Ola Dubh Special Reserve 12 - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

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

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep dark brown with short beige head.

S: Nutty malt, peaty barrel, coffee, oreo cookies, graham cracker, slightly leathery. Interesting and complex, this doesn't smell much like the barrel aged beers I know.

T: Well balanced and complex, never feels too heavy handed. Big wood flavor, light roasted malt, low acidity.

M: Creamy and medium bodied, a nice sipping beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 03:08:27 | More by mattsander

KingSlayer

Mexico

4.31/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 fl oz bottle poured into a cognac snifter.
bottle presentation is superb. poured a jet black untranslucent oily liquid, a 2 finger dense tan head formed with poor retention, but a nice beige ring and swirl was present on top at all times, beautiful lacing.
nose composed of coffee, vainilla, chocolate, biscuit, soy, and alcohol.
palate is rich and complex, same as nose, bitter hop aftertaste in the back of the tongue and lingering biscuit, chocolate coffee flavor.
full enveloping creamy body, nice carbonation.
overall a very tasty brew, complex, mildly alcoholic, with my untrained palate i couldnt feel the whiskey cask ageing kick in, but i still enjoyed this immensely.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 01:13:47 | More by KingSlayer

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review taken from notes almost 2 weeks ago.

330 ml brown bottle with Harviestoun mouse logo, a fine quality green label in highland park style just below ensuring you know which age of Highland barrel were used. a nice tag giving a bit of background on the great relationship amongst brewer and distiller. Harviestoun and Highland Park that is. Poured into an English style port glass(stemmed). Label notes: July 2011, head brewer & master of wood both listed as well as the 57219 bottle #.

A - Ola Dubh translates to, 'black oil', and this brew is properly named without doubt. It's nearly unpenetratable with the smallest bit of dark brown ruby cutting the bottom edges. Soft and cozy black in color with a Small tan head that leaves a thin ring of lace before vanishing.

S - Dark fruit and rich caramel aroma. Tiny whiff of chocolate malt and a scotch booziness.

T - Smoked whiskey and smoked barrels. Dark fruits and a hint of caramel sweetness. A fine acheivement in giving that scotch whiskey barrel flavor.

M - Smooth mouthfeel and booziness is brilliant and easy going. Very enjoyable and drinkable. It's an oil like thickness but still remains thin enough to quench the thirst.

O - this is my first harviestoun brew, but won't be my last. I really enjoyed the 12 and will pick up a few more. Ill do the 16 in a few days, but for now I'm left admiring a brilliant black old ale. I'm big on scotch and bourbon and this one is pure class. I'd recommend Highland park scotch to anyone and after this I can say Harviestoun puts the same amount of brilliance and class into this ale. A real treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 03:21:57 | More by BradtheGreat7

cvm4

Mississippi

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a thin black, coffee like and with a light tan head.

S - Very peaty, smokeyness and dark fruits.

T - Roasted malts, chocolatey, smokey & peaty.

M - Medium carbonation & body. Smooth & velvety.

O - I've had my share of scotch & this comes across as a great scotch beer. Really peaty & smokey and smooth as velvet.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 20:10:34 | More by cvm4

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cellared about 1 1/2 yrs

Appearance: very dark brown, almost pitch; nice mocha head dies to a film disappointingly fast

Aroma: medicinal peat, roasted malt, caramel, anise, raisin, dates; lot;s of rich fruit sweetness with a hint of acid bitterness

Taste & Mouthfeel: texture of hot chocolate - thick and creamy with a bit of chalkiness - and some of the flavour of it too, but add some anise and espresso; these flavours combine with sweet toffee at the start, but then turn to a pronounced bitterness that is not only due to the roasted malt, but also grassy hops; some of the peat character is also sneaking around towards the end, rising in the back of the throat; a port comes to mind - rich dark fruitiness, cherries

Overall: some really great character to this beer, definitely at least partially imparted by the scotch barrels; always like a brew that takes you on a ride of experiences from first sniff to finish, and this is one of them

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:52:12 | More by BGDrock

SLeffler27

New York

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The quick, dark walnut brown head is rocky over a very dark beer with reddish brown highlights. Highly viscous with spotty lacing.

Pronounced malt with molasses, licorice, and a light note of mint in the background.

The flavor clearly showcases roasted malt with some baker’s chocolate, moderate bitterness, and plums. The finish has a light bitterness and peat flavors.

Special 12 is dry with a full to dense body and fine, prickly carbonation. The smooth, silky texture gives way to light chalkiness while the alcohol is less than expected.

While this bottle was enjoyed from a Glen Cairn snifter with George, it would be fantastic for reading or contemplation.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 21:07:23 | More by SLeffler27

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from Plonk in Canberra.

Pours a deep, deep brown. Dark and ominous in the centre, with a solid deep toasted edge. Head is a reasonably frothy and solid crest of mocha bubbles. Not much lace, but there's solid residual liquid when swirled. Fine, delicate carbonation forms as the glass is tilted. Looks really good.

Nose is dark and toasty, with lashings of oak and dark smouldering whiskey. There's a slight peppery twang that comes up as it warms, or perhaps vaporises out of the heady alcohol. It's a dark, oaky, delicious beast.

Taste is also good, and aided by a lovely slick, almost oily smoothness. The toasty notes are still present, but the richness of the wood and whiskey is lost a little bit from the nose. Back feels certainly a little bit empty after the depth on the front, but accentuates the volatile booze character that seems to evaporate in your mouth along with the flavour.

Overall, this is a nice beer blended and executed very nicely. By coincidence, my scores for the Ola Dubh series rise as the age of the whiskey barrels do. I'd love to say that it was intentional.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 02:04:51 | More by lacqueredmouse

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on cask in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a pitch black brew with no head.

Smell -Oaky and roasty aromas were the heaviest. Mixed with these were some good notes of whiskey, a lighter smoke and some chocolate.

Taste – The taste begins with flavors of roasted malt as well as some chocolate. Flavors of oak and a light whiskey flavor quickly come to the tongue. While the whiskey starts out lighter it grows stronger thought the taste. While the whiskey intensifies, some dark fruit flavors and a bitter herbal flavor come to the tongue. In the end with increases in both the whiskey and roasted flavors, a very satisfying dark boozy flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the creamier and smoother side with a very low level of carbonation due to the cask nature of the pour. Nice for the style, although I think I may have been one I would have enjoyed with a bit more carbonation (I should try and find a bottled version).

Overall – Quite tasty and well worth a try. It had a nice roasted and whiskey flavor with all the flavors melding well throughout the taste experience.

Serving type: cask

10-13-2012 23:46:29 | More by Darkmagus82

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.13/5  rDev -24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330 mL bottle poured into a Kate the Great snifter. Bottled July 2009.

Appearance - Dark brown with not much of a head. A few islands of bubbles remain but that's it.

Smell - Oaky to a fault. Ashy oak with a peaty whiskey presence. Slightly vegetal aroma.

Taste - Chocolatey malt. Spicy. Smokey scotch flavors. What ruins it is the finish. It's very vegetal. Hoppy bitterness in the finish. Extremely oaky.

Mouthfeel - Bitter and rough from the green flavors. Medium carbonation and easy drinking aside from the overt flaws.

Overall - Decent. I'd not buy it again though. The 16 had a much improved barrel character.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 23:11:29 | More by Alieniloquium

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It has a nice dark brown color to it. It has a thin tan head that dies down somewhat fast and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of dark fruit, chocolate, roasted malts, caramel and some whiskey.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice roasted malt character along with some chocolate, dark fruit, molasses, light caramel and a light hint of whiskey.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 20:42:05 | More by SebD

IceTrey9785

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally found this bottle at Total Wine & More in Bellevue, Washington. Decided to give it a try after some fish & chips. Poured the beer into a nice Spieglau Burgundy glass...

A: Dark brown, almost black -- thin off white lace on the top of the beer. Reminds me of thick espresso with the oils floating toward the top of the brew.

S: Bittersweet chocolate, hints of black fruit, roasted hazelnuts and coffee. Smells great, but very subtle. As the beer became warmer the aromas became more precise and defined.

T&M: Rich, thick and full bodied. Not quite as thick as motor oil, but the beer is definitely concentrated. Rich dark cocoa and espresso dominate the palate, with toasted nuts, toffee, and earth shining through on the mid-palate. The oak aging certainly leaves it mark with toasty vanilla extract near the finish. Being that they use Highland Park whisky casks for the beer, there is certainly a salty finish that lingers for a few minutes. Not quite as intense and peaty as the Scotch itself, but it definitely leaves it mark. Fantastic beer with strong flavors and amazing complexity.

Love this beer! So excited that I finally found it. I'm a huge whisky fan, so having the two combined is certainly a huge perk. I find this beer intense, but very inviting and welcoming. The alcohol level is appropriate and the concentration really propels this beer to the next level. Amazing!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 02:54:41 | More by IceTrey9785

acevenom

Louisiana

4.6/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle dated July 2011.

Poured into a goblet. Pours black with a thin, quickly dissipating tan head. There are some visible alcohol legs. I pick up the aroma of dark roasted barley malt, chocolate, oak, and that familiar whisky aroma. Those dark roasted malt notes hit up front and the whisky comes right through in the back. I also detect that oak and chocolate from the nose. The malt profile almost comes across as porter-like. Many of those flavors come through in the aftertaste. The body is full with low carbonation. The beer is smooth, but also sticky. It is easy to consume for an 8% beer. This is an excellent beer that I wouldn't mind having again.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 21:36:38 | More by acevenom

1Adam12

Indiana

2.23/5  rDev -45.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a blackish brown. No head, no lacing. Smells of malt, soysauce, whiskey, and thats about it. Taste really is not that great. Soy sauce, whiskey, none of the old ale flavors that I'm used to. Mouthfeel is very thin. Overall, man, this was a major let down. I had high expectations for this, and now I wish I could get my money back. Very underwhelming, and just not very good flavors. Too much soy sauce, and little of anything else good. Once was one to many.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 17:49:20 | More by 1Adam12

bashiba

Iowa

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep dark brown with almost zero head. Just a dark tan soap ring.

The smell is very big with chocolate, smoke, oak, and maple.

The flavor is very big and malty. Big dark chocolate mixing with peat and barrel flavors. Has some definite Islay scotch notes with some iodine and light salty ocean coming through. Very malt centric but has a nice underlying medicinal bitterness poking through.

The mouth feel is thick and viscous also very oily.

Great beer for the scotch lover.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 23:22:04 | More by bashiba

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.56/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Ola Dubh's Special Reserve#12 @ 8.0% served cold from a 330 ml bottle
A-pours a dark brown almost black with a small fine tan head that quickly dissapates leaving some spotty lacing along the pint glass
S-some smokyness , sweet chocolate malts , roasted coffee , brown sugar , hint of cherries and a lot of whiskey from the barrel aging
T-some smokyness more than SR#16 and SR#18 , booze is strong yet a creamy brown sugar sweetness in the finish , bit complex all the flavors going on here , wow
MF-low carbonation , thick and a bit syrupy , roasted bittersweet after taste
Ov-a sipping beer for sure , bit pricey , a yes for sure , if you can get the other Special Reserve give them a side by side taste test

Notes from tasting of SR#12 , SR#16 , SR#18 & revisited since the .25 increments

Cheers LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 21:39:18 | More by LampertLand

flagmantho

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 330mL bottle into a pint glass. Bottled in July 2011.

Appearance: extremely dark brown, allowing no light through the body except for some brown highlights around the edges. Head pours a thin finger of frothy tan foam. Quite good.

Smell: sweet malt with plenty of rich, roasty chocolate character. Rather like a very good porter; I like it.

Taste: flavor starts off with an astringent bite, which quickly mellows into chocolate with a hint of fruitiness. Alcohol warmth kicks in, and it finishes with a lightly woody, tannic character. Altogether a dynamic and satisfying flavor experience.

Mouthfeel: big body with a good carbonation and big creaminess. There is also a rich, silky smoothness here which combines with the creaminess for a very satisfying texture. I love it.

Overall: this is a very good and satisfying beer. It is well-crafted and I'd definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 16:12:28 | More by flagmantho

mmapes

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First question: "Ale matured in whisky casks" -- but what kind of ale? Was looking for a stout, but is this a brown? A "strong"? And why is the whisky more prominently featured than the ale. Can't wait to see. The bottle I got is vintage July 2009. Three years old. Casks are from Highland Park Distillery

Poured into a snifter. Some coarse head, but not much; dissipates quickly. Aroma of alcohol and whisky - chocolate and molasses. Pours black like a stout.

Taste is not as heavy, thick, or sweet as it smells. Doesn't seem 3 years old. Impression is more like a fresh thick porter. Smoky aftertaste.

Long warming finish even though ABV is only 8%.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 03:39:59 | More by mmapes

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 1/2" light brown creamy head that dissipated quickly over black-as-night liquid.

S: Caramel, coffee, chocolate, oak and a hint of Highland Park whiskey.

T: Roasted malt, toffee, coffee, chocolate with oak and some Highland Park whiskey in the finish. The roasted malt flavours are most predominant here, and almost take away from the whiskey.

M: Medium to thick viscosity with a medium to high level of carbonation.

O: I wish this tasted as it smells, because it has quite a burnt flavour profile. I was expecting something sweeter with more caramel and chocolate flavours. However, it is still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 23:11:25 | More by DaftCaskBC

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a snifter. Bottle #25,160 from September 2007.

3.0 A: Black color. Maybe a quarter finger of frothy light brown head that quickly fell and left no lacing. I'll cut it some slack since it's so old.

5.0 S: This may be the strongest smelling and booziest of the series and also the best smelling. Tangy caramel, loads of chocolate, light coffee, vanilla combine to form a creme brulee type aroma. Molasses, a formitable earthiness, and peat and oak from the whiskey and barrel. Supple roast underneath. I wouldn't ask for a much better nose, but if I did, I'd ask for a little more sweetness.

3.0 T: The frailty of the base beer is quite apparent in the taste. Aside from roastiness and some chocolate, the taste is dominated by the whiskey instead of the whiskey playing complement to the base. Most of the flavors found in the nose are still there, but in vastly reduced amounts with chocolate, molasses, and caramel taking the biggest hits. Still a decent amount of vanilla and oak from the barrel and peat from the whiskey. Earthy mineral from the water.

2.0 M: Light to ligher medium body. Whatever the descriptors, it's too thin. A good bit undercarbonated, but not quite flat. Lacking creaminess.

2.5 D: These beers smell great, but then ultimately disappoint. The base for these is weak and the barrel overshadows it by far too much. Only the 18 year to go, then I'm done with this unsatisfying, overpriced series.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 19:54:57 | More by DavoleBomb

eriktoyra

4.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle bought in 2009. Aged for 3.5 years.

A: Pours a black colored liquid which is more like dark brown around the edges if hold infront of a light. Almost no head. No visible carbonation.

S: Burnt oak wood, tar, leather and smoke. I can also find some salty tones and dark roasted malts. Complex and nice!

T: Starts off with a lot of oak casks, liquorice, burnt peat, some salted and smoked charcuteries. I can also find cacao and some spicy hops. For a 8.0% ABV beer the alcohol is very well hidden.

M: Lightly carbonated. Feels "round" in the mouth. Smooth and elegant.

O: A beer that you definitely should take your time to drink. The smells and tastes are its strengths.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 07:27:43 | More by eriktoyra

jibbyvonjibb

California

3.5/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Black opaque with brown edges if put up to a light. Small off-white head.

S: Strong smoked meat smell. Caramel.

T: Sweet toasted malts. Slight tang. Slight balancing bitterness from roasty malts and earthy hops.

M: Medium-heavy body. Pretty viscous. Light carbonation.

O: Nothing spectacular really. Just a fancy label. Couldn't taste much of the barrel flavor because it is overdominated by smoked malts.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 03:41:44 | More by jibbyvonjibb

shleepy

California

3.53/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought at Whole Foods in Berkeley, CA. Served from small bottle into snifters.

A: Black, with small-medium off-white head.

S: Burned prunes. I.e., smoky / roasty, carameley, and a bit fruity.

T: Oh, yeah. Definitely like drinking liquified, burned prunes... or so I imagine. There's a fairly high level of bitterness all throughout. None of the usual vanilla flavor from oak... but I think that's where the smokiness is coming from.

M: Body is on the heavy side, but not to the point of the beer being a very slow sipper.

O: Worth a try, perhaps, but not worth buying again, especially at the price point. Actually, I wouldn't buy it again at half the price. Too roasty/smoky and does not have enough complexity to redeem itself.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 03:41:42 | More by shleepy

heygeebee

Australia

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a one finger head, black n tan. Head has coarse bubbles, fades quickly.

Aromas a heady mix of chocolate, roast malts, raisin, in a complex and wonderful mix.

Taste is a smooth blend of all the above. Add in some wood dryness and caramel and toffee hints. Chocolate aromas turn to coffee taste. A little bitterness to balance.

Mouthfeel very full bodied.

Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 11:50:53 | More by heygeebee

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz bottle, number 12,513 from September 2007.

A: Black oil indeed, a thick viscous stout-like ale, pitch black curiously with no head whatsoever. It's not that the ale isn't carbonated, it just doesn’t visually manifest. After a few minutes, a wispy white band appears.

S: Dark chocolatey stout aromas, coffee in tow. The Highland Park whisky adds a softer, peated aroma - oak barrel with a bit of a kick. The aroma isn't overpowering, just sweet and soothing. Wooden strength finishes the nose off - the barrel comes through nicely.

T: The whisky hasn't left too heavy a hand on the ale, allowing the old ale's stout-like flavors to come through. Chocolate and burnt malts, even more caramel, add to the malt flavor. The wood adds depth but the whisky doesn't have the gravitas of Ola Dubh 30. Instead, a soft boozy sweetness comes from the whisky, a nice pairing against the old ale. Good.

M: Dry on the finish, the barrel doesn't completely take over the ale. The pairing for flavors is nice though, a sweet nightcap.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 23:53:57 | More by akorsak