One of Scotland’s most awarded independent craft breweries is backing ‘International Stout Day’ on Thursday 5th November with the launch of a new online exclusive and first online stout tasting event.
International Stout Day is a worldwide celebration of the dark, malted brew now savoured the world over.
To mark the occasion, Harviestoun Brewery, based in Alva near Stirling, is rolling out its craft stout ‘Old Engine Oil’ in a new mini-keg format [4.5% ABV]. For the first time, Old Engine Oil will be available to buy in the five-litre pack from Harviestoun’s online shop, with next day delivery around Scotland and the rest of the UK.
To help give people a thirst for the classic craft stout, the brewery is also staging its first Instagram Live stout tasting event hosted by its Master Brewer, Stuart Cail, and one of Scotland’s top drinks writers, Peter Ranscombe.
From 5.30pm on Thursday 5th November, craft ale enthusiasts will get the rare opportunity to enjoy a stout masterclass and go behind-the-scenes at Harviestoun Brewery from the comfort of their own home. Not only will people can the chance to learn more about the drink itself, but they’ll also find out how OId Engine Oil is the perfect companion to enjoy with a venison casserole or rich chocolate cake.
Stuart Cail has been Master Brewer at Harviestoun for over 20 years. He said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating International Stout Day this year by paying tribute to our very own craft stout. Not only is Old Engine Oil now available online as a mini-keg for the first time, but we want to encourage craft ale lovers far and wide to join our first ever Instagram Live stout tasting event on 5th November.
“Old Engine Oil is beautifully engineered with premium roasted malt for a velvety mouthfeel. It’s proper vintage stuff. If you pull up at the brewery and open the car door you always know straight away if they’re making Old Engine Oil. You can smell it. It’s such a distinct grist – roast coffee, with slight chocolatey flavours.
“We wanted to brew a strong, beer that was rich and full but dark. We also wanted a fuller flavour, so we used masses of roast barley and altered the temperatures of the process to allow some residual sugar to remain in the beer. What was left was full-flavoured and viscous, so we called it Old Engine Oil.”
Old Engine Oil is also available to enjoy on draught from selected bars and hotels around Scotland, including Bridge of Orchy Hotel and Whistlefield Inn at Dunoon in Argyll; Cameron House Hotel and Slanj at Tarbet, near Loch Lomond; Falls of Dochart at Killin, near Stirling; and Fife Arms Hotel at Braemar in Aberdeenshire. When pubs and bars are allowed open in the central belt of Scotland, Harviestoun’s Old Engine Oil is also available on draught at Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Holyrood 9a, The Southern, Red Squirrel and OX184.
Harviestoun is a pioneering producer of 10 high-quality craft beer and lagers.
Another of Harviestoun’s craft stouts is Ola Dubh, their 12-year-old Whisky Aged craft dark ale. Its base beer for the brew just happens to be is a 10% abv version of Old Engine Oil. Ola Dubh, meaning ‘Black Oil’ in Gaelic, is craftly created by taking the Old Engine Oil and maturing it in Highland Park whisky casks. The process is far from simple, but the result is a beautiful brew with complimentary whisky notes and a chocolate, roasty and bittersweet aftertaste.
To take part in Harviestoun’s first Instagram Live stout tasting event at 5.30pm on Thursday 5th November, go to www.instagram.com/harviestounbrewery and use hashtag #InternationalStoutDay and #harviestounstoutday.
Old Engine Oil [4.5% ABV] is now available to buy in a new five-litre mini-keg format priced at £22 per keg, as well as a choice of bottle packs from Harviestoun’s online shop at https://harviestoun.com/product/old-engine-oil-mini-keg and https://harviestoun.com/product/old-engine-oil-craft-stout with next day delivery around Scotland and the rest of the UK.
For more information about Ola Dubh and to buy online in cases of 330ml bottles [8% ABV], visit: https://harviestoun.com/product/ola-dubh-12yr-old-whisky-aged
People can also follow Harviestoun on Facebook www.facebook.com/HarviestounBrewery and Twitter https://twitter.com/HarviestounBrew
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About Harviestoun Brewery
Based at Alva, near Stirling, Harviestoun is one of Scotland’s most awarded breweries and is a pioneering producer of nine high-quality craft beer and lagers, including its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion (pronounced she-hal-ion) pilsner, which is named after a well-known mountain in Perthshire:
- 2 craft lagers – Forth (4%) & Schiehallion (4.8%)
- 1 golden ale – Bitter & Twisted (4.2%)
- 2 craft stouts – Old Engine Oil (6% or 4.5% on draught) and Engineers Reserve (9%)
- 2 pale ales – The Ridge (5%) & Whippet (table beer – 2.3%)
- 1 dark ale – Wheesht (0.0%). Scotland’s first alcohol-free dark ale
- 1 barrel-aged stout – Ola Dubh (8%). Finished in ex-Highland Park whisky barrels for a minimum of 6 months. There are various age statements from the barrels – 12, 14, 16 , 18, 30 and 40 years old.
Harviestoun has been brewing in the shadow of the Ochil Hills in Clackmannanshire since 1983, so they were making craft beer in Scotland long before it became a popular trend. Still under independent ownership, it is one of Scotland’s most-awarded breweries and they consider themselves a modern craft classic.
Harviestoun’s beers are made with the soft local water and the majority of its barley is grown within eight miles of the brewery. The brewery remains steadfastly committed to the using the same local ingredients, the same yeast as they always have. They insist on the very best ingredients in their imaginative recipes which are crafted without compromise. All at Harviestoun respect and celebrate the provenance that they have inherited and are developing this special business with energy and imagination.
The Brewery is now owned by Sandy Orr and Donald MacDonald who in partnership with the Sharp family acquired Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh in 2008. Having already been bought by Caledonian Brewery in 2006, Harviestoun was at the leading edge of the cask beer revolution in Scotland. When Caledonian was subsequently sold to Scottish & Newcastle, Sandy and Donald were determined to keep Harviestoun out of the sale transaction believing that the quality and provenance of its beers in independent hands promised a fine future in the then growing market for premium flavoursome beers. And so it has proved.
Under the same Chairmen it has had since 2008, Harviestoun is now led by Stuart Cook and Kevin Giudici as Joint Managing Directors. The executive team in 2019 have led the business to re-brand, brought out new products that are already winning awards, as well as overhauling the sales and marketing division to establish a strong platform for growth in the future.
The independent brewery employs a close team of 22 people, including a female head brewer, which is quite unique for the brewing industry, as well as a Master Brewer with well over 20 years’ experience at the brewery. The Harviestoun Brewhouse rule is that no Harviestoun beer will leave the Brewery unless Stuart Cail (Master Brewer) or Amy Cockburn (Head Brewer) are delighted with its creation and consistency.
Press release from Taste Communications on behalf of Harviestoun
Media contact:
Jonathan Perkins, Communications Director, 07894 711 515, jon@tatsecommunications.co.uk