Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 30 Reserve, Harviestoun Brewery Ltd., Scotland

• $12.99 / 11.2-ounce bottle at metro beverage stores.

(ENLARGE)

This limited-edition ale is 8 percent alcohol by volume.

BOB TOWNSEND BEER PICK E-mail Townsend Related: • More on food and drink • Restaurant reviews and search More Townsend New brews for fall and Oktoberfest  Budweiser American Ale  Craft brewers a perfect fit in Slow Food Nation event  Sweetwater Motor Boat Ale  Weyerbacher Brewing on track, after a struggle  • Bob Townsend is editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast.

• Profile: This lovely limited-edition ale is a collaboration between Scotland's Harviestoun Brewery and Highland Park Distillery. Ola Dubh ("Black Oil") is matured in oak casks used to age Highland Park's 30-year-old single malt whisky. At 8 percent alcohol by volume, it's a strong, imperial porter-style brew based on Harviestoun's Old Engine Oil. It pours a viscous deep brown with a tan head. The smoky aroma of whisky, toasted malt and vanilla is followed by a complex, oaky melange of coffee, chocolate and peat flavors, with a long, whisky-infused finish.

• Pair with: Ola Dubh is a rare (and expensive) treat that makes a great after- dinner or late-evening sipper.

• At 5 p.m. April 15, you can drown your tax day sorrows when the Brick Store Pub in Decatur taps a limited-edition cask of Ola Dubh Special 30 Reserve. 125 E. Court Square, 404-687-0990, www.brickstorepub.com.