Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Special Reserve

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

From the bottle.

Pours a shiny obsidian black with a very small and short-lived tan head. A great big lovely aroma, whiskey and candied fruit; grapes and pumpernickel. This beer has one of the nicest aromas I’ve ever encountered.

Following that spectacular aroma, the flavor disappoints somewhat; the mouthfeel disappoints unequivocably. The beer is surprising thin at the first sip - perhaps unfair, because it is not particularly thin for a 6% ale, but it is thin (if slightly buttery) for a beer with that wonderful aroma.

The flavor is certainly complex; dark roasted pumpernickel-and-molassas tones with a hint of whiskey-oak battle it out with a surprisingly sweet-and sour ensemble of flavors that follow almost immediately like a bite of lemon rind on a heels of a lovely espresso. (I never did understand that tradition!) There are definite chardonnay and sour-cherry elements that come with this, before yielding to a late and whiskey-tinged bitter finish that comes up under the sourness like rind on a grapefruit.

I owe it to the pair to try them head to head, but my sense is that I prefer the regular to the special reserve, by a noticable margin. But I’ll try it -- any excuse is a good one for revisiting the regular Oil Engine Oil.

Bottle. Black colour with a tan head. Vinous fruity aroma with some hints of coffee. Sweet fruity flavor with some vinous hints. A little fruity finish.

Dark brown colour with a small tan head. Malty aroma with some dark fruit and a weak coffee note. Sweet fruity flavor with a light alcohol touch.

Grapey, nutty, fruity aroma with some peppery spiciness apparent. Clear, darkest brown coloured body is topped by a large bubbled, low brown head that recedes rapidly to partial cover with some lacing. Peppery spiciness to the sweet flavour with some stronger, vinous, fruity notes. Medium body with somewhat low carbonation. Bottle (Julio’s, Mar-05).

Bottle. Black colour with a beige head. Dark fruity, coffee, wood aroma and taste. Medium body with a light sour finish.

Bottle. Dark brown coloured with a beige head. Aroma of dried fruits with notes of wood and sherry. Flavour of dried fruits with notes of fruits and sherry.

Bottled: Dark brown coloured. Light brown dense head. Sweetness, coffee and toffee in the nose. Flavour is creamy filled with sweetness and some coffee. Is quite smooth and easy to drink. Full bodied. Has some light sourness. Barrel flavours are detectable. Nice one

(Bottle 33 cl) Pours black and completely opaque with a creamy, light brown head. Vinous, lightly tart nose. Lovely, lightly sour, vinous flavours - actually this reminds me of a very good Flemish Sour. A very sophisticated and refined brew. 270106