Old Engine Oil
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.
Tasting Notes
AI-generated sensory profile for Old Engine Oil
Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.
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.
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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