ALVA'S Harviestoun Brewery is backing International Stout Day with an online tasting event tomorrow.

The craft beer makers are inviting ale enthusiasts to enjoy a stout masterclass and to go behind the scenes at the brewery on Thursday, November 5, from 5.30pm.

At the same time, Harviestoun is rolling out its stout Old Engine Oil in a mini-keg format with next day delivery on offer.

The tasting event will go ahead on Instagram Live, hosted by master brewer Stuart Cail as well as Peter Ranscombe, one of Scotland's top drinks writers.

Stuart, who has more than 20 years of experience in his role at the Wee County brewery, 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 November 5.

“Old Engine Oil is beautifully engineered with premium roasted malt for a velvety mouth-feel.

“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.”

Another of Harviestoun’s craft stouts is Ola Dubh, a 12-year-old Highland Park whisky cask aged craft dark ale.

Its base beer for the brew happens to be is a 10 per cent ABV version of Old Engine Oil with Ola Dubh meaning Black Oil in Gaelic.

To take part, people simply need to visit instagram.com/harviestounbrewery at 5.30pm on Thursday, November 5.

Those taking part are asked to use the hashtags #InternationalStoutDay and #harviestounstoutday to share on social media.