Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (Bottle)

Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Old Ale
Alva, Central, Scotland

This is one of the few black ales i’ve tried. Have to say was impressed. The label states viscous chocolatey roasty. That’s not far off. You can taste the toasted hops, with true chocolate flavor in the background. Dark, rich and enjoyable.

On tap at Map Room, Chicago. Has the musty, malty flavor of an old ale-- but almost could pass for a stout. I didn’t originally know the style, and couldn’t decide if it was an English stout or some kind of weak schwartzbier. Of course-- an old ale! Worth a try, but I would rather have something a little maltier and less roasted next time.

Poured black with a fluffy tan head. Aroma of chocolate and roasted malt. Taste was very similar to the smell. Very smooth.

Pours no head and the color of night. Loose, spotted lacing. Nose is chocolate malts. Tastes include wheat, more malt, roasty with slight fruity backdrops. Apple-ish aftertaste. Medium carbonation and medium/full body. Not as robust in flavor as to be expected. I like the Special Reserve much more than this version.

Ehhh..this tastes too much like a stout to me. I love old ales and this is too overpowering for me. Aroma was big. Vanilla, chocolate and alchohol. Pour was (you guessed it) like old engine oil. Thick and black. A nice thin tan ring appeared for a head after the pour. Taste was very strong and alcoholic. Chocolate and burnt malt with bitterness in the back of the throat. Thinner mouthfeel than the pour made it seem. In a blind taste test I would think this was a stout.

330 ml. bottle, no freshness date, sampled in a snifter. Ruby hued opaque black color with tight, firm foamy head that has good retentive powers. Light amount of laced sticking, an impressive start. A fruity nose of sweet cherries and lemon zest, followed by coffee and caramel toffee along with hints of vanilla. Nice estery alcohol accompanies each whiff of this old ale. Oily slick on the tongue, silky smooth full bodied feel, well rounded in the palate. Fruity sweet at first, red cherries with a pinch of sugar on them. Butter caramel. coffee with a dash of cream and bitter chocolate, the malts provide the base that keeps all the flavors in line, nothing is too sweet or bitter. Very mild English hoppiness, floral and leafy herbs. The alcohol is well masked, a soft warmth in the back of the throat. One of the better Old Ales I’ve had in awhile, perfect on a cold blustery evening.

A nice dark chocolate stout with good flavour. Not an aromatic stout though. Aftertaste is good and bitter.

Nice Dark pour with a tan head. Nice and smooth creamy with good chocolate notes and molasses. A slight bitter hoppy after taste but over all a very nice Scotch ale.