Ola Dubh - 12 Year Old Special Reserve
(has 2 batches)
Harviestoun in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland 🏴
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Regular|
Score
7.63
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Ola Dubh, meaning ‘Black Oil’ in Gaelic, is craftily created by taking our Old Engine Oil and maturing it in 12 year old Highland Park whisky casks. The process is far from simple, but the result is a beautiful brew with complimentary whisky notes and a chocolate, roasty and bittersweet aftertaste. All thanks to the labour of love of our master brewers.
Brewer’s Notes: Ola Dubh is a labour of love. Everything about it is extreme. The brew team fill the mash tuns to the brim with roast barley, pinhead oats and malted barley. It ferments more slowly as the the yeast struggles to move around in such a viscous beer! The base beer is Old Engine Oil which they then put into Highland Park Whisky casks and it stays there for at least 6 months. During this time the flavours from the wood enter the beer to produce Ola Dubh. It is ready only when our Master Brewer, Stuart, deems it ready!
Brewer’s Notes: Ola Dubh is a labour of love. Everything about it is extreme. The brew team fill the mash tuns to the brim with roast barley, pinhead oats and malted barley. It ferments more slowly as the the yeast struggles to move around in such a viscous beer! The base beer is Old Engine Oil which they then put into Highland Park Whisky casks and it stays there for at least 6 months. During this time the flavours from the wood enter the beer to produce Ola Dubh. It is ready only when our Master Brewer, Stuart, deems it ready!
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6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
I really liked the others in this series but this one was rather disappointing. +++ Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a black color with a medium sized foamy beige head that left decent lacing. The aroma was sweetish and malty with notes of caramel, molasses, whiskey and a touch of chocolate. The flavor was bitter and malty with wood and whiskey notes. Long finish. Moderately full bodied. Ok.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jul 2016
at 11:10
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle from LeeAVFC cheers mate; dark opaque brown pour thin light tan head, aroma has chocolate, light roast and a hint of spirit, taste has sweet chocolate, dirty roast, some barrel, dark fruits.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jul 2016
at 14:07
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle.Black colour with no head.Aroma of vanilla and wood.Taste is mild of whisky and coffee,smooth oily mouthfeels and soft carbonation,full body and soft finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jun 2016
at 02:45
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle @Bir&Fud Bottega (Rome). Pours oily black with a medium head. Aroma of roasted malts, chocolate notes with light mocha and a touch of peated whisky. Flavour is medium sweet with a good bitter end, smoky aftertaste. High body, medium carbonation. Close to world class!
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Feb 2016
at 17:43
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Black with thin creamy head. Aroma and flavour have sticking plasters, light smoke, leather, bitter roasted malts, some coffee and of course malt whisky.
Tried
on 06 Feb 2016
at 17:13
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Some barrel and some smoke. Some caramelized malt. Good balance. Light licorice. Dark maroon with ok head. Light sweet finish.
Tried
on 27 Jan 2016
at 18:33
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Flasche (33 cl) vom Bierzwerg-Onlineversand. - Tiefschwarz, schwacher dunkelbeigefarbener Schaum. - In der Nase schweres dunkles Malz, Stout-artig, mit zarten Anklängen an Vanille und Torfrauch. - Antrunk schwer und füllig röstmalzig mit starkem Mokka und weicher, zurückhaltender Süße. Beim Wärmerwerden zeigen sich zarte komplexe Säure und Noten von Torf. Mild rezent, weich im Mund, schwer aber nicht sirupartig. Im Abgang milde, schwach holzige Herbe mit einem Hauch von Asche, zart salzig. Im Nachtrunk dann tatsächlich so etwas wie Whisky-Noten: zart torfig und rauchig. - Schmeckt wie ein erstklassiges schweres Stout, dabei rund und sehr harmonisch. Die Whisky-Noten geben ihm nur noch das besondere Etwas.
Tried
on 05 Jan 2016
at 07:37
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Bottle. Black with a nice beige head. Aroma of dried dog food, marmite sherry, oak, dark berries and soy sauce. Taste of malts, dried fruits, marmite, oak, whisky, caramel and brown sugar. Pretty sweet with a slightly sour edge in the aftertaste. Moderate to strong bitterness. Rather strong carbonation. It did grow on me as it warmed up but I’m kind of sad to say I’m not exactly a fan.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Dec 2015
at 08:25
8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
first time at Puttetjes 2014/12/27. Now today at Kim Jong’s birthday bash in Zaandam. Dark brown with light tan head. Sweet roasted chocolate malts, moccha, light vanilla, cinnamon. Big sweet and moderate bitter. Full body and soft carbonation. Creamy soft icecreamy feel. --- Beer merged from original tick of Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve on 27 Dec 2014 at 18:51 - Score: 9. Original review text: Mooi soepel en gebalanceerd, drinkt zoals je een goede wijn drinkt ofzo.
Tried
on 04 Dec 2015
at 15:44
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle@Simon The Tanner, London - black our with beige head. Aroma and taste is roasted sweet malty, with prominent chocolate, dried fruit, some great dark spices in there, lovely. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Nov 2015
at 13:22