Ola Dubh - 40 Year Old Special Reserve
Harviestoun in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland 🏴
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Regular Out of Production|
Score
7.79
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Ola Dubh (pronounced ‘ola-doo’ and Gaelic for ‘black oil’) was conceived in 2007. It was the first ale to be matured in whisky barrels from a named distillery and with traceable casks and numbered bottles, it is a beer with real provenance.
This amazing brew has been aged in selected oak casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 40 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, adding complementary whisky notes to our chocolatey, bittersweet beer.
This amazing brew has been aged in selected oak casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 40 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, adding complementary whisky notes to our chocolatey, bittersweet beer.
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9.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
Jet black pour and a tiny beige head. Aroma is huge on the scotch. Lots of smoke, peat, vanilla, oak, And loads and loads of Scotch. I’m floored at how much the Scotch has permeated this beer. I love it. The amazing aroma of scotch minus the huge booze punch. The barrel ageing also jnstilled a great oak and vanilla flavor. This is exquisite! This is one of the best barrell aged beers I’ve ever had!
Tried
on 28 Feb 2025
at 05:28
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9.5
Bottle 0,33 ltr out of box and numbered 01565/July 2020: Pitch black coloured brew with an smooth dry bitter taste with superb gentle hints of roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, smoke and peat.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Dec 2024
at 11:13
8/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Jun 2022
at 23:27
7/10
Pitch black, tiny bit of coarse white head. Nose has some peat. Thin, pretty light, sweet, some licorice root, peaty whisky, caramel malts. A bit of a letdown but not bad.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jul 2021
at 00:24
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
330ml bottle [#00704]. Quasi black colour with small, creamy, moderately lasting and lacing, beige head. Dark malty, BA supported aroma, hints of leather, oak, a nutty touch, whiffs of caramel, dark caramel, a touch of alcohol soaked, dried, dark fruit, very cautious ashy, smoky overtones. Taste is dark malty with mild, dry BA support, hints of leather, oak, a nutty touch, some dark caramel, dried fruit. Creamy texture, smooth and soft palate, fine and soft carbonation. Rather cautious, mild, even not much development of flavours as it warms up - expected more.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Dec 2020
at 21:38
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle. Black and opague. Cream, ash and peated malt in the aroma. Initial chocolate overpowered by licorice, peat and whisky. Full bodied. Creamy mouthfeel. Ash and pipe tobacco. Some warming alcohol. Lovely!
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2019
at 12:07
6/10
Väldigt mild
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Jan 2018
at 17:52
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pours black into a tulip. Mocha head with little retention recedes to nothing. Dark licorice and soy aromas. Soft with licorice, cola and soy upfront turning to warm hot caramel, scotch and vanilla in the lasting finish.
Tried
on 24 Nov 2017
at 18:47
Another from my old collection
Tried
on 01 Jun 2017
at 13:19
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8
How: Bottle.
Where: Tasting 2017-05-06.
Appearance: Black colour with a very small tan head.
Aroma: Caramel, whiskey, malt, vanilla, alcohol.
Body: Thin to medium body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Whiskey, caramel, vanilla, alcohol.
Where: Tasting 2017-05-06.
Appearance: Black colour with a very small tan head.
Aroma: Caramel, whiskey, malt, vanilla, alcohol.
Body: Thin to medium body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Whiskey, caramel, vanilla, alcohol.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 May 2017
at 13:02