102/514/20
Jul 28, 2008  
Thin brown head of small and dense bubbles. Whiskey soaked tobacco, sweet malts, roasted grains and some raisins. Nice complex aroma. Color is a very dark brown. Smooth flavor. Little bit lifeless in the mouth though. Lots of roasted grains, smoked peat and some dark fruit again. Scotch is noticable late swallow and has a nice alcohol burn. Finishes peaty and malty. A decent brew. Kind of lifeless which factors into a bunch of things for me.


 douglas88 (1557), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/103/515/20
Jul 26, 2008  
Bottle shared by footbalm. Pours a dark black body with a thin beige head. The aroma was very light; some smoke perhaps. The flavor was very smooth and nice; a light earthy and peat aspect, some dark fruits, a smooth and light body, and a touch of scotch. Quite nice.


 Odeed (1666), Bakersfield, California, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/55/103/515/20
Jul 25, 2008  
(bottle number 07526.date:sept 2007)much like the 12 year old.although i detect some grape like qualities in the nose.flavor is pretty much the same.


 TheEpeeist (1429), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/516/20
Jul 20, 2008  
11.2 oz bottle. Dark brown with a tan head. Nose is cocoa and dark chocolate; some wood with warming. Quite subtle. Creamy full body with a light sparkle. Taste is smooth grape and coffee with lingering oak, whiskey and vanilla. Flavors a bit dull but pretty good.


 PhillyBeer2112 (2084), Orange Park, Florida, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/516/20
Jul 17, 2008  
I was expecting a bit more from this. Poured very dark, not quite opaque, with no head and light carbonation. Aroma was oaky, touched with roast, smoke and a little chocolate or blackstrap molasses. Not much actual whiskey to the nose or flavor, just oaky from the barrel, and maybe just a tinge of vanilla. Palate was semi-dry with a dry-roasted finish.


 dalekliz (546), San Diego, California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Jul 16, 2008  
Bottle, thanks to WeeHeavySD for sharing. Pours a deep dark reddish-brown with a small tan head. Smoky malt aroma. The taste is sweet, smoky, and toasty, of malt, wood, smoke, and scotch. Lingering smoky scotch taste. Really tasty.


 Indra (2019), Prairie Village, Kansas, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Jul 12, 2008  
330ml bottle. Mildy sweet, fudgy chocolate aroma, very lightly smoky, earthy and peaty, with faint tobacco and raisin. Solid ebony color with a hint of brown showing around the edges, and a very fine, slight head. Flavor is predominantly roasty and sweet to start, dark chocolate character in abundance, turning lightly bitter and showing hints of old wood before finishing with lingering, darkly sugary, nutty tones of whisky and toffee. Mouthfeel is very gently acidic and smooth, lightly coating and ultimately drying, with a full, almost syrupy body. Some late warmth. Really rather subtle, particularly for it being a barrel-aged beer of its heft.


 WeeHeavySD (2941), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Jul 11, 2008  
12oz from the PP Bottle Shop. Shared wtih my gf cyn and dalekliz. Pours black with a 1 finger tan head. Nose is extremely rich and very malty. Taste is very aggressive, extremely bold and adds a big old kick. Nice beer, with a lot of oomph.



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