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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (16 Year Old) 3.8 284

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
2843.82/5.03.8/5.08%96.2English 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?  
 fishingnet (1047), Brandon, Florida, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 5, 2008  
Bottle. Pours black with a one finger tan head that fades to a ring and leaves some lacing. Aroma of whisky, vanilla, roasted malt and oak. Taste is whisky, vanilla, coffee, and oak. Medium mouthfeel with a moderate amount of bitterness and warm but smooth alcohol. A very good beer but I like th 30 better.


 austone (1039), Turku; Pori, Finland
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Mar 1, 2009  
Bottle at Old Bank. Near black, small mocha head. Smooth vanilla ice-cream aroma, mellow liquorice, hint of salmiak and whiskey. Nice liquorice, whiskey and grainy malts in the flavor, burned finish with mentholey notes. Medium bodid and lush palate. More refined than the 12-year old, not as attacking whiskey nor rye pudding.


 trokini (1027), San Diego, California, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Mar 3, 2008  
Shockingly, not as good as its younger cousin, the 12 year old version. Same black pour with a ring of tan bubbles. Harsher aroma with more peat and alcohol. Taste was similar, with a good blend of malt, chocolate, and oak. There was more whiskey taste which gave it a salty bite. I enjoyed the scotch flavors with this beer, but liked it more in the more subtle 12 year old version. An excellent beer, nontheless


 kkearn (1014), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Mar 31, 2009  
11.2oz bottle, # 06409 bottled Sept 2007. Sampled side-by-side with the 12 and 30. Pours very deep brown, nearly opaque, with a very thin tan head. Aroma of chocolate malt, vanilla, and peat. Flavor is a nice mixture between peat and vanilla. I thought this was a bit better than the 16.


 pnista (1008), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Mar 28, 2009  
Thanks for sharing Yaniv! Dark brown with a thin tan head. Sweeter barrel infused nose. Light bandaid perhaps? I thought this would be peatless, but guess not. Molasses and some very winey lightly woody notes. Lower carbonation and perhaps a bit thinner for the style. Sweet balanced flavor. Some roast, a little astringent. Light oak Light bandaid. Lingering roast. This is a very nice little sipper.


 rosenbergh (996), Helsinki, Finland
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Feb 28, 2009  
330 ml bottle. Finland. Dark almost black colour with thin beige head. Thick. Flavour is quite complex with berries, cyrup, coffee and some alcohol in finish.


 axilla (962), New Providence, Pennsylvania, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Mar 14, 2008  
Probabely the most enjoyable of the 3. Poured the same dark brown/black body with a small tan head. The aroma was dominated by vanilla and oak with some mild choclate notes. The flavor was the same vanilla oak with some creamy coffee and choclate notes, and a very subtle whiskey flavor.


 smith4498 (951), Miami, Florida, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
May 31, 2008  
Bottle #15042 Sept. 2007. Pours dark brown/black with brown head. Smokey aroma. Flvaors of burnt malts, smoke, whisky and wood. Alcohol comes through just enough to add to the overall flavor. Full body with minimal carbonation. Well done, definately worth trynig.



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