Ola Dubh is the probably the most well known European barrel aged stout. Ola Dubh comes in 12, 16 and 30 year versions, where the year represents the age of the Single Malt Scotch Whisky that came out of the cask used to age the stout. I have had it once before and while excellent, the price was a bit much. However I got a steal of a deal on the 16 that I just couldn't pass up. Each bottle is numbered and dated mine being 64609, July 2011.
The nose is strong smoked bacon, the meaty smokiness continues to dominate for some time. As it warms the smokey bacon hickory, maple, flavor allows for some roasted malt and raisin to come through. When it reaches room temperature caramel sweetness and strong alcohol begins to come forward. While an incredible stout it could be argued that the smoked bacon overwhelms the brew limiting complexity. Then again who doesn't love smoked bacon, hickory, maple and malt.
