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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old)

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old)

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 Percentile 
95
overall
An Old Ale brewed by
Harviestoun

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
1153.77/5.03.75/5.08%92.5 Dimpled mug, Stein P  Stats

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 RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 Oakes (6779), Miami Beach, Florida, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
May 9, 2008  
Very dark brown and oily-looking. Gentle whiskeyish nose with lovely chocolate character. Big whiskey taste, some peat and iodine. Rich deep chocolate malts with accents of nuts, wood and alcohol. Sublime balance. Gorgeous stuff.


 argo0 (6004), Washington DC, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
May 15, 2008  
(33cl bottle, #04291, Sept07, vertical with the 12 & 30) Black body with small, quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma is medium sweet, vanilla, some caramel, molasses, roast, whisky/peat, faint mint. Taste is moderately sweet, roast, caramel, smoke, plum, molasses. Medium-full body, some stickiness, notably smoother than the 12. Scotch is complementary rather than overpowering.


 kp (6000), Woodstock, Georgia, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Apr 5, 2008  
Name: Ola Dubh 16
Date: 03/28/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Green’s, Atlanta

Appearance: black, short lived creamy tan head, bits of drippy lace,
Aroma: aroma of of dark chocolate candies filled with whiskey, touch of vanilla builds the sweetness, hint of roasted balances it back out,
Body: ceamy body,
Flavor: creamy dark chocolate flavor, touch of whiskey and vanilla for sweetness, roasted for balance, the chocolate and whiskey continues to grow and take over until it almost becomes a whiskey candy but held back by the drying character of the roasted malt, light bitter finish drifts out of the roasted and dark chocolate, touch of alcohol,
Overall: a bit richer than the 12 with more of the whiskey sweetness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***/4


 CaptainCougar (4596), Rockville, Maryland, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Mar 17, 2008  
Pours an oily opaque with a thinly-lacing dark tan head. Aroma of lightly sweet dark caramel malt and some earthy smoky peat. Body starts with a mild sweetness and some light fruity esters with a decent balance of woody scotch before a drier, slightly oxidized and warming finish. Not quite as peaty as the 12 year old version, but still pretty good.


 Bov (4559), Bienne, Switzerland
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/517/20
Jun 2, 2008    Updated: Jun 4, 2008
courtesy of Laurent Mousson - dark black colour with a little dark beige head; roasted aroma of pralines, notes of cherries and a touch of mint; viscous, full-bodied; robust bitterness; very bitter chocolatey finish with notes of cookies and a warming alcohol kick




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