Tag Archives: ba

Deeds Once More Into The Fray

Brewery: Deeds Brewing Co.
Country: Australia
ABV: 13.8%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: 2023 vintage

Brewer Description: (from can) This Imperial Stout was aged in Bourbon Barrels for 12 months resulting in thick chocolate notes, backed by vanilla, bourbon and oak.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.34
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 440ml can, 2023 vintage, canned on 28th September 2023. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown to black in colour with a half finger tanned brown head that had decent retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, chocolate, bourbon, caramel, and vanilla notes.
Taste: Roasty, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, oak, with some biscuit and nutty notes.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied, with soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice classic BA style Imperial Stout. Despite the sweet aroma, it was balanced in the flavour, with good roasty and bourbon character. An enjoyable sipper.

Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18

Brewery: Harviestoun Brewery
Country: Scotland
ABV: 8%
Style: Old Ale
Other Notes: Aged in Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky casks

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Aged in selected oak casks, formerly used to mature Highland Park’s beautifully balanced 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

(from tag) Ola Dubh (meaning ‘Black Oil’ in gaelic) is a real labour of love for our brew team. We take our Old Engine Oil and mature it in whisky casks from the award winning Orkney distillery & our good friends, Highland Park. The process is far from simple but the end result is a beautiful brew with complementary whisky notes and a chocolate, roasty and bittersweet aftertaste.

We are delighted to bring back the Ola Dubh, 18 year old. This award winning ale has delicate notes of dark chocolate, tangy oak and dried fruit shining through.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.04
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 330ml black foiled and capped bottle, bottle no. 08466, bottled in October 2021, and a best before end date of November 2024. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown to black in colour with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, chocolate, nutty, dried dark fruit, whisky, with light notes of caramel and peat.
Taste: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee bean, whisky, oak, light nutty, a touch bitter, with notes of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Aroma and flavours were balanced, but I probably prefer the 16 slightly more with the extra dark fruit and sweetness.

Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special Reserve 16

Brewery: Harviestoun Brewery
Country: Scotland
ABV: 8%
Style: Old Ale
Other Notes: Aged in Highland Park Wings of the Eagle Single Malt Scotch Whisky casks

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Aged in selected oak casks, formerly used to mature Highland Park’s beautifully balanced Wings of the Eagle Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

(from tag) Ola Dubh (meaning ‘Black Oil’ in gaelic) is a real labour of love for our brew team. We take our Old Engine Oil and mature it in whisky casks from the award winning Orkney distillery & our good friends, Highland Park. The process is far from simple but the end result is a beautiful brew with complementary whisky notes and a chocolate, roasty and bittersweet aftertaste.

The Wings of the Eagle barrels provide an ale that strikes a sensational balance of fruity sweetness with a complex bitter hop background.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.08
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 330ml black foiled and capped bottle, bottle no. 15872, bottled in March 2022, and a best before end date of March 2025. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, chocolate, sweet dark fruit, whisky, caramel, and maybe a touch of smoke.
Taste: Dark fruit sweetness, light roast, chocolate, brown sugar, caramel, whisky, toasted wood, with a light bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Clean, balanced, aroma and flavours.

Crooked Stave Blackberry Dark Origins

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 9.666%
Style: Wild Ale – Dark
Other Notes: Cellar Reserve 2014

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dark Sour Ale aged in whiskey barrels with blackberries.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.34
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 375ml dark purple waxed bottle, bottled in February 2014, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown in colour, with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Caramel, oak, and whiskey sweetness, with a support of blackberries and blackcurrant.
Taste: Sour, tart, blackberry, dark berries, blackcurrant, oak, chocolate, caramel, whiskey.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: A good enjoyable sipper with nice aroma and flavours supported well by the blackberries.

Crooked Stave Nightmare on Brett Port

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 9.666%
Style: Wild Ale – Dark
Other Notes: Cellar Reserve 2014

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dark Sour Ale aged in port barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.3
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 375ml purple waxed bottle, bottled in July 2014, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: Pretty much black in colour with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, mixed berries, oak, raisin, port, and a splash of caramel.
Taste: Lightly sour, tart, mixed berries, blackcurrant, oak, port, raisin, with light notes of chocolate and caramel.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and flavours with the port barrel contributing nicely and it was just enjoyable.