Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Aged In Malt Whiskey Casks)
Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.

Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Aged In Malt Whiskey Casks)Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Aged In Malt Whiskey Casks)
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From:
Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Stout
ABV:
8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 15.76%
Reviews:
183
Ratings:
202
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 21, 2023
Added:
Oct 27, 2003
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Rempo:
Photo of Rempo
Rated by Rempo from Indiana

1/5  rDev -74.2%

Nov 20, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of Bhutlah
Reviewed by Bhutlah

3.49/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
This is an old beer. I can't judge it off what it was but what it is. The carbonation is gone. The body is gone. What's left is an amazingly smooth and not at all dense dark beer. The whisky notes are there but they don't leap out at you. The entire beer has taken on a subdued taste. Notes are hard to pick out and subtle. It takes long draws on the nose to pick up much of any scent. The chocolate has grown fruity with time. Delicious but weak. So wonderfully malty.
Dec 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by acurtis from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Sep 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by arklin from Florida

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by schoon from Iowa

Jan 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Herky21 from Iowa

Nov 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Aug 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by matjack85 from Illinois

Feb 02, 2013
Photo of Ryan011235
Reviewed by Ryan011235 from Ohio

2.72/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Poured into an E&J Cask & Cream glass on 11/20/12

The color is a dark, inky brown. I was skeptical about the head; it wasn't until the glass was almost full that loose, lifeless bubbles were buoyed by some rising carbonation. Thin retention overall, but lace is good.

Whiskey jumps right out of the glass when taking a nip for the old nostrils. I'm not sure what kind of whiskey casks were used, but it is on the sweeter order, which ties in with sugary notes of molasses, caramel, chocolate, raisins and prunes. Warmth finds dark fruits creeping into a better view. Moderate wood tones with hints of vanilla.

Old Engine Oil tastes downright odd. The short version is this is one tangy critter. The whiskey has a peat-like bent, while hints of roast walk a haphazard path. I'm glad the sugars are more toasted that sticky sweet with a fair amount of burnt chocolate. The later half and finish find both wood notions and something of an earthy bitterness.

The body is on the burgeoning side of medium. Carbonation is low, which suits me just fine. Whoa, the very last sip has some seriously clumpy stuff going on - yuck.

Overall impression - Not outstanding, but it is a reasonable solid sipper (at least until the last sip). Now, I don't know that it's a $4.99 for a 12oz bottle kind of reasonable, but that's a different tale.
Nov 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Nov 19, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by bzach from Indiana

Oct 16, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by thegerm87 from Massachusetts

Jun 03, 2012
Photo of tobelerone
Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey

3.77/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A black bodied beer with almost no head or lacing. Looks a bit too still. Aroma of chocolate, malt, and whisky-the peat really comes out in the nose. Complex flavor, definitely very much scotch forward, with a distinct peat whisky flavor on top of ample roastiness, bittersweet chocolate, a touch of tobacco and dark fruit. Dry and corky; somewhat vinous; particularly dry on the finish.

The body was disappointingly thin and undercarbonated, detracting from the overall experience. Still, an intricate, complex flavor made this an interesting and enjoyable beer nonetheless.
Apr 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by OldTime from Georgia

Jan 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by DoctorB2B from Virginia

Dec 30, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 01, 2011
Old Engine Oil Special Reserve (Aged In Malt Whiskey Casks) from Harviestoun Brewery Ltd.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 202 ratings