Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (Bottle)

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

Bottle. Birthday beer. Looks like it’s name- black, with a head of brown cream. Rich, full aroma- coffee, vanilla, coconut. Flavor not as full as aroma though. Thin first taste, then some serious bitterness. Not terribly complex flavor- just plain old bitterness dominates. Started good, but ended 1-dimensional. Going against the grain on this one.

355ml bottle
6.0% ABV
I tried this beer on February 12, 2009 after purchasing from one of my local LCBO outlets. The beer poured a dark brownish-black with little or no head. The aroma was dark sweet malt, with some chocolate hints. The mouthfeel was full-bodied, velvety, and mildly carbonated. The flavour was complex and included dark malt, sweet malt, some coffee and some chocolate. This beer was more stoutlike than a Scottish Ale.

scura buona schiuma piuttosto persistente note tostate maltate legero cioccolato poco caffè in bocca buon corpo note di cioccolato e un finale tendente all’amoro luppolato e tostato

Bottle. Aroma has notes of chocolate, coffee, roasted malts. Very dark braown that sits black in the glass with an average sized off-white head that mostly diminished and left good lace. Flavor is roasted malts, coffee and chocolate then finished with a decent bitterness. Palate is full bodied and oily soft. A good solid roasty brew, very porter like.

Bottle. Dark, almost black and opaque. Aroma is toasted/nutty in flavor. Taste is rich, almost savory, with a dark chocolate/coffee flavor. Finish is moderately long, but smooth and dry with only a slight bitterness. Mouthfeel is full, somewhat heavy and a bit viscous. Very good, and would enjoy again.

Pours a light-devouring black, with a small, fine, creamy brown head. Leaves no lacing. Aroma is of oats, roasted grains, burnt toast and chalk (???). A strong hint of the alcohol content pervades through the blend of smells. A beautiful sweet cream oat-y malt hit, followed by a pleasing roasty bitterness. Very aggressive finish, pretty much essence of charred toast. As in burnt to a crisp. I feel like I’m breathing out smoke after every sip. Rich, thick and creamy. Although halfway down the glass it starts to feel a tad watery. Delightful, though the burnt finish might become overwhelming after a couple.

Bottle. Wow, this looks great. Deep brown, almost black with a creamy off white head leaving great lacing all over the glass. There is lots of coffee in the aroma, some caramel and toffee, cherry: all really inviting. The mouthfeel is full and slick on the tongue. I taste medium roast coffee beans, caramel, vanilla, subtle grassy hopiness in the background, then some dry, dark chocolate, high in cocoa.

Tap at Earth. Pours a deep brown with amber notes and a medium foamy light tan head that laced. Aroma of rich chocolate notes, cappucino, roasted malt, nuts and toffee. Great aroma! Flavor of the same dark chocolatey hot fudge, chocolate ice cream, roasted malt, nuts, hints of vanilla and caramel.