Ola Dubh Special Reserve 12 - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

OSUBeerStudent

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle date August 2010, into a snifter.

A - opaque brown/black. Starts with a fairly thick tan head, which slowly dissipates to a decent-sized ring and a patch of foam in the middle. Inviting.

S - lots of molasses and dark fruit. Smokiness from the whisky blends really well with the beer notes. The aroma is still very clean, however. It actually lacks some of the strength I expect in a beer like this, which is my big complaint.

T - starts with heavy molasses and dark fruit, but not syrupy sweet at all. The peat and whisky is definitely present and binds it all together at the end. The peat adds a bit of an acrid note to the sweeter malts. Tastes like it would be quite good without the whisky aging, but the barrels add some depth for sure. Quite tasty.

M - Very nice. Reasonably carbonated and on the thinner side for the style, makes it easier to drink than a lot of the bigger examples that are definite sippers.

Overall this is a very nice old ale. The sweeter molasses and fruit is nicely balanced by the whisky barrel. It has a nice complexity from this. The barrel would be interesting if it was integrated a little more with the rest of the beer, but it's very good as-is, regardless. Good beer and worth a try, even at the very high price ($9.19 for 11.2 oz for me).

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 19:54:26 | More by OSUBeerStudent

Jade

Ohio

3/5  rDev -27.2%

05-22-2013 23:59:23 | More by Jade

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -27.2%

05-22-2013 00:14:40 | More by pin

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-21-2013 00:47:26 | More by Kmat10

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

05-16-2013 19:49:43 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

rhizomatic

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-10-2013 04:41:49 | More by rhizomatic

Bill235

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-09-2013 19:21:58 | More by Bill235

SanFranJake

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-08-2013 13:03:37 | More by SanFranJake

GRG1313

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

04-27-2013 21:40:02 | More by GRG1313

JRod1969

New York

4/5  rDev -2.9%

04-23-2013 03:23:45 | More by JRod1969

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.9%

04-19-2013 09:39:19 | More by Jason1337

tbryan5

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

04-06-2013 13:11:24 | More by tbryan5

jewellrunner

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

03-24-2013 15:37:42 | More by jewellrunner

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

03-24-2013 05:17:48 | More by onix1agr

shagal

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-17-2013 21:56:54 | More by shagal

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-15-2013 13:27:59 | More by MarcatGSB

Lare453

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

03-13-2013 02:56:08 | More by Lare453

Eucrid

Ireland

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

03-10-2013 20:17:51 | More by Eucrid

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

03-06-2013 02:49:24 | More by BostonHops

andant

New York

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-03-2013 03:00:54 | More by andant

Seaba

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -21.1%

03-01-2013 14:13:19 | More by Seaba

IanSpindler

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

02-27-2013 20:54:39 | More by IanSpindler

owend

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

02-27-2013 20:31:02 | More by owend

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.9%

02-26-2013 07:12:11 | More by CaptainNomihodai

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.48/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle No. 58432, Date: July 2011.

A - Dark brown-black, thin khaki head, minimal lacing.

S - Peat, wood, burnt coffee, Scotch, campfire.

T - Starts with dark cocoa, roasted malts, and black coffee. Mid palate is heavy on Scotch, grains, earth, and a hint of vanilla. Finish is burnt, woody, and charred.

M - Medium body, low carbonation, fairly smooth.

O - Most dominate Scotch presence in all of the series. This is my favorite version.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 00:08:56 | More by Rickythejeweler