Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18 - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

Zraly

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Jet black with a medium brown head. Strong scent of booze predominates the nose. Briefly, though, there is the scent of new leather shoes. A bit peaty and a bit smokey.

Boozy and earthy, this is a rich choice. The leathery note opens up a host of other notes that really work well together. Wonderful notes of tobacco, rum, burnt sugar and oak make for a nice composition. There is an interesting sour note that comes out and helps round out the mouthfeel a bit. I quite like this.

I did get a smaller server (4 oz in a snifter) and probably could of drank a touch more. However, much more than one and I might strain my palate a bit.

A great cigar ale.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2011 21:17:24 | More by Zraly

bobhits

Kentucky

3.79/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Very clean and lacking strong aromas. Light oak and sugars vanilla and butter scotch elements. Very clean through the smell.

Carbonated but bubbles eventually are only around the brim of the glass and faded. Looks high abv though all bottles are 8%.

Very clean flavor much like the aroma and even look. This is much like you’d expect an 18 year scotch. Clean and smooth flavors, but unlike an 18 year old scotch this isn’t scotch. Beer looses flavor when it is simple and smooth. Ultimately this is lacking in character from the 12 year and greatly lacking in flavor.

The lack of carbonation here is really hurting this beer. It’s almost flat and it isn’t flavorful enough for this lack of carbonation.

A good beer but it needs more barrel or more sweetness. It lacks both.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 22:55:43 | More by bobhits

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

04-20-2013 14:58:02 | More by drgonzo2k2

dertyd

California

3/5  rDev -28.6%

04-06-2013 23:40:21 | More by dertyd

phirleh

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

04-04-2013 13:07:40 | More by phirleh

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

04-01-2013 15:56:38 | More by Sunnanek

wdarcy77

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

03-26-2013 12:04:04 | More by wdarcy77

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

03-25-2013 05:35:48 | More by derkfromwi

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

03-24-2013 05:17:33 | More by onix1agr

Eucrid

Ireland

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

03-10-2013 20:14:31 | More by Eucrid

mendvicdog

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

03-10-2013 16:42:18 | More by mendvicdog

Polasiuss

Ireland

4/5  rDev -4.8%

03-06-2013 22:26:17 | More by Polasiuss

Resuin

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

03-06-2013 05:54:05 | More by Resuin

golf4collet

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

03-02-2013 21:29:51 | More by golf4collet

IanSpindler

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

02-27-2013 20:55:33 | More by IanSpindler

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.8%

02-26-2013 07:12:59 | More by CaptainNomihodai

MadScientist

New York

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: Very black showing a hint of deep garnet on the edges. The head is very thin but is long lasting and made of a fine medium brown bubbles.

S: Moderate whiskey and malt aromas that well balanced, the smoky and peaty scotch notes blend well with the beer although the light roast and bit of chocolate notes are more stout-like than old ale. There isn't much in the way of hops. There is a light note of stone fruit in there as well. Alcohol is evident and soft.

T: A smooth and palate coating beer with a moderate whisky flavor and a light malt sweetness. The malt has a slight raisin character along with bringing a touch of cocoa and little roast.There is a moderately-light hops bitterness. Some moderately-light oak character comes through as well. The balance is slightly bitter. The finish is medium and the aftertaste is a long lingering whisky flavor blended with a moderate alcohol.

M: Full bodied and slightly slick with moderately-light carbonation.

O: A heavy, sipping beer with layers of flavor and a great balanced whisky character.

BottleNo. 72188
& Date: July 2011

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 23:07:57 | More by MadScientist

aztraz

Sweden

4/5  rDev -4.8%

02-02-2013 18:58:31 | More by aztraz

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at the bull and bush cherry creek. listed at 11% abv, not 8%, it pours flat black into a 10oz. chalice with several inches of chalky off white head. the nose is really interesting, deep dark chocolate notes, really scotchy from the barrel, whiskey heavy for sure, with charcoal and peat, as well as vanilla all bombarding the nose. alcohol is well hidden, I cant pick it up too much even when this gets warm. nice woody flavor complimented by dark roasted barley and char from the barrel. tastes more like a spirit than a beer, especially in the finish. very complex, almost no sweetness, very well done brew. the carbonation is slight but its ample, and the body is a full as they come. bitter finish is interesting here, sort of contradicts the whiskey flavors, but its something new. overall a real fancy beer that I was happy to pay 9 bucks for twice. a treat to get stuff like this on tap in the usa.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 16:49:45 | More by StonedTrippin

Hultkrantz

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

01-27-2013 03:44:10 | More by Hultkrantz

cvm4

Mississippi

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottled Feb 2012, #5043.

A - To me, the 12/16/18 all seem to look alike once poured. Deep black, not overly thick k looking with a tan head & good lacing.

S - Peaty, smokey and roastiness with a slight sweetness.

T - The taste pretty much follows the nose. Love love love this scotch in my beer.

M - Full bodied, creamy & low carbonation.

O - IMO, the 12/16/18yo are all interchangeable. Just subtle differences the older you go.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 22:04:28 | More by cvm4

Azteceinstein

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

01-20-2013 17:53:11 | More by Azteceinstein

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Dark brown. Looks silky and juicy. Tiny rim of bubbles, similar to a quadruple.

S: Coffee.

T: Coffee. Butterscotch. Some caramel. Tiniest hint of whisky. An espresso like smokiness, like that ashtray flavour you get in coffee sometimes, which really works well here.

M: Amazingly smooth, velvety and juicy.

O: This is the Harviestoun house style on steroids.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 09:28:35 | More by Hoppsbabo

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 fl. oz. bottle. bottle no. 10264. date Jan 2009.

A: a deep, dark brown. walnut wood finish. head is a brownish hue. retention is minimal and a bit disappointing. some sparse lacing.

S: nutty and fruity. prunes. a serious meaty-ness to this nose. woody, but definitely not as peated as I expected.

T: a really solid peated flavor. just enough to some, I could certainly use more though. some sweetness follows. a nutty sweetness. combined with the smoke, reminds me of a smoked chestnut or walnut. the finish definitely has a burnt caramel flavor and then turns to yet again more peat flavor. lingering, but not devastatingly so. there is actually more of a sweet, candied fruit in the finish after the peat is gone.

M: super mild carb. a tad over the silky point. full-bodied.

D: I had the option of buying either the 12 year, 16 year, or 18 year and selected this vintage mostly due to reviews on this site. after having this, I would love to do a side-by-side-by-side with all 3 to really pick them apart. one of the most complex English Old Ales ive ever had. I think the time definitely helped...

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 06:41:42 | More by Jimmys

tbryan5

Louisiana

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

01-09-2013 02:49:19 | More by tbryan5