Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Special Reserve

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

2002 vintage. Poured black with a fizzy brown head. Aroma of smoke, chocolate, whiskey and a touch of tart cherries. Flavor is smokey tobacco and chocolate with a touch of dry whiskey, leaving a semi-bitter finish. A bit of acidity is lingering in the background. Body feels a little thin and slightly fizzy. Between the body and the mild tartness, perhaps this bottle was on its way out.

Pour a black color with a thin light brown head. Aroma of oak, roasted malt, caramel and whiskey. Flavor of oak, whiskey, roasted malt and caramel. The body is light with an oily texture and low carbonation.

Jet black color and no head on the pour but then a tiny white head appears and lingers for a few minutes. Smells like a coffee flavoured stout. Sour Prunes hits your palate first then gets sweet. It’s a heavy beer with a malty pruney slightly bitter taste at the tail. It does taste aged. I don’t taste any sort of whisky elements but there is something kind of oaky about the flavor.

Very deep mahogany pour with a light dusting of caramel head. First impression of the aroma was milk chocolate whiskey. A few minutes outside the bottle allowed the smoked peat, caramel, and a little dark fruit to come through. Milk chocolate presence from the lips through the finish. Whiskey doesn’t play a huge part in the flavor... it’s more in the nose and as some sharp notes on the finish. Some floral hoppage, smoke, and light caramel were also in there. Palate was unfortunately thin through the middle.. after a smooth creamy first impression, and before a heavier malty finish. This was pretty good.. could’ve been really good with a smoother flavor transition and more consistent mouthfeel.

Thanks to B. A bit too long in the cask, I think. The whiskey burn overpowers the peat and smokiness, more’s the pity. And why is it pasteurized? Heavy alcohol flavor for such a low ABV. Roasty finish. Worth a try but a bit of a letdown.

Black with brown hues, no head-only a few bubbles. Aroma of roasted malt, whiskey, and dark fruits. Same flavor, big scotch finish, touch of alcohol, roasty clove like aftertaste. Full body is nearly flat, oily- a well named brew. Excellent.

No head. Smoke, peat, molasses, oak, whisky, salt(?). Impossibly dark. Sweet and sour fruit and berry in the middle, awkward at first but becomes interesting and then a reason to continue sipping. Short, sharp bitterness for the finish. Better warm than cold. I can’t say that this is a favorite, but it’s definitely interesting and appreciated.

Pours black with a fully receding tan head. Aroma of molasses, whiskey, vinous (port), dark spices. Taste is definately imparted with the influence of the barrel, and is slightly sour. There’s also alot of residual sugars. Kind of a balancing act between the sweet malts, the whiskey, and the initial sourness. Medium-bodied with light carbonation. I’m slightly dissapointed, I wish I had gotten the regular Old Engine Oil.