Tooheys Old
Tooheys Brewing
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- English Dark Mild Ale
Ranked #112 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 77
Ranked #45,502 - Avg:
- 3.34 | pDev: 17.07%
- Reviews:
- 48
- Ratings:
- From:
- Tooheys Brewing
- Australia
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 3
- Gots
- 10
SCORE
77
Okay
77
Okay
Notes:
Reviews: 48
| Ratings: 91
3.7/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
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 Australia dark ale, although challenged these days by White Rabbit Dark Ale which is becoming more readily available.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
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 Australia dark ale, although challenged these days by White Rabbit Dark Ale which is becoming more readily available.
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3.62/5 rDev +8.4%
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.
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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.
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3.85/5 rDev +15.3%
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.
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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.
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3.9/5 rDev +16.8%
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.
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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.
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3.54/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
375ml bottle, 4.4% ABV, sold in pretty expensive six-packs up here in the Great White North. Zero suggestion on the label of style, beyond 'old', and 'ale', and I'm guessing that this is nowhere near an 'old ale'.
This beer pours a clear, very dark cola-highlighted roan brown hue, with two fingers of tightly puffy, and somewhat bubbly tan head, which leaves some random geological rockface lace around the glass as it genially recedes.
It smells of semi-sweet roasted caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa, earthy yeast, softly astringent cold coffee, oily packaged nuts, a bit of toasty smoke, and very subtle earthy, leafy hops. The taste is clammy bready caramel malt, a sort of soaked and put away wet, weakly smoked ash, underwhelming chocolate and coffee notes, and mildly bitter leafy, floral, and weedy hops.
The carbonation is pretty sedate, barely even noticeable at times, the body just on the lee side of medium weight, and plainly smooth, nothing else really manifesting here to mar the status quo. It finishes off-dry, the caramel malt, mild chocolate, wet bread, and earthy, leafy hops closing up shop.
Not a bad brew, but kind of thin, and somewhat underwhelming, even for this generally anemic style. There's enough flavour to make a go of it, if moderation and sessionability are your goals for the night, but for a singular experience, this just doesn't have the legs.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
375ml bottle, 4.4% ABV, sold in pretty expensive six-packs up here in the Great White North. Zero suggestion on the label of style, beyond 'old', and 'ale', and I'm guessing that this is nowhere near an 'old ale'.
This beer pours a clear, very dark cola-highlighted roan brown hue, with two fingers of tightly puffy, and somewhat bubbly tan head, which leaves some random geological rockface lace around the glass as it genially recedes.
It smells of semi-sweet roasted caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa, earthy yeast, softly astringent cold coffee, oily packaged nuts, a bit of toasty smoke, and very subtle earthy, leafy hops. The taste is clammy bready caramel malt, a sort of soaked and put away wet, weakly smoked ash, underwhelming chocolate and coffee notes, and mildly bitter leafy, floral, and weedy hops.
The carbonation is pretty sedate, barely even noticeable at times, the body just on the lee side of medium weight, and plainly smooth, nothing else really manifesting here to mar the status quo. It finishes off-dry, the caramel malt, mild chocolate, wet bread, and earthy, leafy hops closing up shop.
Not a bad brew, but kind of thin, and somewhat underwhelming, even for this generally anemic style. There's enough flavour to make a go of it, if moderation and sessionability are your goals for the night, but for a singular experience, this just doesn't have the legs.
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3.41/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a dark mahogany color with a good tan head that fades slowly to good lacing.
S: Aroma of roasted malt, a mild blend of coffee and chocolate with just a hint of caramel sweetness.
T: Taste of roasted malt, some bittersweet chocolate, coffee and a bit of caramel sweetness. Mild bitterness and a clean finish.
F: Medium body, crisp, smooth and creamy. has plenty of carbonation.
O: Surprisingly good beer that goes down easy. This is a quality beer from a brewery I did not expect much from. Worth checking out.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a dark mahogany color with a good tan head that fades slowly to good lacing.
S: Aroma of roasted malt, a mild blend of coffee and chocolate with just a hint of caramel sweetness.
T: Taste of roasted malt, some bittersweet chocolate, coffee and a bit of caramel sweetness. Mild bitterness and a clean finish.
F: Medium body, crisp, smooth and creamy. has plenty of carbonation.
O: Surprisingly good beer that goes down easy. This is a quality beer from a brewery I did not expect much from. Worth checking out.
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2.79/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
A - Very dark colour, almost black with some red around the edges. Disappointing head, really just a bubbly ring. No lace.
S - Some sweet roasted malt, faint yeast and nuttiness.
T - Quite light on for flavour but there is some roasted malts, ash and cola.
M - Watery thin body but has a chalky quality. Fizzy high carbonation.
O - Very light and mild so easy to drink. The character it has sets it above most Australian macros but still a very average beer.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
A - Very dark colour, almost black with some red around the edges. Disappointing head, really just a bubbly ring. No lace.
S - Some sweet roasted malt, faint yeast and nuttiness.
T - Quite light on for flavour but there is some roasted malts, ash and cola.
M - Watery thin body but has a chalky quality. Fizzy high carbonation.
O - Very light and mild so easy to drink. The character it has sets it above most Australian macros but still a very average beer.
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3.28/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
for the mass produced beers of the land down under, this one gets it done. roasty and drinkable, this is the pick of the lot in most sydney pubs. for me, this one is more nostalgic than high quality. this was my go to drink for some of the best years of my life, so i'll always have a special place for it, despite how average it is on the grand scale. a slab of these will cost ya about 40 australian bones, and carrying it home 6 blocks from the bottle-o is great for the biceps. its got a faint alcohol taste, with plenty of dark malts and a little bit of gentleman's class to it. mediocre brew in the land of lousy brews.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
for the mass produced beers of the land down under, this one gets it done. roasty and drinkable, this is the pick of the lot in most sydney pubs. for me, this one is more nostalgic than high quality. this was my go to drink for some of the best years of my life, so i'll always have a special place for it, despite how average it is on the grand scale. a slab of these will cost ya about 40 australian bones, and carrying it home 6 blocks from the bottle-o is great for the biceps. its got a faint alcohol taste, with plenty of dark malts and a little bit of gentleman's class to it. mediocre brew in the land of lousy brews.
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2.62/5 rDev -21.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3
Todays bruview is a classic Australian from a brewery that has in my past asserted itself as the least offensive of an offensive lot (Macro brewers over here in general): Tooheys. And 'Tooheys Old' is that reason. It's always been my go to beer at smaller pubs that have none of those "fancy" beers (i.e. micro-brews) that I know and love.
Poured from a 375ml "overwhelming-sense-of-value" bottle into a tulip pint.
A: Looks like a stout; a deep brown/ruby body is topped with a thin white lacing. Interesting to note: the carbonation air bubbles are bigger than normal, I suspect this will be noticed when I have a sip.
S: Burnt barley grains give this brew a toasty biscuit aroma. There is a slight smokey smell. Also detecting a wateriness underlying the whole brew. No hop aromas, however this is expected for the style.
T: Not a bad brew. It's similar to Cooper's Best Extra Stout, but not as boldly flavoured; bitter (though this is much less bitter than CBES), smokey with a toasted barley note throughout. It's a more accessible stout for people who aren't stout drinkers... I'm not one of those people, so I'm rating it according to my own stout fanaticism.
M: I will put this out there; this is a gassy beer. I can normally down an entire pint of beer without letting out a loud belch, I couldn't with a stubbie of this. Also that gassiness gives a sense of feeling bloated, which really detracts from the whole experience.
D: Let me reiterate: this is the best of the macro-brewers (and I'm not counting Cooper's as a macro-brewer) beers. By a long shot. I've never been a fan of Aussie lagers... they just suck. They suck even more in comparison to foreign lagers. Which I guess which is why I would go a stout from a macro over a macro lager. Is it better than Sheaf Stout? No, but I've never seen Sheaf on tap and as such I don't classify it as a "macro".
Food match: Something heavy to counter the dreaded stomach bloat mentioned above. I think a roast dinner would match well with this, preferably roast beef with a heavy gravy and a side of roast potatoes and carrots.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3
Todays bruview is a classic Australian from a brewery that has in my past asserted itself as the least offensive of an offensive lot (Macro brewers over here in general): Tooheys. And 'Tooheys Old' is that reason. It's always been my go to beer at smaller pubs that have none of those "fancy" beers (i.e. micro-brews) that I know and love.
Poured from a 375ml "overwhelming-sense-of-value" bottle into a tulip pint.
A: Looks like a stout; a deep brown/ruby body is topped with a thin white lacing. Interesting to note: the carbonation air bubbles are bigger than normal, I suspect this will be noticed when I have a sip.
S: Burnt barley grains give this brew a toasty biscuit aroma. There is a slight smokey smell. Also detecting a wateriness underlying the whole brew. No hop aromas, however this is expected for the style.
T: Not a bad brew. It's similar to Cooper's Best Extra Stout, but not as boldly flavoured; bitter (though this is much less bitter than CBES), smokey with a toasted barley note throughout. It's a more accessible stout for people who aren't stout drinkers... I'm not one of those people, so I'm rating it according to my own stout fanaticism.
M: I will put this out there; this is a gassy beer. I can normally down an entire pint of beer without letting out a loud belch, I couldn't with a stubbie of this. Also that gassiness gives a sense of feeling bloated, which really detracts from the whole experience.
D: Let me reiterate: this is the best of the macro-brewers (and I'm not counting Cooper's as a macro-brewer) beers. By a long shot. I've never been a fan of Aussie lagers... they just suck. They suck even more in comparison to foreign lagers. Which I guess which is why I would go a stout from a macro over a macro lager. Is it better than Sheaf Stout? No, but I've never seen Sheaf on tap and as such I don't classify it as a "macro".
Food match: Something heavy to counter the dreaded stomach bloat mentioned above. I think a roast dinner would match well with this, preferably roast beef with a heavy gravy and a side of roast potatoes and carrots.
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2.6/5 rDev -22.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Dark brown but does lighten noticably at the rim. Good nose for a megalarger; sweet toasty malt, good lift. Doesn’t quite translate into the palate, traces of the malt evident early but falls into a more mainstream palate with some fizz and some weak malts to finish.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Dark brown but does lighten noticably at the rim. Good nose for a megalarger; sweet toasty malt, good lift. Doesn’t quite translate into the palate, traces of the malt evident early but falls into a more mainstream palate with some fizz and some weak malts to finish.
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3.77/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours black - off-white head recedes sadly for an on-tap pour.
No aromas as on-tap, Sad.
Taste is malts / sugar, some smoke/ashtray but in moderation.
Carbonation was a bit excessive, but didn't kill the beer
Overall an OK tap beer in the Sydney wasteland of RSLs etc.... if only you could ask for it 20 minutes up-front to allow to warm!!!!
Edit
Go-to winter beer these days.
I am now used to a wonderful roast sweet malt aroma, and easy drinkability.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours black - off-white head recedes sadly for an on-tap pour.
No aromas as on-tap, Sad.
Taste is malts / sugar, some smoke/ashtray but in moderation.
Carbonation was a bit excessive, but didn't kill the beer
Overall an OK tap beer in the Sydney wasteland of RSLs etc.... if only you could ask for it 20 minutes up-front to allow to warm!!!!
Edit
Go-to winter beer these days.
I am now used to a wonderful roast sweet malt aroma, and easy drinkability.
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3.57/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown with ruby highlights and a small head.
Nose shows nutty malt, chocolate, caramel and cardboardy notes.
Flavours include caramel, nutty malt and slight roasty notes. Very easy drinking.
Carbonation is a bit on the high side.
Quite impressed with this to be honest.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours dark brown with ruby highlights and a small head.
Nose shows nutty malt, chocolate, caramel and cardboardy notes.
Flavours include caramel, nutty malt and slight roasty notes. Very easy drinking.
Carbonation is a bit on the high side.
Quite impressed with this to be honest.
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3.5/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes taken on a recent visit to Sydney.
Poured into a wine glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.
Appearance: As poured the beer is a nice rich mahogany color with a ¼" light tan head that soon recedes to a thin film and a small ring around the glass. Sipping leaves patches and speckles of lacing, some of which cling and some of which slide back into the liquid.
Smell: There is a light aroma of chocolate and roasted malt but not a lot else but then its not supposed to show much in the way of hops..
Taste: The dark roasted malt flavor offers touches of chocolate and coffee and has some light bitterness and sweetness in it. Mild it is.
Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is on the light bodied side with moderate to low carbonation. The finish is medium to short and mostly on the sweet side.
Drinkability: I found this one reasonably drinkable and I'd be willing to have a second one but I'd not seek it out if there were alternatives. But on the other hand I'd certainly could have a second and would if I'd bought two of them.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes taken on a recent visit to Sydney.
Poured into a wine glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.
Appearance: As poured the beer is a nice rich mahogany color with a ¼" light tan head that soon recedes to a thin film and a small ring around the glass. Sipping leaves patches and speckles of lacing, some of which cling and some of which slide back into the liquid.
Smell: There is a light aroma of chocolate and roasted malt but not a lot else but then its not supposed to show much in the way of hops..
Taste: The dark roasted malt flavor offers touches of chocolate and coffee and has some light bitterness and sweetness in it. Mild it is.
Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is on the light bodied side with moderate to low carbonation. The finish is medium to short and mostly on the sweet side.
Drinkability: I found this one reasonably drinkable and I'd be willing to have a second one but I'd not seek it out if there were alternatives. But on the other hand I'd certainly could have a second and would if I'd bought two of them.
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2.97/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Dark Porter appearance with off white head that retains well 4.5
S - A kind of brine aroma that has a hint of malt.2.5
T - Nice malts up front but nothing that jumps out at you. Has quite a bitter finish. 3.0
M - Medium body and plenty of carboination. 3.0
D - This Ale will appeal to the masses and hopefully progress them to the "Dark Side"
Having said that it does not fool an old timer like me. I appreciate that this beer represents
the best on offer for mass produced dark beers in Australia, but seriously ther's a lot better. 3.0
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look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Dark Porter appearance with off white head that retains well 4.5
S - A kind of brine aroma that has a hint of malt.2.5
T - Nice malts up front but nothing that jumps out at you. Has quite a bitter finish. 3.0
M - Medium body and plenty of carboination. 3.0
D - This Ale will appeal to the masses and hopefully progress them to the "Dark Side"
Having said that it does not fool an old timer like me. I appreciate that this beer represents
the best on offer for mass produced dark beers in Australia, but seriously ther's a lot better. 3.0
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3.45/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
(Served in a globe glass)
A- This beer has a glowing deep brown base to a black body that is crystal clear. There is a thin film of light tan head with tiny strands of bubbles gliding to the surface.
S- The light chocolate roasted malt flavor is nice but a bit one dimensional.
T- The soft dark roasted malt has a note of bitterness and a slight tartness to follow with a tootsie roll finish.
M- This beer has a light watery texture and no alcohol heat. D- This beer has some nice schwartzbier qualities but the flavors are really muted and not much depth
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
(Served in a globe glass)
A- This beer has a glowing deep brown base to a black body that is crystal clear. There is a thin film of light tan head with tiny strands of bubbles gliding to the surface.
S- The light chocolate roasted malt flavor is nice but a bit one dimensional.
T- The soft dark roasted malt has a note of bitterness and a slight tartness to follow with a tootsie roll finish.
M- This beer has a light watery texture and no alcohol heat. D- This beer has some nice schwartzbier qualities but the flavors are really muted and not much depth
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4.07/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a dark reddish brown. Not a great head but it is better on tap.
Nice aroma, the taste is of medium body malt and hops.Good mouth feel. Michael Jackson can taste cream and oloroso sherry!
I think the charm of this beer is its history, drinkability and sessionabilty-without ever boring the palate like most australian lagers. This top fermented "old" style predated Toohey's "new", and represents one of two surviving true ales in mainstream aussie brewing, the other being Coopers sparkling ale.
I like this beer better than some of the modern boutique beers becaiuse they try too hard with assertive flavours-this one is effortless, real, traditional and also won't stonker you with too much alcohol.A bit of a genuine find.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a dark reddish brown. Not a great head but it is better on tap.
Nice aroma, the taste is of medium body malt and hops.Good mouth feel. Michael Jackson can taste cream and oloroso sherry!
I think the charm of this beer is its history, drinkability and sessionabilty-without ever boring the palate like most australian lagers. This top fermented "old" style predated Toohey's "new", and represents one of two surviving true ales in mainstream aussie brewing, the other being Coopers sparkling ale.
I like this beer better than some of the modern boutique beers becaiuse they try too hard with assertive flavours-this one is effortless, real, traditional and also won't stonker you with too much alcohol.A bit of a genuine find.
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3.1/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - 3.0
Pours a modest beige head that quickly disappears over a dark brown body that has hues of red and gold when held to light.
Smell - 3.0
Slightly sweet, stale bready malt, no detectable hops. Improves with warming with faint dark chocolate and coffee aromas.
Taste - 3.0
Some of the bland grain and husk flavours that I usually associate with Tooheys beers are there, but in general, Old is a step above the rest of the brewery's products. Slightly toasty with a hint of caramel, coffee and vague fruitiness. Bitterness is low, just enough for balance and no real hop flavour.
Mouthfeel - 3.0
Moderate carbonation is somewhat coarse over the tongue, body is more akin to that of a pale lager; quite light.
Drinkability - 3.5
A very sessionable beer, but not for real beer enthusiasts.
OVERALL - 3.05
It's sad to know that one of the best macro brewed beers in Australia barely achieves a score of 3. Toohey's Old is not a great beer, but it is something I have turned to at pubs that give only macro offerings. Inoffensive and drinkable, but there are so many, much better micro brewed alternatives.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - 3.0
Pours a modest beige head that quickly disappears over a dark brown body that has hues of red and gold when held to light.
Smell - 3.0
Slightly sweet, stale bready malt, no detectable hops. Improves with warming with faint dark chocolate and coffee aromas.
Taste - 3.0
Some of the bland grain and husk flavours that I usually associate with Tooheys beers are there, but in general, Old is a step above the rest of the brewery's products. Slightly toasty with a hint of caramel, coffee and vague fruitiness. Bitterness is low, just enough for balance and no real hop flavour.
Mouthfeel - 3.0
Moderate carbonation is somewhat coarse over the tongue, body is more akin to that of a pale lager; quite light.
Drinkability - 3.5
A very sessionable beer, but not for real beer enthusiasts.
OVERALL - 3.05
It's sad to know that one of the best macro brewed beers in Australia barely achieves a score of 3. Toohey's Old is not a great beer, but it is something I have turned to at pubs that give only macro offerings. Inoffensive and drinkable, but there are so many, much better micro brewed alternatives.
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3.5/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a brown colors. looks creamy with a nice head
second tooheys product that I try, and the taste is good. easy to drink as well. Another decent brew from Tooheys. I like the big size bottle as well. Mouth feel is creamy a bit, not too much, smells good. overall good beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a brown colors. looks creamy with a nice head
second tooheys product that I try, and the taste is good. easy to drink as well. Another decent brew from Tooheys. I like the big size bottle as well. Mouth feel is creamy a bit, not too much, smells good. overall good beer.
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4.04/5 rDev +21%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a brown 12oz twist off bottle into a pub glass. A freshness date of 10/29/09
The pour produces an inch or so of cola like snap crackle pop head. Receeding to a thin retention cap. The color is a darker brown with red hues smoldering when held up to light.
Aroma of smoked peat, chocolate roasty grains, just flat out malt bomb. Some mild sweetness at the knose.
Wow, the mouthfeel has a bit of a creamier full bodied feel to it, impressed with that. Mild carbonation throughout with a clean crisp finish.
The taste is smooth, well balanced and extra malty, with hints of bitter chocolate, plenty of cereal grain and a smokeyness from midway to finish. The grains border husky, but dont really cross the line, just flirt with it.
I'm really taken back at how good this is for the style, it follows it well and is a solid brew. The other Australia beers my buddy brought back for me were pretty terrible. This however is a solid english dark. Exceptionally sessionable at its current abv. Somthing I would definatly order at a pub.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a brown 12oz twist off bottle into a pub glass. A freshness date of 10/29/09
The pour produces an inch or so of cola like snap crackle pop head. Receeding to a thin retention cap. The color is a darker brown with red hues smoldering when held up to light.
Aroma of smoked peat, chocolate roasty grains, just flat out malt bomb. Some mild sweetness at the knose.
Wow, the mouthfeel has a bit of a creamier full bodied feel to it, impressed with that. Mild carbonation throughout with a clean crisp finish.
The taste is smooth, well balanced and extra malty, with hints of bitter chocolate, plenty of cereal grain and a smokeyness from midway to finish. The grains border husky, but dont really cross the line, just flirt with it.
I'm really taken back at how good this is for the style, it follows it well and is a solid brew. The other Australia beers my buddy brought back for me were pretty terrible. This however is a solid english dark. Exceptionally sessionable at its current abv. Somthing I would definatly order at a pub.
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3.15/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Dark reddish brown on the pour with a thin, oily-looking off-white head which disappears right away.
A nice smell of dark, caramely malt and (stale) coffee with a really faint rummy character from the cane sugar - though beer probably shouldn't really have that last smell, as such. Like I said, nice, but it's weak. I had to swirl it in the glass and stick my face in there until some of it accidentally went up my nose.
Molasses, coffee... not much else. Bi-carb soda in the finish. This was my favourite beer as soon as I was old enough to drink, which was admittedly some time ago.... is it nostalgia or have they changed the recipe? It used to be nuttier and more bitter. Or did it?
On tap, this is fizzy mess, but out of the bottle carbonation is alright. It's probably not on the cards for Tooheys to make a proper dark mild (pretty sure this is a actually a lager), but a happy medium would be nice... this is close enough, I guess.
Not real interesting, but very drinkable. If you live in NSW, someone's bound to leave some at your house eventually. Go for it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Dark reddish brown on the pour with a thin, oily-looking off-white head which disappears right away.
A nice smell of dark, caramely malt and (stale) coffee with a really faint rummy character from the cane sugar - though beer probably shouldn't really have that last smell, as such. Like I said, nice, but it's weak. I had to swirl it in the glass and stick my face in there until some of it accidentally went up my nose.
Molasses, coffee... not much else. Bi-carb soda in the finish. This was my favourite beer as soon as I was old enough to drink, which was admittedly some time ago.... is it nostalgia or have they changed the recipe? It used to be nuttier and more bitter. Or did it?
On tap, this is fizzy mess, but out of the bottle carbonation is alright. It's probably not on the cards for Tooheys to make a proper dark mild (pretty sure this is a actually a lager), but a happy medium would be nice... this is close enough, I guess.
Not real interesting, but very drinkable. If you live in NSW, someone's bound to leave some at your house eventually. Go for it.
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3.57/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This pours black with some ruby highlights. Centimetre of beige head drops away. Some lacing.
Toasted malt aromas with notes of burnt coffee and bitter chocolate.
Palate similar to aroma with bitter chocolate dominating.
Light bodied. A little thin.
This was the first ever dark beer I ever tasted 20 odd years ago and I hated it but thankfully my tastes have improved since. A good old stand-by.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This pours black with some ruby highlights. Centimetre of beige head drops away. Some lacing.
Toasted malt aromas with notes of burnt coffee and bitter chocolate.
Palate similar to aroma with bitter chocolate dominating.
Light bodied. A little thin.
This was the first ever dark beer I ever tasted 20 odd years ago and I hated it but thankfully my tastes have improved since. A good old stand-by.
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3.67/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a 500ml mug, nice fluffy 2 finger head...although looked like cola very much. Bubbles stuck to the side of the glass, & only a fraction darker than cola.
Aroma: Sweet charcoal, burnt, roasty malts, with a little hops..& very slight licorice.
Taste: sweet roasty malts...this is sweet with a little bitterness...nice balance...I love the wood-fired flavour. This is good!
Mouthfeel is good...not too heavy, but then again a little watery, although the carbonation seems alright for the style (would have liked a little more towards the bottom of the mug).
Drinkability is not a problem, I have tasted dark ales that tasted a little heavy with artificial syrupy mouthfeel...I reckon the watery feel works in this ale's favour...
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a 500ml mug, nice fluffy 2 finger head...although looked like cola very much. Bubbles stuck to the side of the glass, & only a fraction darker than cola.
Aroma: Sweet charcoal, burnt, roasty malts, with a little hops..& very slight licorice.
Taste: sweet roasty malts...this is sweet with a little bitterness...nice balance...I love the wood-fired flavour. This is good!
Mouthfeel is good...not too heavy, but then again a little watery, although the carbonation seems alright for the style (would have liked a little more towards the bottom of the mug).
Drinkability is not a problem, I have tasted dark ales that tasted a little heavy with artificial syrupy mouthfeel...I reckon the watery feel works in this ale's favour...
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3.4/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Dark, 2 fingers of head which reduced quickly.
Smell - Sweet and coffee-like.
Taste - Also coffee-like. The roasted malt dominates the taste a little too much.
Mouthfeel - A bit watery, low carbonation.
Drinkability - The excessive roasted malt makes this harder going than it should be.
Overall - A good alternative to Tooheys usual low quality lagers.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Dark, 2 fingers of head which reduced quickly.
Smell - Sweet and coffee-like.
Taste - Also coffee-like. The roasted malt dominates the taste a little too much.
Mouthfeel - A bit watery, low carbonation.
Drinkability - The excessive roasted malt makes this harder going than it should be.
Overall - A good alternative to Tooheys usual low quality lagers.
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3.74/5 rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A solid, very flavourful beer. I got introduced to this brew at Bondi Icebergs in Sydney NSW. I was quite impressed. It poured into the glass with a lovely mahogany dark color and the head was thick for a beer on CO2. The nose had hints of coffee and dark chocolate which translated nicely to the taste where I found more dark chocolate notes. The flavour is very nicely balanced. Sweet enough for me while still a bit bitter on the finish to balance it off. A great session brew. Actually, my BA avatar is a photo of this beer at Bondi Icebergs. I highly recomend the pub and the beer. As you can see the view is quite nice. Cheers mates.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A solid, very flavourful beer. I got introduced to this brew at Bondi Icebergs in Sydney NSW. I was quite impressed. It poured into the glass with a lovely mahogany dark color and the head was thick for a beer on CO2. The nose had hints of coffee and dark chocolate which translated nicely to the taste where I found more dark chocolate notes. The flavour is very nicely balanced. Sweet enough for me while still a bit bitter on the finish to balance it off. A great session brew. Actually, my BA avatar is a photo of this beer at Bondi Icebergs. I highly recomend the pub and the beer. As you can see the view is quite nice. Cheers mates.
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2.83/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a dark, very opaque brown colour with a slight flash of red (very slight) when held up to the light (very held up). Thin cream-coloured head but made up of very densely-packed bubbles.
Sour fruit dominates on the nose with the slightest touch of dark coffee. Unusual for a dark beer, normally all I can sense is that burned, roasted scent so this has character. Unfortunately, it's also quite simple for all that.
Taste doesn't have much of a sour character, mostly burnt and a bit gritty on the palate. Slightly watery aftertaste. There are good dark ale characters on the front palate but they don't endure for the whole thing and overall it's quite watery and simple. Mouthfeel is quite smooth but with a slightly rough texture.
Inoffensive, of course, and quite drinkable, but certainly nothing to streak naked around a bar over. Unless that's your thing.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a dark, very opaque brown colour with a slight flash of red (very slight) when held up to the light (very held up). Thin cream-coloured head but made up of very densely-packed bubbles.
Sour fruit dominates on the nose with the slightest touch of dark coffee. Unusual for a dark beer, normally all I can sense is that burned, roasted scent so this has character. Unfortunately, it's also quite simple for all that.
Taste doesn't have much of a sour character, mostly burnt and a bit gritty on the palate. Slightly watery aftertaste. There are good dark ale characters on the front palate but they don't endure for the whole thing and overall it's quite watery and simple. Mouthfeel is quite smooth but with a slightly rough texture.
Inoffensive, of course, and quite drinkable, but certainly nothing to streak naked around a bar over. Unless that's your thing.
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Tooheys Old from Tooheys Brewing
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
91 ratings
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