Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30
Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30
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From:
Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Stout
Ranked #2
ABV:
8%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,211
Avg:
4.24 | pDev: 10.14%
Reviews:
247
Ratings:
451
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 22, 2024
Added:
Feb 23, 2008
Wants:
  103
Gots:
  95
Every bottle of this extremely limited Ola Dubh 30th Anniversary Ale has been individually numbered. Our ale has been aged for up to six months in first fill sherry butts, formerly used to mature Highland Park's award-winning 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. These hand selected butts add subtle whisky notes to what is already a complex ale with its chocolatey mouthfeel and distinctive bittersweet finish. The high ABV has been deliberately created to stand up to, and blend with, the intensity of flavor created by the infused wood.
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Ratings by 9uns:
Photo of 9uns
Rated by 9uns from California

4.75/5  rDev +12%

Dec 16, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.26/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
(330 ml bottle, 04477 / JULY 2020; purchased boxed single off shelf at Bella Vista earlier today, $17.95... poured into my Sapwood stemless wine glass)

L: extra-dark brown, essentially black liquid; cauliflower build of messy foam... a couple random flares of lace, but otherwise basic with its uneven collar

S: smoky near peaty on the pour; plunging my nose in: burnt embers, honey-kissed single malt (way more whiskyed booze than I recall on any other variation/vintage)... beyond amply roasty; elegantly so, and toffee tinged in spades... its overall intensity is moderate+, but expression a touch clipped... dark dried fruit (prune) gradually emerges, and later some oxidative overtones

T: embery spirit pops up front, followed by a surprisingly round pure malt foundation flocked with espresso roast... the maltiest (marriage of single malt and wort) of the Ola Dubh; crazy, the noticeable difference compared to the other numbers... I keep waiting for it to sting, cut, fractalize - but it just remains restrained and relatively damn mellow throughout

F: smooth and quiet as little else... the burn never arrives, just the cool tickle of sunrise... thickish and bouncy, but inflated and attenuated maybe a bit too much... pristine spring water with a lil smoky tickle

O: this isn't the best one, but it ranks just under the 12 for the most characterful Ola Dubh... time, place, other factors prompted this buy... I wouldn't get it again - it confirms my experience that this brand gets worse, the older the barrel - but I'm glad I finally did (2268)
Feb 22, 2024
 
Rated: 4.31 by not2quick from Missouri

Oct 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by howardnss from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2023
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.02/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Engine oil color check. Head is darker but not black as beer. Nose is light whiskey- ESK. Taste is a bit lighter than I expected. Good smother english stout.
Jan 16, 2023
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.44/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.

This smells like milk chocolate, light wisps of smoke, toasted malt, nut brittle, peat, roasted malt, and dark fruit.

This has a really nice barrel character, with a complementary peat/smoke flavor that never gets overwhelming. A lot of scotch whisky BA stuff can just be overwhelming ashtray beers, and this is not. There’s a nice dark chocolate, lots of roasted malt, some vanilla, and a dried dark fruit character.

This is medium bodied, silky, and pretty drinkable. It’s kind of thin but it’s not a huge detriment.

This is a classic for a good reason – definitely one of the best barrel aged beers out of England.
Nov 29, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle 04299, July 2020

Alright, we’re stepping it up with this one. Skipping right over the Ola Dubh 21 (because I haven’t found it yet), we’re going straight to 30, the second highest rated English Stout on BA. This one is starting to make promises, it has a significantly higher average than the others I’ve had, and even comes in a fancy box. Let’s see what it’s all about

Pours completely pitch black with a finger of tan head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The nose on this one is certainly more smoky than the rest, and I can get down with that. I’m picking up on aromas of peat smoke, rich caramel, dates, milk chocolate, toasted pecan, molasses, light black cherry, and sweet whiskey

There’s a really nice fruity and boozy twang in taste despite the relatively low abv. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting cocoa powder, black cherry, dark bread, vanilla, peat smoke, light sherry, toffee, and leather. The swallow brings notes of peat smoke, dark toast, dates, burnt caramel, toasted oak, coconut, black pepper, light cola, and cocoa powder

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a silky beer. Finishes neutral with a nice boozy snap to it

This is definitely the best one yet. Complex and full but not at all overbearing. Great stuff
Oct 18, 2022
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.7/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
330cl bottle from Boise Co-op. Dark brown pour, a few bubbles. Malty aroma, brown sugar, molasses, oak. Taste is cola, malty, light sweetness, faint whiskey notes, leather, dry. A bit underwhelming, but good
Apr 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.28 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Dec 04, 2021
Photo of ThisWangsChung
Reviewed by ThisWangsChung from Maryland

4.02/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4
Bottled July 2020.

Pours a very dark brown color. What little head there is fades in no time flat. It looks fairly still in the glass, perhaps to be expected?

The aroma is unbelievably elegant and nuanced - those 30 year single malt scotch whisky barrels are really working their magic here. The oak here is very subtle, playing beautifully with the smoky peat, caramel, and chocolate notes. There's a distinct fruitiness here; maybe apple or peach? While it might lack some of that big boldness of a 15% barrel-aged monster, it's about a million times more deft in its execution.

I taste the scotch whisky from start to finish - again, elegant is the key word. It's expressive without being overpowering. Additional notes of caramel, toffee, and chocolate pop in the background. Every once in a while, peaty notes will jump in to say hello. I remember trying Ola Dubh 12, and from memory, this one seems more complex, more subtle, and more refined, while still resembling scotch whisky nicely (GOOD scotch whisky).

Somewhat flat and thin, to the point where I'd call it the Achilles heel. I wouldn't call it creamy, either; it almost feels like cola that's been sitting out for a couple hours. It slides unimpressively down the palate, and isn't well suited to the flavor profile. Despite the boozy prickle - and the unfortunate textural dink - it's still an easygoing sipper that isn't harsh in any manner.

This is really close to being one of my favorite barrel-aged brews, but the mouthfeel lets it down. And yet, I'd be foolish to dismiss this offering. The flavor profile and aromas are wonderfully refined and artful in a way far, far too many US barrel-aged beers aren't. Well worth anyone's time.
Sep 15, 2021
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled June 2013

Pours still. Dark brown black color.

Sherry, cocoa, chocolate, faint orange citrus, caramel, toffee, light whiskey, light smoke. Smooth and complex. Love the no/low carb. Has a cask feel to it. Great feel all around. Some vanilla sweetness and barrel in the finish. Such an easy drinker at 8%.
Aug 25, 2021
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a 330 ml. bottle. Sampled on July 25, 2021.

Handsome looking near jet black pour underneath a fading brown head.

Aromas of dark roasted malts, licorice, wood, barley malt, and earth. I get some booze but not a lot.

The mouthfeel is medium-full.

The taste is sweet at first and then the boozy licorice characters kick in. This would normally be a beer I'd drink that I might be celebrating something special but I didn't this time.
Jul 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by archero from Texas

Jun 26, 2021
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

4.21/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2020 vintage, poured into a Fremont small snifter. Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours pitch black, opaque in the glass with a quarter finger dark khaki head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, molasses, cocoa, peaty smoke, almost identical to the 12 and 18 I've had before. Flavor follows, with dark toasted malt, molasses, dark chocolate, moderate Scotch whisky. Deeper malt flavors in this version than I remember, which is a pleasant difference. The Scotch is more noticeable in this version, but as before, not sure I can tell the difference in the versions; this is the oldest whiskey barrel treatment I think I've tried. This is great, classic brewery and another enjoyable aged old ale with good Scotch character.
Jun 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.14 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

May 24, 2021
Photo of Fordcoyote15
Reviewed by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -21%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
Great malt flavor when i was able to get a whiff and tiny taste of it. Basically drinks like water and tasted like oxidized water. Waste of $15. Would have been a waste of $1 and literally would have drank a budweiser, or a white claw.
Mar 20, 2021
Photo of backblast
Reviewed by backblast from Alaska

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottled 7-2020

Taste was rather light with what seemed like dark fruit (black cherry?) mixed with peach, an earthy char and a bit of ash, bit boozy and some chocolate. There is very little barrel and the finish and aftertaste don't linger. I was hoping for more from this one but it is just average.
Mar 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4.45 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Mar 05, 2021
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.42/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This beer has a wonderful subtle flavor that is satisfying and not overwhelmingly boozy for a whiskey barrel aged ale. Licorice and dark berries smell and taste. Earthy and malty. All the flavors are subtle but well blended. I would definitely seek this out again. I always enjoy beers from this brewery!
Feb 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by unclekeith from Alaska

Feb 03, 2021
Ola Dubh Special Reserve 30 from Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 451 ratings