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Harviestoun Ola Dubh (30 Year Old) 3.92 301

Harviestoun Ola Dubh (30 Year Old)

Percentile
99
overall
Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale

Alva, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
3013.94/5.03.92/5.08%98.5English 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?  
 puzzl (2649), New York, New York, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/514/20
May 15, 2008  
Cask at Spuyten Duyvil. Snifter. Lightly smoaky, chocolate, cocoa, scotch aroma. Almost no barrel. Palate and flavor are thin. More whiskey here, but still not great. Little complexity. I wont be buying the other two.


 HogTownHarry (4025), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
May 13, 2008  
Bottle (330ml). Shared by blankboy with me, garthicus and tupalev. Murky opaque ruby-black with a small frothy tan head. Aroma and taste - old ale burnt malt backing, really boozy, but this is mostly just senior citizen Islay (okay, orkney) scotch - peat, seaweed, iodine, hessian .... light, long finishing, slightly salty. Not much to say, just nicely done and well-balanced. I liked it. Thank you, Paul!


 garthicus (1311), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
May 13, 2008  
Blankboys bottle, thanks so much for sharing! Shared with Harry, Jeff and Paul. Bottle number: 03289. Appearance: Deep dark ruby brown, almost black, very small head. Aroma: Spice-whiskey, tanned leather. Burns the nose, lovely. Flavour: Smokey, burnt malt, alcohol, spice, Earthy and peaty. Very enjoyable. Thanks for sharing this gem Paul.


 bsierra (213), Vista, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/518/20
May 11, 2008  
On tap at Newport Pizza and Ale, compliments of John Henry. Pours a nice rich syrupy ruby amber - brown with a nice velvety creamy head. Aroma is very rich and intense, but nothing is too overpowering or sharp- good subdued whiskey, light oakiness and vanilla, some hints of tar and leather with nice fruity esters and smooth sweet malts. Flavor is also lightly fruity with hintsof tar, tobacco, and nice single malt whiskey with an earthy cigar character but itwas smooth and refined. This was really good.


 douglas88 (1675), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
May 10, 2008    Updated: May 12, 2008
Bottle shared by Eric. Pours a dark brown body with a thin beige head. The aroma is like a thick slice of peat cut after a downpour; earthy and strong. The taste was not that balanced, but it was really well made and very nice. There was a smooth and enjoyable palate with strong wood and peat flavors, also some sweetness and a lightly toasted malt. I really respect what this company is doing with the traceable casks and this beer is really a well crafted work of art.


 CharlesDarwin (1860), Point Judith, Rhode Island, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
May 9, 2008  
On tap at Ashley’s - Ann Arbor, MI. A lightly charred nose, backed with some peat alcohol and light chocolate. Pours a dark black mahogany with a tan fringe. Texture immediately develops as oily, backed with well-integrated Scotch alcohols and cherries. Oak comes out with charred inner-barrel. Malt characters seemed pushed to the back, but they work as a good palate for the barrel character, although some balance might be appreciated. There’s definitely some raw peat smoke notes in this beer. It’s got a good barrel flavor. I’m surprised I like the piquant touch of scotch in this beer, it works. A good barrel use. The sugars are chewy, granular and bit sweet, but needed to work with the barrel. Alcohol is not overwhelming, to my palate. Interesting.


 DocHop (278), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/105/517/20
May 7, 2008  
Pours jet black with a beautiful brown, creamy head. Nose is an amazing scotch with caramel and a deep roasted malt, almost wood smell. Very smooth body. The oak and scotch over-lay the entire beer with the base being chocolate and thick roasted caramel malts. Age brings an extreme smoothness with no sharp flavors at all. Very warming with no hints of the 8% ABV.


 SSSteve (2104), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/105/518/20
May 6, 2008  
pours a pitch black color with almost no head. aroma is funky, earthy, mold saturated rotten wood. flavor is of campfire marshmallows, burnt fire wood, and toast. one of the most smooth, velvety and complex palates ever. medium bodied. i can’t think of a better campfire beer. this stuff rocks.



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