Harviestoun Brewery, Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve

Ola Dubh (pronounced ‘ola-doo’ and Gaelic for ‘black oil’) was conceived in 2007. It was the first ale to be matured in whisky barrels from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, it is a beer with real provenance. To make Ola Dubh 12, Old Engine Oil (amped up to 10.5%) is aged for up to 6 months in selected oak casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky. This adds complementary whisky notes to the chocolatey, bittersweet beer.  And, it is ready only when the head brewer deems it ready.

Ola Dubh 12 pours black with a modest spattered head that reduces slowly, leaving behind textbook lacing. The aroma is delicious; smoky Worcestershire sauce, leather, iodine and grilled steak. Flavours of smoky-sweet malts, roasted peat, coffee beans and a well-bittered finish. Overall this is a rather exotic brew with a defined barrel influence. It’s refined rather than over the top and very delicious indeed.