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Old Engine Oil

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Old Engine Oil is a near-black stout first brewed in 1999, made with lager malt, roast barley and pinhead oats and hopped with East Kent Goldings, Fuggles and Galena. Roasted malt sets the tone: dark chocolate, coffee and a smoky note, with liquorice mentioned by many tasters. The oats give a smooth, velvety body, the balance is bittersweet and the finish long. A stronger brew of the same recipe is the base beer for the whisky-cask-aged Ola Dubh.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
smoky
dark fruit
Aroma
Dark roasted malt dominates the nose, delivering prominent notes of espresso and dark chocolate with a subtle smokiness underneath.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Engine Oil

◎ Appearance

Near-black with deep brown edges, presenting a densely opaque body that allows minimal light penetration. A thick, persistent tan head builds quickly and clings to the glass in fine lacework. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, lending a creamy visual texture.

near-blackdense headexcellent lacinglow light transmission

◌ Aroma

Dark roasted malt dominates the nose, delivering prominent notes of espresso and dark chocolate with a subtle smokiness underneath. Liquorice emerges as a secondary thread, adding herbal complexity. The pinhead oats contribute a soft, slightly grainy undertone that rounds the otherwise assertive roasted character.

dark chocolate, coffeeliquorice, herbalroasted barleysubtle smoke

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich roasted malt flavors—dark chocolate and coffee establish the foundation—while the oats lend a velvety, smooth texture that carries through the mid-palate. Bitterness arrives measured at 35 IBU, offering a restrained counterpoint rather than dominance. The overall profile is bittersweet, with earthy and slightly smoky notes persisting alongside the chocolate backbone.

velvety bodyroasted, chocolateybittersweet balancemoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish extends long and dry, with roasted malt flavors and a gentle astringency lingering on the palate. A faint liquorice note persists into the aftertaste, providing a distinctive herbal closing note.

long finishdry aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
84
Finish
78
Serve at 10–14°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Old Engine Oil

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About Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, coffee character as Old Engine Oil will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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