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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old)

Percentile
98
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
2783.82/5.03.8/5.08%96English 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?  
 curly (580), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/515/20
Jun 25, 2009  
This beer pours solid black with a thick tan head. Aroma of roast and sweet chocolate malt. Taste is oak and dark chocolate along with a creamy smooth texture.


 vtafro (469), , New Jersey, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jun 19, 2009  
Bottle. This beer was better than the 12 year old about the same as the 30 for a cheaper price. Will give the 18 a try.


 KnutAlbert (3124), Oslo, Norway
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/516/20
Jun 19, 2009  
Bottle at Oslo Beer Festival 09. Tar and smoke aroma. Wonderful sweet and sour beer, malty body with long lingering smoke. Warming feeling and echoes of the whisky as it slips down.


 mikkopen (259), Oulu, Finland
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 18, 2009  
330 ml bottle. Almost black, with a thin but creamy tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, chocolate, oak, vanilla, whisky and a hint of smoke and alcohol. Warm, roasted malty flavour with a strong presence of whiskey and chocolate and a hint of liquorice. Delicious.


 zach8270 (2085), Henrietta, New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/515/20
Jun 15, 2009  
(bottle - 330 ml - 2007 vintage) Rating #1800. Dark brown in color with a small and creamy tan head. Aroma is smooth and rich with good hints of chocolate, oak, and vanilla. Flavor is smooth and sweet with lots of dark fruits, earthy notes, bitter chocolate, vanilla, and oak. Incredibly smooth and complex with a well balanced bitter finish. Alcohol is not apparent at all.


 larsga (2959), Oslo, Norway
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/517/20
Jun 15, 2009  
Medium shiny brown head. Opaque black body. Rich milky chocolate aroma with vanilla oak notes and some earth and marzipan, velvety smooth. Sweetish earthy milky chocolate taste with hoppy alcoholic caramel and wood edge. Smooth, rounded, mild mouthfeel, despite the hop bite. Fullish body. Dry earthy roasty smoky aftertaste with cinnamon and plastic notes, quite bitter, but at exactly the right level to balance the beer. Amazing smoothness and richness. A fantastic beer. (0.33l bottle at Olympen, Oslo.)


 drpimento (815), La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Jun 9, 2009  
Got this bottle at Sam’s in Chicago last week. This is way more subtle, mild, and less fruity than the 12 of this seriies. Bigger tan head. No highlights - opaque. Milder nose of the whiskey, malt, chocolate, coffee. Silky body. Smooth. Very rich yet elegant yet robust beer. Less apparent booziness, yet same abv. Yummy.


 dutch23mp (161), Mount Prospect, Illinois, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 6, 2009  
The aroma gets high marks. Well balanced and the ABV is well hidden you can really make out the malt whisky casks dark and rich very smooth. Hints of Chocolate as well as vanilla great brew.



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