Harviestoun Ola Dubh (40 Year Old)

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

Pours black with no head. Like a cask in a bottle, but there is some carbonation. A sipper, with whiskey, dark fruit even imperial stout characteristics with a tad of roast and chocolate. Richness in taste, above average mouthfeel.

11.2 ounce bottle, bottle 54407, bottled on January 20, 2009. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours very dark brown with a half inch tan head. Head retention is good, but not much lacing. The brew smells like roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruit, smoke, peat, iodine, oak, and vanilla. The Scotch Whisky aromas are pretty strong in this brew! The taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, it’s all Scotch and malt. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s a good thing. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it has low/moderate carbonation and it’s a little bit coating although it does seem a bit thin at times. Drinkability is very good, it’s smooth and pretty easy to drink. Overall I think this is a pretty good beer, but then I like malty beers and Scotch. That and I liked the other Ola Dubh beers I’ve tried. This beer isn’t cheap at all, but it’s definitely worth a try.

330mL bottle, as a gift from the very generous Derweg/Belgian/Jonas (thanks again man!). I would never have got this otherwise, as the LCBO figured it was entirely okay to bring in pathetically limited quantities, without a hope in hell of ever getting it out of Toronto (although due to some convenient administrative f*** ups it did anyways). But I digress. Served at room temp on Christmas Eve, by the tree. Pours an opaque dark brown with a tiny tan head. The aroma is just stunning. So much oak and scotch it’s extremely impressive. Same chocolate and malts as the 12 but they’re over-powered by the woody aspects which impress me so much more. The flavour is quite sweet, again same malty aspects as the 12, but in this case I actually don’t enjoy them as much. I’m much more into the oaky aspects, which is odd as I usually am not a fan of barrel aging. Booze is slightly hot but not cloying like the sweetness is bordering on. Dryness in the finish from the wood. Very interesting, quite an experience and am very grateful to have had.

Bottled. Pitch black coloured. Light brown head. aroma of ripe fruits, spice, roast, chocolate and liqourice. flaovur of vanilla, soy sauce, liqourice, chocolate, alcohol. Medium to full bodied. Roasty and chocolaty end. Nice.

Bottle 33 cl. Courtesy of yespr. Pours an opaque dark brown with a small, rough beige head. Massive whisky aroma - amazing. Solid body, roasted malts, lots of sweet and oaky accents. Low in carbonation. Warming alcohol finish. 161209

dark brown, small light brown head. aroma of coffee, roasted stuff. nice. flavor is nicely sweet malty, licorice, many notes.

Bottled. A pitch black beer with a thin off-white head. The aroma has strong notes of peated malt, smoke, roasted malt, and alcohol. The flavor is sweet with notes of caramel, roasted malt, nuts, peated smoke, leading to a dry smokey finish with a light alco burn. Huge thanks to yespr for sharing.

27.5 cL bottle. Pours pitch black with a small tan head. Aroma is solid wooden and vanilla, dark roasted malty. Thick malty and smoked flavoured, dark roasted and vanilla. Smooth wooden and dry. Lingering smoked and malty into the far finish. Nice one.