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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?  
 milewide (609), Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/57/104/517/20
Aug 24, 2009  
Black color! Solid body. Whisky in aroma and taste. Good, but not worth the $9+ price!


Brandman (94), Helsinki, Finland
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Aug 24, 2009  
330 ml bottle. Black body with lasting brown head. Roasted sweet and chocolate aroma. Some ash in scent, too. Oily and sticky mouthfeel, lasting bitterness and taste. Flavour has roasted sweet choco and some raisins, little port vineish.


 ajwilliams (118), , Indiana, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/102/517/20
Aug 21, 2009  
Vintage 2007 Pours a BLACK oil with a thin white head. Aroma is a deep raison and coffee with some booze and whiskey thrown in. Flavor is black coffee, whiskey, oak barrels, and warming alcohol. My only complaint with this beer is the palate. It is thin and a little watery, especially considering the way it looks. Otherwise, great beer.


 CapnCascade (116), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/104/517/20
Aug 20, 2009  
Very dark brown pour, orange tinges where the light comes in. Very slight tan head with a touch of retention around the edge of the glass and bits of lacing here and there. Nose develops wood, resin, raisins, cocoa, plums, figs, Demerara sugar. Wood, cocoa and peat flavors predominate, some resinous alcohol; moderate herbal-bitter finish. Full body, good carbo. Good stuff.


 Rastacouere (5551), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/514/20
Aug 13, 2009  
Almost black pour covered by a fine beige layer. Roasty, heady old ale approaching an imperial stout in terms of chocolate and dark malts stature, but fairly sweet and fruity (grapes, plum, fig and the likes). It grows a certain molasses stickiness on the palate which is otherwise silky and very round. The alcohol climbs on the palate swiftly and rapidly to the head afterwards. There is a lot of it for an 8% beer. Subtler smoke and wood character than the 12, but more roast and alcohol. I’m afraid I enjoyed the 12yr old more. That makes sense since the same goes for the Highland Park scotches.


 MIBRomeo (1962), Wisconsin, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/514/20
Aug 11, 2009  
Sept 07 btl 9300 Dark opaque pour w/ a wispy tan head Hints of oak & vanilla hints of raisin lots of sweet sugars . Good pal a bit thin for what it is supposed to be Lots of dark fruit plum fig hard raisin flavors subtle wood dryness in the finish hints of sugar’d alcoohl good but lacking definition. Definitively not worth the price tag.


 Barrios (852), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jul 31, 2009  
Pours a dark brown body with a thin ring of tan head. Awesome flavors of smoke and bacon. Little dry on the finish.


 Beer2000 (1775), Kristiansand, Norway
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/104/516/20
Jul 30, 2009  
330 ml bottle. Black body with a rich, creamy beige head. Aroma of roasted malt and vanilla. Flavor is smooth, rich, sweet, dark malt, roasted, dry fruit, oak, hops, vanilla, molasses and whisky. Full bodied and a long and warming aftertaste. A masterpiece.



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