Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Special Reserve

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

Pours pitch black with almost no head that quickly recedes to a thin ring that leaves very little lacing. Smell; the oak and wiskey stand out quite a bit which I like. There’s hints of coffee, and alcohol and some sweet dark fruits. Taste; initially sweet from a the dark fruits and chocolate, followed by a nice woody flavor from the oak barrels and a nice toasted malt backbone. The finish had some nice traces of bourbon that I was really looking forward to. Mouthfeel was a little thinner than I would have liked. A good beer, that I’m glad I tried.

Dark, muddy brown body with a creamy tan head that retained a persistent film. Aromatic nose of whiskey, peat, oak, toasted almonds, raisins, and vanilla bean. The flavor has tons of whiskey character but no sharp alcohols. Peaty plus charred dark fruit, molasses and soy. Medium, oily texture (psychosomatic?). Lacks some of the fullness that the flavor begs. A fun, distinct, and unusual beer.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry & blankboy - courtesy of HogTownHarry’s friend Dave B. 2002 vintage. Pours a think purply-black with little head and a very still body. Aroma - an absolutely killer combination of rich red wine, oak, and very dark chocolate. Flavour is sadly on the stale side, but there are still some nice roasted malt and dark fruit notes in there. I would’ve loved to try this a year or so ago, I think it would’ve been stellar.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry & GregClow -- courtesy of Dave B.Vintage 2002. Pours purple-black with a small white head. Nice aroma of dark fruit, red wine, wood and roasted malt. The flavour was a little dissapointing, I suspect this beer was a little past it’s prime and was a little stale. It starts sweet with chocolate, malt and dark fruit and ends tart with wood and red wine. Pretty good and I’m sure even better with a fresher bottle.

Black brown, and almost completely opaque, this product has a sweet malty smell, and very little head. Taste is same, but with a little sour, and smokey scottish flavor. $3/12oz

Pours a deep dark brown almost black color. Aromas of wood, anise, and bitter coffee. Flavor is a nice mixture of dark chocolate, wood, smoke, scotch.

Bottle (12oz). Shared with blankboy and GregClow - my bottle, courtesy of Dave B. Poured deep purple-brown with a minimal head. Aroma vinous rich resiny dark roast malt, quite woody and mossy, very much an oaked red wine character behind it all. Taste is a little stale - grapeseed, red current juice, oily roast malt like a dunkel. Mouthfeel astringent and juicy, average body - interesting.

Robe noire aux reflets acajou surmontée d’une mousse beige qui s’estompe. Arômes de boisé, de noix, de malt, d’épices et de caramel. Saveurs d’épices, de noix, de caramel et de levure. Bon corps