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Old
Tooheys Brewing
- From:
- Tooheys Brewing
- Australia
- Style:
- English Dark Mild Ale
Ranked #54 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 77
Ranked #27,215 - Avg:
- 3.31 | pDev: 16.92%
- Reviews:
- 50
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 03, 2024
- Added:
- Mar 30, 2002
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 10
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SmashPants:
Reviewed by SmashPants from Australia
3.9/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Format: a standard 375mL brown stubby with the traditional Tooheys macro label.
Appearance: pours a very dark brown tending towards plack with ruby-brown highlights against the light. A small tan head pops up before settling to a thick cap. Decent lacing.
Aroma: the aroma is roast coffee, some cocoa, a touch of caramel and earth. Decent.
Taste: once again the roasted malts up front with nuts, smoke and that earth on the palate. Really rather nice.
Aftertaste: bitterness comes from the smoke, nuts and malt on the finish. Not too dry either - easy to drink.
Mouth feel: I wouldn't consider the feel follows the English Dark Mild formula - it is lighter and with a much higher carbonation. It suits the Australian climate perfectly. I'm not sure it would be such a hit in colder climates however.
Overall: this is definitely one of my favourite 'every day' dark beers, along with Carlton Black. They are both an Australian take on the traditional English styles - similar characteristics, but with a lighter body and higher carbonation to make them easier to drink in a session, and more refreshing in the Australian heat. I really would consider them more an excellent version of a dark lager than an English Dark Mild. Decent price too at AU$45 a case of 24 x 375mL. One of my favourite pub beers is a Tooheys Old / Tooheys New black-and-tan. I will say I do prefer Old on tap rather than in the bottle, but good nonetheless.
Dec 10, 2014Appearance: pours a very dark brown tending towards plack with ruby-brown highlights against the light. A small tan head pops up before settling to a thick cap. Decent lacing.
Aroma: the aroma is roast coffee, some cocoa, a touch of caramel and earth. Decent.
Taste: once again the roasted malts up front with nuts, smoke and that earth on the palate. Really rather nice.
Aftertaste: bitterness comes from the smoke, nuts and malt on the finish. Not too dry either - easy to drink.
Mouth feel: I wouldn't consider the feel follows the English Dark Mild formula - it is lighter and with a much higher carbonation. It suits the Australian climate perfectly. I'm not sure it would be such a hit in colder climates however.
Overall: this is definitely one of my favourite 'every day' dark beers, along with Carlton Black. They are both an Australian take on the traditional English styles - similar characteristics, but with a lighter body and higher carbonation to make them easier to drink in a session, and more refreshing in the Australian heat. I really would consider them more an excellent version of a dark lager than an English Dark Mild. Decent price too at AU$45 a case of 24 x 375mL. One of my favourite pub beers is a Tooheys Old / Tooheys New black-and-tan. I will say I do prefer Old on tap rather than in the bottle, but good nonetheless.
More User Ratings:
Rated by BillRoth from Maryland
3.52/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From notes 2015 / Beer Safari Sydney AU.
From bottle. Weak non interesting
Mar 03, 2024From bottle. Weak non interesting
Reviewed by Nath91 from Australia
3.13/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
3.13/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Tooheys Old. The beer your grandpa drank. The dark lager, original Tooheys before Tooheys New came out in the 1970s?
Vessel: Schooner at the Royal Exhibition Hotel, Surry Hills.
Appearance: Almost completely jet back, with Ruby red shining through. Head has settled to a thinnish tan ring atop the beer.
Aroma: Dark toasted malt, slight floral hop notes, suspect Pride of Ringwood, touch of bitterness. Not a hella lot going on, but more than a New.
Taste: Roasted malt, a hint of dark stone fruit - plum. Light floral hop cones from the Pride of Ringwood, which provides a edge of bitterness.
Feel: Thin mouthfeel, watery base. No creaminess or any real body to it. Although it's just a dark lager so I suppose it's OK for hot summer Aussie Days.
Overall: Eh, if it's the only alternative to the likes of Tooheys New, Carlton Draught or VB it's OK, but it's really just a dark Tooheys New. It'll quench a thirst.
#️⃣9️⃣4️⃣
Dec 23, 2023Vessel: Schooner at the Royal Exhibition Hotel, Surry Hills.
Appearance: Almost completely jet back, with Ruby red shining through. Head has settled to a thinnish tan ring atop the beer.
Aroma: Dark toasted malt, slight floral hop notes, suspect Pride of Ringwood, touch of bitterness. Not a hella lot going on, but more than a New.
Taste: Roasted malt, a hint of dark stone fruit - plum. Light floral hop cones from the Pride of Ringwood, which provides a edge of bitterness.
Feel: Thin mouthfeel, watery base. No creaminess or any real body to it. Although it's just a dark lager so I suppose it's OK for hot summer Aussie Days.
Overall: Eh, if it's the only alternative to the likes of Tooheys New, Carlton Draught or VB it's OK, but it's really just a dark Tooheys New. It'll quench a thirst.
#️⃣9️⃣4️⃣
Rated by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
3.17/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.17/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bottle:
C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE
Jan 04, 2023C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE
Reviewed by JacintoCupboard from Australia
3.96/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This an outlier on the Australian beer scene; an old fashioned dark mild ale. It's a better beer than Coopers Dark Ale which is a relative newcomer. Toohey's Dark Ale has a fair amount of residual malt sweetness. It is lightly hopped. There are burnt caramel flavours, but not to excess and some pleasant fruity esters. (The Coopers equivalent overdoes the hops and is a trifle overcooked with the burnt toffee aromas, and imo is too dry to be a true mild ale. All of which points to a concession to their core hipster demographic and lovers of their IPA offering.)
The only major fault with Tooheys Old is it sometimes comes undercarbonated and struggles to keep a head. Accordingly, the mouthfeel is on occasions disappointing.
Dec 12, 2020The only major fault with Tooheys Old is it sometimes comes undercarbonated and struggles to keep a head. Accordingly, the mouthfeel is on occasions disappointing.
Reviewed by RichardLeahy from Australia
4.08/5 rDev +23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From 375 ml bottle. I rarely see it on tap in Queensland. L. Hard to see but appears appropriate, dark with modest head. S. Coffee, dark grain. T. A little hint of chocolate but otherwise coffee, dark grain and a little smoky. Dry but not bitter finish. F. Light for the colour and taste but not overly carbonated. O. My favourite everyday Australian dark ale, although challenged these days by White Rabbit Dark Ale which is becoming more readily available.
I have reconsidered my review from nearly 4 years ago and upped just about everything. The best big brewery beer in Australia, and still my favorite everyday Australian dark ale.
Oct 05, 2018I have reconsidered my review from nearly 4 years ago and upped just about everything. The best big brewery beer in Australia, and still my favorite everyday Australian dark ale.
Reviewed by Wil986 from Australia
3.62/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Ahh, Tooheys Old. It's this or Carlton Black for me when at the pub. Nice and mild dark flavours, not overly hoppy but certainly a good roasted flavour. Probably better off tap than in the bottle. I am biased, it is my favourite macro beer.
For me it is a better balanced beer than it's Victorian rival.
May 22, 2016For me it is a better balanced beer than it's Victorian rival.
Rated by m_dorling from Australia
3.74/5 rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.74/5 rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Great value dark beer!
Aug 04, 2015Reviewed by Andrewharemza from Australia
3.85/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tooheys Old is a robustly flavoured Ale made with top fermentation Ale yeast. The beer is lightly hopped, and gets its darker colour from black malt. Fruity Ale-like esters blend well with subtle hoppiness, hints of coffee and chocolate to deliver a pretty good beer.
Jun 17, 2015Rated by Andrewziggy from Australia
2.45/5 rDev -26%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
2.45/5 rDev -26%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
Very watery nutty smoke and earth
Dec 18, 2014
Old from Tooheys Brewing
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
98 ratings
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