Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Special Reserve

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

Dark mahogany, with no head or lacing. Very vinous aromas. Some nutmeg, alcohol and sweet malts. Flavor is again vinous with some caramel and brown sugar. Sour hops. Thick, oily, sticky palate that finishes slightly sour.

Very dark chocolate color with little or no head. Molasses, spice, sweet carmel, and hop on nose. Rich mouthfeel, big acidity with slight sweetness and very little carbonation. Light mouthfeel, a very nice beer.

The beer after debarking the 11.2 ounce brown bottle sits in the glass a deep brown to black with ruby high lights, the head what there is forms a bubbly crown with a bit of patchy lace. Nose is mostly sweet malt, hints of Oak with a bit of caramel, start is sweet and thick with malt, top is fair to middling in its feel. Finish is lightly carbonated, the hops mild but present, sweet chocolate dry aftertaste, a drinkable beer with a slight bit of tummy warming, I’m still out on this one, good thing I bought a couple of bottles.

This one was even better than the Old Engine Oil Standard. Deep brown in color with a soft smokiness/sweet maltiness on the nose. Full bodied, yet soft on the palate, with wonderful flavors of chocolte and scotch.

Sweet caramel, alcohol, faint smoke, and chocolate truffle in the aroma. Opaque dark brown color, no head, looks like old engine oil. Malty flavors of chocolate, caramel, and scotch whiskey. Moderately tart. Full-bodied, very little carbonation. Very interesting beer, held my attention through the bottom of the glass.

Very Black Coloring. Little Head. Chocolate, Coffee. Wood? This was a wonderful dark beer!!

bottled: have had a few that are in this group lately....meaning aged in bourbon casks. this one is a little more one dementional although good. the nose at first is really big whiskey and the taste is really big too almost exactly what you expect from the aroma. as the beer warmed and my palate got used to it, you taste more of the choc malt notes, thick and oily feel, pretty quiet in the finish. no head but small tan brown bubbles. light bodied. all in all very enjoyable, id rather have the mac bourbon aged porter.

Full, malty aroma, certainly a bit whiskeyish and toasty with lighter notes of red grape, black cherry, dark chocolate, toffee and a slight loamy woodiness. Brown-black color with mahogany highlights, head is fine and slight, very nice tan-colored lacing. The strong flavor profile is bittersweet, chocolatey, almost singularly malty (no pun intended) and fruity, with an abundant whiskey character and a vinous, nutty, lightly sour and alcoholic finish. Body is medium, palate is quite smooth and dry. As noted, a bit of an acquired taste but ultimately quite interesting and unique.