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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?  
 SudsMcDuff (1693), was CapeTown,SA-now Houston, Texas, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/516/20
Mar 29, 2009  
appearance of dark charcoal with a medium head ring .. . chocolate and molasses with a light smokey chocolate air .. . like a heavenly beery chocolate milkshake, without the ice cream .. . strange yet refined booziness with a side of deliciousness .. . a nice brew, and i don’t shower, so that’s what that is.... "the"


 jimhilt (1683), Bow, New Hampshire, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Aug 4, 2008  
Pours a one finger brown head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Totally black color. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Oak nose. Flavor is some burnt coffee but mostly sweet oak. Pricey at $8.99 for a 330ml bottle from Yankee Spirits South Attleboro, Ma.


 Odeed (1675), 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.


 theisti (1674), Leawood, Kansas, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/515/20
Mar 24, 2008  
330 ml bottle, pulled from the cooled by hogfodder on 3/20/08. Special 16, bottled September 2007. Pour is deep brown and amber. Tight off white head. Aroma of musty caramel and some fruitiness (apple). Taste of wood and caramel a bit of a dry cardboard finish. There is some interesting sea water saltiness in the finish as well. Nice one, thanks Rick. We drank this next to the Orkney Dark Island, so may have suffered a bit by comparison.


 JB175 (1664), Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/511/20
Apr 22, 2009  
blackish pour with a medium tan head. Aroma is minimal - a bit of roasty wood and thats about it. Flavor is roasty, woody, a tad bitter, and very one-dimensional. Not much here at all, very boring.


 Butters (1652), Virginia, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/104/514/20
May 27, 2009  
Sampled at the Alexi TN distributor’s tasting; thanks Jim Bird! Tasted alongside the 12 and 30 year. All poured a very dark brown with a very small dark tan head. Roasty, and a bit hammier than the 12 year. Also a little sweet on the nose and creamy smooth. Pretty tasty stuff, just too expensive.


 douglas88 (1605), 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.


 JMFG (1514), Florida, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/515/20
Apr 7, 2008  
Courtesy TheCheeseMan. Black pour, very little head. Sweet roasty aroma, a lot less alcohol present on the nose than the 12. Nicely balanced on the taste with the roast and oak the main players. Not really a lot of peat character here, but a more subtle brew than the 12.



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