Old Engine Oil - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

Parrotshake

Australia

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pretty much pitch black with a full 2 fingers or so of tan head. Nose of bittersweet chocolate and burnt toast. Hints of coffee and an iron/metal note.

Dark and milk chocolate in the taste. Roasty. Slight asphalt. Finishes dry with a moderate, farily long bitterness. A very slight warmth in the finish from the 6% ABV. Straightforward and elegant, classic porter flavors. Smooth and a little slick in the mouth - easy to drink for sure but a bit more of the promised viscosity would be nice. Still, lovely. The store I bought this from has tons of UK beers on it's shelves that I am not especially interested in, but I'll always have time for this. Wonderful match with a salad of seared scallops, blue cheese, endive and hazelnuts, perhaps surprisingly. I'm likely to have another with dessert.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 07:56:21 | More by Parrotshake

2GOOFY

California

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-24-2013 04:16:07 | More by 2GOOFY

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

05-23-2013 13:25:04 | More by kvnstfrd

jonnyrice

Vermont

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-21-2013 01:44:40 | More by jonnyrice

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-21-2013 01:12:55 | More by johntfox

djcreepshow

Nova Scotia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-17-2013 05:18:25 | More by djcreepshow

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-16-2013 22:37:52 | More by Slatetank

HarmonMW

Michigan

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-13-2013 22:11:18 | More by HarmonMW

jkball01

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -39.6%

05-13-2013 16:38:17 | More by jkball01

Mersh

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

05-08-2013 19:37:10 | More by Mersh

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-08-2013 03:46:30 | More by dalepryor

JMS1512

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-03-2013 17:59:50 | More by JMS1512

lupercmda

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-01-2013 03:33:15 | More by lupercmda

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

04-30-2013 20:32:49 | More by mtbdonn

blknikon

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

04-30-2013 19:27:39 | More by blknikon

troy138

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

04-28-2013 16:44:57 | More by troy138

MikeHRayn

Maine

4/5  rDev -3.4%

04-22-2013 21:53:27 | More by MikeHRayn

NandoPereira

Brazil

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

04-22-2013 16:24:33 | More by NandoPereira

Hairrrrrrrr

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.4%

04-19-2013 04:16:48 | More by Hairrrrrrrr

Jordantb313

Colorado

4/5  rDev -3.4%

04-18-2013 21:31:15 | More by Jordantb313

zenarkist

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

04-14-2013 23:52:26 | More by zenarkist

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

04-13-2013 07:51:15 | More by mportnoy

SaisonRichBiere

Michigan

3.35/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to gcamparone for this one.

Poured into a 12oz mug from a bottle.

Appearance- Thick mocha brown with a nice bubbly head. Leaves some lacing as it subsides into a thin coat on the top of the brew. Like a Guinness without the crowning head. As it pours, it's not as "thick and viscous" as it states on the bottle, but it sets up dark nonetheless. Good looking.

Smell- Dark roasty bitter espresso notes, bittersweet cacao, finishing with a big tart malty whiff. Much akin to beers of this style from the British isles. Definitely smells like it's from the old country.

Taste- Big bitter coffee draw followed quickly by a faint chocolate note, that delves quickly into a really dry, robust, malty, salty, licorice finish. Finishes quick and a nutty sourness hangs out on the palate. Standard UK porter vibe.

Mouthfeel- Surprisingly lighter than it looks. Smooth all the way, only a hint of fizz at first.

Overall- Forgive me for sounding snobbish if I do but... The lack of flavor compared to American craft varieties of the style is what stands out to me. It bums me out a bit, but I still do enjoy the nostalgic UK import as a reminder of what I was really into before Craft Beer in the US blew up. A blast from the past, but a pleasant one for sure.

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 01:50:36 | More by SaisonRichBiere

kaneel

France

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

04-09-2013 12:24:37 | More by kaneel

HawkeyeJosh

Arkansas

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

04-06-2013 02:48:55 | More by HawkeyeJosh