Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30 - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

ponbon63

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.5%

12-22-2011 20:33:54 | More by ponbon63

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%

05-18-2013 22:19:50 | More by Photekut

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-13-2013 14:33:10 | More by drummermattie02

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

04-26-2013 21:16:06 | More by outoffocus

SLeffler27

New York

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A fine, thin blanket of chestnut mousse leaves a delicate veil of lace while a viscous, black (SRM 40) liquor coats the Glencairn snifter. The short-lived head becomes a thin ring after a few minutes.

Rich chocolate malt and whiskey is omnipresent, but beneficent. A syrupy and roasted character develops with warmth as smoky peat and molasses loiter in the background.

Rich flavors closely follow the aromas of dark fruit such as fig and prune, while molasses is exposed by warmth. All mix well with earthy peat flavors as it teeters from sweet to bitter. Molasses and brown sugar are evident in the ever-so-subtle, but lingering, finish.

This variant of Ola Dubh is extremely smooth, with a full, almost dense, body. The alcohol is lightly warming and much higher than anticipated, especially given 5.5 years in the bottle. Carbonation is like fine pin pricks amidst a velvety texture.

This is a prime example of what a contemplative beer can be. It would easily stand up to cigars or brownie bottom sundaes. It brings to mind memories of long conversations with my grandfather in leather chairs surrounded by old books in a cigar-smoke filled room.

Bottle number 6001, dated September 2007. This could also fit a rich porter style.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 21:18:23 | More by SLeffler27

EricTheRed

New York

3.5/5  rDev -18.2%

04-12-2013 22:54:58 | More by EricTheRed

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.5%

04-09-2013 02:10:16 | More by oglmcdgl

laituegonflable

Australia

3.38/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown, mostly black. Head is a nice beige, just bubbles around the surface - at its most dense have a nice crema look to it. Lace is decent at first but doesn't stick around. Not bad at all.

Smells pretty boozey. Dark, yeasty, almost vegemitey aroma with a touch of peppery spice, dark chocolate and burnt toast. But yeah, very yeast-extract kind of organic aroma all over the roasty grain. Not that impressed, to be honest.

Taste is not as boozey as I expected at all; in fact it's quite uneventful. Quite dry, with light notes of caramel, some bisscuity flavour, just grainy and slight vanilla notes. It's really quite drinkable, but primarily because there's not a whole lot going on there. Decent, though, just not very exciting. Largely sweet, but enough to balance.

Very thin and empty on the feel. Definitely lets it down here, because some more presence on the tongue would make up for some of the palate's shortcomings. Amazingly not hot for 8%, but there's just nothing really to it.

Drinkable, fairly unexciting beer. Sessionable as hell for a dark 8% beer though.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 11:53:47 | More by laituegonflable

Romulux

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%

03-29-2013 13:37:16 | More by Romulux

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

03-25-2013 05:35:12 | More by derkfromwi

Sparky44

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

03-25-2013 01:25:39 | More by Sparky44

tbryan5

Louisiana

5/5  rDev +16.8%

03-23-2013 12:29:01 | More by tbryan5

spycow

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

03-10-2013 19:49:52 | More by spycow

codynevels

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

03-02-2013 21:20:16 | More by codynevels

Seaba

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%

03-01-2013 14:14:39 | More by Seaba

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

02-26-2013 07:13:20 | More by CaptainNomihodai

brotherloco

California

4.75/5  rDev +11%

01-28-2013 05:46:02 | More by brotherloco

Jspriest

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -24.1%

01-16-2013 23:54:04 | More by Jspriest

surlytheduff

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%

01-15-2013 00:46:32 | More by surlytheduff

csustar001

Ohio

5/5  rDev +16.8%

12-25-2012 14:11:20 | More by csustar001

bmf0

Texas

1/5  rDev -76.6%

12-21-2012 13:53:46 | More by bmf0

JustinMatthew

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.5%

12-17-2012 21:03:46 | More by JustinMatthew

techdiver

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled Sept 2007, number 07659. Black with clarity visible at edges. Not much carbonation, perhaps due in large part to the age of the bottle. Great malt profile in aroma and taste, there's an invigorating rush as it hits the back of the mouth and slides down your throat. Of the other Special Reserves I've had, the 12 and the 16, this is the most memorable.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 01:13:31 | More by techdiver

MaseFace

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

11-30-2012 04:17:53 | More by MaseFace

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

11-19-2012 13:20:28 | More by t0rin0