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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?  
 mgermani (865), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/102/516/20

Nov 3, 2009  
pours an impenetrable black with a ring of creamy foam and just a bit of lacing. Lightly peaty aroma, wonderful dark malt sweetness. Yum! All of the peaty notes from the 12 but a bit more tempered and balanced: earthy peat, malty molasses sweetness. Thin body and light carbonation. Tasty and more refined than the 12, definitely more quaffable. Would have liked a little more engine-oil thickness in this one.

 dnstone (206), Mons, Belgium
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/518/20
Nov 22, 2009  
Smokey, chocolatey nose. Pitch black color, slight tan head. Smokey/chocolate. Slightly smothe texture.


 planky84 (126), , Greater London, England
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/518/20
Nov 20, 2009  
Bottle from Utobeer market stall. Pours a dark brown with a beige head. Aromas of chocolate, caramel, smoke, malts, sultanas. Flavours of bitter chocolate, sultanas, dark fruits. Quite peaty. Warming alcohol mouthfeel. Gentle, hoppy finish. Nice.


 corby112 (741), philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Nov 6, 2009  
Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a thin .5 finger brown head that quickly fades into a lasting ring. Not much in the way of lacing, just some sporadic small spots. Strong roasted malt aroma with a decent amount of malt whiskey that doesn’t overtake the other aromas. Dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean and roasted nut notes. Again, the aroma is dominated by a deep roasted maltiness but there is a good bit of oak and whiskey to balance things out. Again the flavor is dominated by a deep roasted maltiness with lots of complexity and bitter dark chocolate flavor. However, they whiskey presence is much more prominent in the flavor than in the aroma. Lots of hot whiskey alcohol warmth but fortunately the other flavors still shine through. Not one-dimensional at all. Plenty of roasted coffee bean, burnt toast, hazelnut and dark chocolate notes. Sligthtly sweet because of the strong alcohol, whiskey and chocolate malt components but is overall nicely balanced with even some subtle hops, resulting in a big beer that is quite drinkable. Recommended.


 Geiserich (1784), Vienna, Austria
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Oct 24, 2009  
Intensive aroma of wood barrels, hints of coffee and bitter chocolate. Black color, foamy brownish head. Flavor is malty and sweet, sherry notes, wood barrels and hints of alcohol and coffee. Dry, quite bitter end. Lovely brew.


 Ungstrup (15258), Frederiksberg, Denmark
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 3, 2009  
Bottled. A black beer with a brown head. The aroma has notes of malt, alcohol, and whiskey. The flavo ris sweet with notes of sweet malt, roasted malt, whiskey, tar, wood, and vanilla, leading to a dry woody finish.


 Svesse (2653), Hässelby, Sweden
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 1, 2009  
(Bottle) Very dark colour, almost black, with ruby hints when seen through light. Creamy, beige head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of chocolate, cocoa, dark fruit and woody, slightly smoky hints of whisky. Malty, roasted taste with creamy coffee, chocolate, dark fruit, raisins and oaky, smoky hints of whisky. Bittersweet finish with moderate bitterness and a warming puff of alcohol. More than medium body, smooth mouthfeel. Brilliant balance, the whisky character stays in the background but is always evident. Subtle but impressive wood ageing. Lovely beer!


 RSRIZZO (1368), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Sep 28, 2009  
Bottle courtesy of BeerandBlues2 at a blind Imperial Stout tasting at his house on 9/22/09. This was bottle #13104 / Sept. 2007. Color is black with average carbonation and a fizzy tan head. Aroma of molasses and raisins. Starting with a lighter full body it goes down with an almost creamy mouth feel. Finish has a big dark molasses punch with some prune and raisin showing through then a wine like taste and a touch of bitterness. In the after taste it comes off with a dry feel even though it is sweet. This is a big complex brew that may have to much going on.



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