Profiled by Ken Carman
Nose: some caramel. Head fades fast. A black Scotch Heavy, or a black Old Ale. Engine Oil is listed as an Old Ale by BJCP, but does not say “black.” I think it may be one in the same, but not sure. If not it’s a black version of it.
Not a lot of hops, a lot of caramelization, but the body just a tad low for a Heavy, so I gravitate more towards the Old Ale category.
The black, or darker malt, dominates, with the caramelization bringing up the support from the background. Obsidian. The caramelization is stronger in the mouth feel, but less so in the taste.
One site lists it as a Porter. Another as a Stout. In my opinion: neither. Old Ale or Scottish Ale with darker malts. A Stout would have roasted barley, this seems to have little of what would qualify for a Stout profile. Porter would be more complex malt-wise, perhaps a bit more hoppy, and certainly less caramelization than this. So that doesn’t apply either, really.
I recommend it. But be looking for a Scottish Ale or Old Ale with a darker malt sense.