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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8.4/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Probably the most expensive beer I have ever bought at the LCBO (and maybe anywhere else). Written on back of bottle, best before end: April 2012. Pours a dark oil colour with no highlights. Its head is big, creamy, light brown coloured, with great retention and thick lacing. Roasted malt nose with lots of wax aromas and notes of molasses and brown sugar. Silky smooth mouthfeel with a little stick to it. I much prefer the taste of this one, compared to the smell. No burn at all. The Highland Park whiskey taste is present and well-blended. Flavours of the burnt malt, peat, vanilla, coffee, molasses and caramel. Quite a nice old ale, but too expensive to get some more.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jun 2010
at 23:03
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
(Bottle, purchased at Royal Mile Whiskies, London) Almost black colour with a hint of ruby when seen through light. Frothy, pale brown head. Roasted, malty nose with oak wood, tar, coffee, dark fruit, liquorice and well matured whisky. Roasted, malty, slightly oaky taste with notes of dark chocolate, well matured smoky whisky, liquorice, sweet coffee, dried fruit, raisins, vanilla and a touch of tar. Bittersweet finish with liquorice and ashes. Almost full body, with smooth and rounded moutfeel. Some sweetness throughout. An excellent example of wood ageing, with the wood character being distinctive without becoming sharp and aggressive. Well balanced and very tasty. Lovely beer!
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 May 2010
at 13:51
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Medium brown lasting head. Opaque black body. Strong roasty chocolatey marzipan and toffee aroma with smoky whisky notes. Dry-sweet alcoholic chocolate and toffee taste with smoky roasty charcoal notes. Full-bodied. Mild, smooth mouthfeel, almost velvety. Dry rich chocolate and burnt smoky aftertaste with long lingering whisky notes. Beautiful bitter edge, very delicate yet clear, runs through the entire beer. Outstanding. (0.33l bottle, Cornelius, Edinburgh.)
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 May 2010
at 01:47
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Bottle. Pours deep black with a sturdy beige head. Plenty of alcohol in the aroma, some whiskey, some roasted malts. Big flavor, some chocolate, peat, vanilla, smoke. Medium bodied with modest carbonation, a bit oily. Lingering smokiness. A rather complex brew that will certainly appeal to those who like the flavor of whiskey.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 May 2010
at 08:33
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Near black with a large beige head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, dark chocolate ad coffee notes. Flavour was sweet with whiskey, burned malt, dark chocolate, vanilla, smoke and peated malt. Finished smoked.
Tried
on 01 May 2010
at 05:25
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Black with a small tan head. Aroma of licorice, whisky and alcohol. Dry and complex roasted flavour with a touch of ink.
Tried
on 18 Apr 2010
at 09:04
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ Odense Tasting, April 2010. Pours pitch black with a small white head and lacings. Nose is peat, roast, caramel. Smooth and roasted flavor with hints of oak, coffee and liquorice. Niceness
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Apr 2010
at 09:02
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle at Cardinal, stavanger. Black colour with a tan head. Aroma is whiskey, hop, alckohol, malt. Flavour is whiskey, smoked, roasted, malt, hop, alcohol, vanilla, chocolate. Full body. Nice beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Apr 2010
at 00:15
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle, at Cardinal. It’s a very dark brwon beer, a small tan head sits of top. Whisky, peat and alcohol on the nose, something metallic too. Unusual to find that in the aroma. Peaty, whisky-like flavor with a good dash of alcohol warmth. Full-bodied, and peaty, burnt finsh. Some whisky too of course. Expected more from this, but it’s a fine beer indeed. Nothing extraordinary though. 091106
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Mar 2010
at 13:35
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle: Poured a deep black color ale with a large dark brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of sweet roasted malt with dominating notes of warming scotch is quite enjoyable. Taste is also dominated by loads of scotch notes with some light vanilla and oak with marries very well with the base sweetness form the malt. Body is quite full with a creamy texture and some good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Very well done and would buy some again even with the steep price tag.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Mar 2010
at 13:06