Old Engine Oil - Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A hoppy barley wine. Taste like a dry grainy lighter barley wine. Beautiful fruity aroma like fruity good wine. Some roasted malt and chocolate throughout. Dark colour and initial malty head. Not too sweet. Fruit on aftertaste. Smooth, would be fine with this all night.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2005 03:15:56 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Barely see-throughable dark walnut with dark crimson tendencies. Without blindingly bright sunlight behind the glass, the beer is essentially opaque. The sandstone colored crown is compact despite a sprited pour and displays multiple fragile bubbles on its rumpled upper surface. A short, jagged collar of lace looks good enough to keep me enthused about the appearance.

The nose is nicely chocolate malty with accessory aromas of dark caramel, dark fruit (dates primarily) and herbal hops. I miss the fantastic Scotch whisky notes of Old Engine Oil Special Reserve since they added an olfactory complexity that this beer lacks. It's still a good nose though.

My first thought was that I feel the same way about the flavor profile; that is, that the 'aged in whisky casks' version was clearly superior (I say 'was' because it's now retired). As I continue to sip though, I'm not so sure that this beer isn't equally as good, if less complex.

I'm reminded, in some respects, of an English porter. As in the nose, chocolate malt is the focal point. While it isn't nearly as malty or as full as the American version of the style, it's a humdinger of an English old ale. Sweet trumps sour trumps bitter, with each present in nearly perfect proportions. I doubt that there's a better poster child for sessionable old ales than Old Engine Oil.

The body/mouthfeel picks up a little viscosity with warming, but it doesn't quite reach the degree of fullness that I prefer. This would be a better beer, in my humble opinion, if the mouthfeel was closer to 10W-40 than 10W-30. A relative shortage of carbonation is just what the doctor ordered.

If it was still being brewed, I'd take Special Reserve over plain ol' Old Engine Oil every day and twice on Sunday. That doesn't mean, however, that this is anything less than a special ale that I'll buy in multiple bottle increments whenever I happen to run across it. OEO is the beer equivalent of comfort food and is giving me plenty of warm fuzzies as I pause over the final ounce. If that isn't a recommendation, then I don't know what is.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2006 15:11:58 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

dark brown with a large creamy tan colored head on the top. Great retention let it hang around for what seemed like forever before finally being nestled down into just a thin layer across the top. The aroma was very full and sweet. Lots of chocolate roaming through it along with a touch of coffee and lots of sugar. A slight smoked presentation as well. The flavor was also very full for a porter. This almost had a stout like feel to it as it was very thick and full with a great robust profile. Lots of chocolate and coffee notes dominated it

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 14:36:16 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of heyta. Served in a tulip.

Pours near black with a single-finger off-white head. Retention is okay, and there's a good amount of spotty lacing on the sides of the glass. The nose carries some light chocolate plus some roast. More of the roast than anything else. A bit of coffee as it warms. The flavor is roasted malt with a touch of coffee and some slight milk chocolate notes. Medium body with low carbonation. Fairly creamy and lends a toffee-like feel. Nothing crazy, but a pretty good brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 23:15:45 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black oil color with ruby highlights; a frothy head that retains well and leaves touches of lace

Smell: Very roasty, with hints of chocolate, prunes and whisky

Taste: A lot going on in the mouth here - starts out roasty, with smoke and dark chocolate flavors tangling with earthy hop bitterness; plenty of roast and smoke after the swallow but there is also licorice on the finish, which lasts for well over 10 seconds after the liquid has gone down the gullet.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body; moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Very different and a nice change of pace when you have time to sit and contemplate its flavors

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2004 21:44:39 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.01/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks and dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, vanilla, cocoa powder, and milk chocolate. Taste is much the same with a char-like flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a great smell but the flavor doesn't quite match up in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 09:21:39 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color ale with a medium foamy brown head with minimal retention. Aroma of chocolate with roasted malt is easily identifiable. The roasted malt with some medium notes of chocolate and coffee also dominates taste. Overall, this is a very enjoyable beer from a style that I’m having more and more of hard time to pin down.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2005 16:38:07 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another very good English / Scottish Old Ale, though they all start to taste the same after a while. Typical in it's heaviness, thickness, boldness, and sweetness. Atypical in it's amber-ish color and candied sweetness. Aromas and flavors of plumbs, raisons, prunes, dates, and figs with a root beer character and texture. Other sorgum-like sweetness and bit-eyness. Heavy and moderately thick to the mouth. Finishes sweet, bold, and lightly clean.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2006 23:03:33 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I must say I had never heard of this until now,pours a deep brown with some nice ruby hues with a great creamy head that sticks very well.The aroma is a little caramelly and dry.A taste of unsweetened chocolate and some fruity notes with a slight dry finish.Very impressed with this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2003 14:25:02 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Possibly one of the most distinctive beers I've ever had. The color is deep ruby, but not black (although it almost appears that way in the glass). It's topped by a short but creamy light tan head that displays good head retention and leaves some spotty lace. The aroma is intense; full of toffee, dark fruit, roasted malts and light candy. The dark caramel flavor doesn't quite follow suit, but offers a very creamy, round, and full mouthfeel - but not as big as might be indicated by the name! Hops are present and well integrated. A very drinkable beer, full of great character but not overwhelming; although I'm not sure I'd want to drink too many of these in a row!?! Definitely a Scottish-style ale, but also something else altogether. Wow!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2002 07:15:50 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a willibecher at Firkin.

When you see a cask o' this at your local spot, you pounce, I figger. This stuff pours a deep black-brown topped by a finger of dusty khaki foam. The nose comprises coffee, dark chocolate, and darkly-roasted malts. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a Guinness-like (or acrid coffee-like) sourness swaying from the background to the fore, but never firmly taking hold. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light carbonation (livelier than most casks lately) and a smooth, easy-going feel. Overall, a very nice English porter, something I could easily see being drained from its current prison and down into my gullet.

Serving type: cask

04-04-2013 17:29:48 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: solid black, insidiously opaque, with a thick and creamy cocoa-colored, so frothy it resembles a chocolate spong cake.
Aroma: sweet, but roasty, with flavors of molasses, brown sugar, and espresso, slightly twisted, definitely dark.
Taste: bitter hops tango with sweet malt in such a fashion that you get a little almost treacly sweetness, step 2, bitter tang, step 3, mild and mellow, repeat, cha, cha, cha. Possesses a far lighter mouthfeel than I'd expected, though still full in body, with dark, rich, and continually tasty flavor. Doesn't hang too heavily on the palate, making for higher drinkability and greater sophistication. This is listed as a Stong/Old Ale, but it contains a mere 6% ABV, and feels a bit stoutish at times. No matter what it's called, a fine ale all around, though, I wonder if it is based on an old Celtic recipe, as the label states, what did they call it before Henry Ford came along?

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2003 02:44:26 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a deep dark black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a rich black malt scent that is dominated with chocolate aroma. The taste is good. It has a smooth and rich, chocolate flavor that goes down easy and finishes creamy with an earthy feel. The mouthfeel is awesome. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good drinking old ale. It has excellent flavor and aroma; a fine sessions ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 01:38:54 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is black with a thin brown head that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass. Carbonation moderate. Beer served in a DFH signature glass.

Aroma is pretty sweet for a porter with hints of coffee and mild roast / smoke. It smells good.

Beer is thin and quite bitter in the back but that's from the roast. Its moderately sweet up front but there isn't much going on in the midpalate. The beer is creamy and smooth overall and leaves only this bitterness as a lasting / aftertaste. Its pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 02:10:18 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaue, jet-black color with a small, tan, foamy head that left sticky rings of lace down the glass.

S - The first notes that hit you are roasted malt and coffee. Sweeter aromas appear later (toffee and dark chocolate).

T - The first sip surprised me with how hoppy it was. Nice bitter hop bite. The biscuity roasted malt flavor is a nice compliment to the floral hops.

M - It was very smooth and sharp. Easy drinking with an ABV of 6%. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is an interesting Old Ale. It's rather hoppy and reminds me of a good RIS.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2008 03:35:47 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is near black in color (when holding up the glass to the light only a slight trace of amber is visible near the bottom edge of the glass) and poured with a thin head that quickly dissipated into lacey patterns of bubbles on the surface.
S: There are faint aromas of dark roasted malts and burnt coffee beans in the nose.
T: The flavor is dominated by roasted and burnt malts with hints of chocolate and coffee.
M: The beer feels heavy-bodied on the palate and there is dryness in the finish. It doesn't feel as viscous as it is billed up to be.
D: Drinking this beer wasn't that difficult, it seemed to be something like a hybrid between a porter and a stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2010 04:14:58 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass. This one has been cellared for approximately two years, if my memory is correct.

A: The beer is a deep black color with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of dark chocolate, bourbon, roasted malts and some alcohol despite the relatively low ABV.

T: The taste starts with strong flavors of dark & milk chocolate along with a touch of dark fruit and some creaminess to it. The malt character is as hearty as you would expect from any big stout. The hops presence is likewise very mild as it usually is in this type of beer. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, heavy body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, slightly filling, decent kick, good representation of style, most of the Old Ales that I've had have been more like barleywines, but this one is more stout-like, which I expected since the label reads "Viscous, Chocolaty, Roasty". Overall it was a very good beer and seemed to handle the age quite well.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2009 04:47:00 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours out much thicker looking than most porters out there. Even looks thicker than some stouts. The color is black, with a fan colored head that doesn't stick around much. The smell is earthy and roasted. The taste is rich with heavy roasted malts. The mouthfeel is pretty thick and had a oily feel to it. Overall pretty good brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 22:58:37 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.83/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours fairly black with 2 fingers of tan head. Super sticky lacing & above average head retention

S: Cocoa, iron, oaky notes

T: Cocoa, leafy hops, chalky dryness & a touch of dark fruit up front. Roasty malt, a touch of coffee, Finishes dry, roasty & with a touch of plum

MF: Medium bodied with low but noticeable carbonation

Drinks a bit slow, due to the dryness. I do see this more as a stout, but most Brits would likely say this this is too strong for starters. Not a bad night cap, but prefer the reserve aked in whisky casks

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2008 04:57:53 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.8/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

11.2 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a reddish black, with a small tan head, but a nice rim and lacing.

S: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, with some smoke and a bit of an acidic twinge.

T: Sneakily robust milk chocolate is the main flavour, with some earthy English hops and a bit of peat smoke flavour at the end, quite tasty.

M: A little too much on the light side for an old ale, but smooth and creamy.

D: This is a nice beer from Scotland, a tasty little number that I'm sure I'll buy again, can't wait to taste the aged version, aged in whisky casks.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2008 03:46:49 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Firewaters in Atlantic City NJ. Nice black color with thick 2"+ tan head. Thick lacing developed during the drink. Aroma was full of malt and chocolate. The flavor was super as roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, prunes, and mild bitterness were well married. Alcohol was lightly noticeable, but this drink was like liquid candy.

Smooth and creamy start with a long chocolate finish. Carbonation levels seemd light but were right for this style. A very drinkable brew that leaves you wanting more after the glass is empty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2004 00:15:22 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this into a glass made just for this beer that was given to me complimentary in the beer store. When I poured it my first reaction was - This is aptly named! It is black with a thin head that lingers as a lace. The smell is of coffee with hints of a chocolate-like aroma. It is on the thick side, but not as much as it would have seem to have been by its name and appearance. Overall it was delicious enough to have if offered or easily attained, but not exceptional enough to go out of the way for. It's also on the pricey side.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 14:00:38 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle. The prototypical old-world example of the style, it would seem.

This beer pours black, black, and more black. Just some slight basal mahogany prism effects here, lads and lasses, with a single finger of foamy, bubbly, and somewhat creamy beige head, which leaves a bulky morass of variously webbed lace around the glass in its slow, meandering wake.

The aroma is dry, ashy chocolate malt, cold coffee grounds, a touch of black, fleshy fruit, and floral, earthy hops. The taste is chocolate malt up front, followed by a dry, bitter cocoa, late-morning coffee urn character, a latent lactic essence, and leafy, fairly edgy earthy hops.

The carbonation is averagely effervescent, the body on the upside of hefty, softly smooth, and just a bit tingly. It finishes kind of sweet, the obfuscating souring bitterness abating somewhat, letting loose more goodly chocolate maltiness.

A well-made old school porter, with lots and lots going on, but not too much of any one thing, thankfully. The expected sourness is well accompanied by lots of cocoa, malt, coffee, and fruit, all in appropriate proportions, which goes a long way in explaining the steady, common popularity of this offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 23:48:46 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a bottle in a pint glass at The Farmhouse.

Pitch black - yes, like oil - with a short, tan head. The hints at the mix of dry cocoa and sweet-tasting esters to the come. On my palate, I immediately taste the roasted malts, which come off like high-end dark chocolate. That's soon met with dark fruits, like raisins, blackberries, and plums, along with creamy British yeast character.

What can I say. It's rich with both chocolate and fruit flavors while being well-balanced and drinkable. This is a delicious beer, a must-try.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2008 02:50:29 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an almost opaque black with no head. Nose is like old tar from a tree. Just very earthy and resin like. Raisins. Slight touch of dried out wood that still holds a fragrance. Flavor is smooth. Definite raisins there. Nice aged woody flavor. Thick with character. Feel is good. Slight bubble, but an otherwise thicker texture over the tongue. Very drinkable. More of a sipper, but a nice aged old ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 23:56:26 | More by RblWthACoz