Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18 - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

vandemonian

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had Ola Dubh 18 on tap at ChurchKey in DC. 4 oz pour in a 9 oz snifter. Ola Dubh 18 is all malt, wood and bitterness. No subtlety. I didn't particularly like it.

A: Black with big 15 mm head. Great looking beer! 4.5

S: Smells like smoke and whiskey. 4

T: Malty with bitterness and woodiness. Malt. Bitter. Wood. Not much else. I don't particularly like it. 3.5

M: A llittle flat. 3

O: 3.5

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 03:00:37 | More by vandemonian

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Vertical tasting of the range, from notes.
A - a dark black colour, thick, with great whispy lacing. 4.25
S - rich aged red fruit, super rich, and interesting complexities. 4.5
T - plum, raisin, shellfish, some acidic rosemary, aged vanilla taste, oak, coriander, lemon, creamy roast malt, dry smoked meat. 4.25
M - super smooth, rich caramel sweetness, very rich and tasty, dry tannic, woody finish, creamy with very full body, big and heavy. 4.25
O - smooth mineral taste, salt and green tea, salty caramel and some aged woody vanilla smoke. Very well put together, amazing beer all around, complex, dynamic and demands your attention. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 17:43:50 | More by mick303

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-16-2013 15:18:02 | More by TheBeeraholic

SimonTja

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

06-14-2013 12:19:11 | More by SimonTja

HopsMatt

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-13-2013 06:38:11 | More by HopsMatt

Hallertau

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-11-2013 02:56:34 | More by Hallertau

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