Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Special Reserve

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

Dark beer and whiskey combine to create one of the greatest beers ever. I was recommended this one at the Brickstore Pub in Decatur, GA after they had run out of the Dogwood Winter Ale that had be aged in Jack Daniel’s casks. I enjoy the rich coffee, whiskey and chocolate flavors and smooth finish of this beer.

I liked this much better than the ordinary version. Lovely deep garnet color that just doesn’t quite live up to the name. Tan head leaves a web of lacing. Nose is strong. You can smell this sucker from two feet away--very vinous with notes of coffee and vanilla. Flavor is less intense but similar with some funky wood notes as well as an overall funk that’s not 100% pleasant. Smooth bodied with gentle carbonation. It definitely has a good measure of barrel aged character so if you’re inclined towards that, have at it.

Looks like its name. Rich whiskey aroma. Rich sweet and somewhat tart malt flavor with a touch of chocolate. Quite good.

Pours black with a thin brown head. Very aromatic of malt and cocoa. Flavor of cocoas blend with the aging in malt whiskey casks. Combination leads to an undesirable vinegar or teriyaki type flavor. I honestly had to choke this beer down, as it is somewhat sacreligious for me to pour beer out.

2002 vintage. Dark black with a small, light brown head that is mostly diminishing down to a thin ring. In my first whiff, I get the strong scent of malt whiskey. Blindfolded, I’m sure that I would have identified this liquid as straight whiskey, the aroma was that pungent. Upon further sniffs, some sweet roasted malt notes come out, but they have been buried deep by the whiskey. Lots of sweet berries, burnt brown sugar, molasses, and sweet candies in the flavor, which is near cloying at times. Somewhat light on the palate, with very little carbonation. Slightly burnt and metallic (copper?) finish.

Deep red-black. Strong whiskey in nose, bit of chocolate. Flavor is plummy and figgy, sweet molasses, then an unpleasant whiskey burn.

I am a fan of the regular Engine Oil, so this beer came as no surprise. Very dark with a hint of amber. A thin tan head. Aroma is light bubblegum, prunes and chocolate. Teh taste is fruity with cherries and prunes. There is molasses and dark chocolate hiding in the background. Not a case where barrel aging improved upon the regular product. Maybe milkmandan is on to something.

Harshly alcoholic whiskeyish aroma that blows off after a bit, leaving some nice dark plummy fruit notes. I don’t get much whiskey in the flavor. Sweet, dark malts, some plums, a touch oxidized. Sweet plummy finish.