Harviestoun Ola Dubh (30 Year Old)

Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale
Alva, Central, Scotland

On cask from Seattle IBF black, thin, no head, impenetrable hue. aroma of whiskey, anise, black licorice taste of coffee and dark chocolate, somewhat muted smooth palate, little tickle from the alcohol

Pours black as night, with a tiny, quickly dissipating, light brown head. Smells of peat, creamy vanilla, rich toffee, and graham crackers. The nose also seemed more subtle than the other vintages, with the peat being more noticeable I thought. The flavor was more on the roasty chocolatey side, with the peaty smoke becoming apparent in the strong finish and lingering aftertaste. Some roasty burnt charcoal was also evident especially in the bitter leavings. This seemed a bit more toned down than the other offerings, obviously due to its age in the cask. Still, quite sharp in its characters and quite enjoyable as well. Bravo to this whole experimental series!

It pours a thick black with a thin brown top which dissipates quickly. The taste is a rich dark chocolate, semi-sweet, with hints of vanilla, molasses, smoke, whiskey and oak. It has a wonderful mustiness that is not at all unpleasant. The flavor is extremely complex. The smell is best appreciated just after the swallow, as it then comes from the back, into the sensory part of the nose. It has a long wonderful aftertaste. This beer is concentrated enough that you have no problem drinking it slow. It has a mild bite and burn starting in the middle and extending into the aftertaste, more than I expected considering it is only 8% alcohol. The long finish is all oak. This is one of the best beers I’ve tasted.

12oz bottle. Bottle# 10364. Aroma: Rich roasted maltiness with notes of peat smoke, chocolate, caramel and anise. Barrel aroma comes through strong with some oak and vanilla. Salt water and alcohol. Appearance: Dark, dark brown in color with no highlights. Medium tan head was full and foamy with good retention. Good lacing. Flavor: Roasted malt with notes of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, caramel. Lots of peaty smokiness upfront and throughout. Barrel flavors are well done with oak, vanilla, and lightly toasted nuts. Fairly big alcohol kick for an 8% beer. Nice, smooth finish. Palate: Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Light alcohol warmth in back of mouth. Overall: I liked this a bit more than the 12. The peat really came through strong here, and the barrel flavors were a bit smoother. But, the mouthfeel still feels a little light for everything that’s going on. Pricey, but worth a try.

Quite a good beer. Had subtle whisky notes, but they weren’t that prevelant, still tasty. Vert dark, could hardley see any light through it. Went down quite smoothly.

A- Pours a deep black with a small, caramel head which fades slowly. S- Smell consists of hints of caramel, chocolate malt and an intense sweetness. T- Taste is very balanced, toffee, butterscotch, bits of roasted malt and hints of whisky towards the end. M- Medium bodied with very little carbonation. D- I really didn’t taste as much whisky in this as everyone makes it out to contain. It is good and well balanced but perhaps a bit overated in my opinion. This was pushing the border towards imperial stout and I wish they would have toned back the roastiness a bit and let the old ale aspects shine through more.

4 oz. glass on tap at Uber. Pours deep, dark brown with a very small head. Aroma is of cacao and oak, with a very noticeable note of peat (scotch whisky) coming through. This brew is thick and syrupy, and doesn’t have the carbonation to clear your mouth - it’s left feeling well-coated. The taste is of an imperial stout with some scotch thrown in, though not quite as strong / pungeant as I would have liked. For something this rare and this expensive ($20 / small bottle), I want it to knock my socks off. There are a number of stouts I’d take over this, price notwithstanding... but still, a very fine beer, and it certainly has novelty.

Dark clear brown pour with a filmy head. Strong peat aroma on the nose with a bit of smoke. Peat dominates with hints of bitter cocoa and some kind of dry wood.