93 Octane 10W-30 4Pk

93 Octane 10W-30 4Pk is a 7% ABV American Stout from 93 Octane Brewery in Saint Charles, Illinois, sold as a four-pack. Part of an automotive-themed lineup, 10W-30 serves as the more sessionable counterpart to the brewery's bigger 20W-50 stout, delivering a full-bodied roasted malt character at a moderate strength that rewards repeated pours.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7%  |  Origin: Saint Charles, Illinois  |  Style: American Stout  |  Brewery: 93 Octane Brewery  |  Format: 4-Pack

Production & Heritage

93 Octane Brewery operates out of Saint Charles, Illinois, building its identity around a garage-culture, motor-inspired aesthetic that runs through its entire portfolio. The 10W-30 American Stout sits in the middle of that range — named to evoke a lighter-weight motor oil compared to the higher-gravity 20W-50 expression. While specific grain bills have not been publicly disclosed, the beer's dark chocolate and roasted barley character points to a generous use of specialty roasted malts typical of the American stout tradition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted malts lead the nose immediately, followed by waves of bittersweet chocolate and freshly brewed coffee. A subtle toffee sweetness rounds out the aromatics, giving depth without excessive sweetness.

Taste: The entry is rich and smooth, with dark chocolate and roasted barley arriving first on the palate. Mid-palate, toffee sweetness emerges to balance the roast, adding a caramel-like complexity. The beer finishes with a mildly hoppy bitterness that keeps the full body from feeling heavy.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering roasted malt and a dry, lightly bitter close. A faint cocoa and coffee aftertaste stays behind, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink 10W-30

Pour into a tulip glass or a standard pint glass at around 45–50°F to let the roasted malt aromas open up without muting the chocolate and coffee layers. Drinking straight from the can works in casual settings, but this stout genuinely benefits from the glass treatment.

• Beer Float: The dark chocolate and toffee backbone pairs exceptionally well with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a decadent dessert float.
• Black Velvet (beer variation): Layer 10W-30 with dry sparkling cider for a roasty, effervescent twist on the classic layered drink.
• Stout Shandy: Combine half-and-half with cold-brew coffee concentrate for a turbo-charged coffee stout experience that leans into the existing flavor profile.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts where a rich, dark beer provides a counterpoint to smoked meats
• Introducing craft stout drinkers to a local Illinois brewery with personality
• Cool-weather evening sessions when a full-bodied beer feels right without high-gravity fatigue
• Gifting to gearheads and automotive enthusiasts who appreciate themed craft beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 93 Octane 10W-30 taste like? 10W-30 delivers a rich, full-bodied profile dominated by dark chocolate, roasted barley, and coffee, with toffee sweetness in the middle and a mildly hoppy, dry finish.

How does 10W-30 compare to Guinness? Both are dark stouts, but 10W-30 runs at 7% ABV compared to Guinness Draught's 4.2%, resulting in a noticeably fuller body, more intense roasted malt character, and greater sweetness from toffee and chocolate notes.

Is 10W-30 good for stout beginners? At 7% ABV with a smooth, balanced roast profile, 10W-30 is approachable enough for newcomers to the style while still offering the depth that experienced stout drinkers look for.

Where is 10W-30 made? 10W-30 is brewed by 93 Octane Brewery in Saint Charles, Illinois, a suburb located roughly 40 miles west of Chicago in the Fox River Valley.

What foods pair well with 10W-30? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the roasted malt mirrors the char; dark chocolate brownies, which echo the cocoa notes; aged cheddar, whose sharpness cuts the body; grilled burgers with caramelized onions, complementing the toffee sweetness; and oysters, a classic stout pairing where brininess contrasts the roast.

What sizes does 10W-30 come in? The standard retail format is a four-pack; individual can or bottle sizes have not been confirmed beyond this packaging.

Is 10W-30 worth the price? 10W-30 positions as a craft stout at a mid-range price point, and its full-bodied complexity and distinctive branding deliver solid value within the American stout category compared to widely distributed national brands.

Why 10W-30?

What separates 10W-30 from the crowded American stout field is its deliberate place within 93 Octane's graduated lineup — engineered as the more sessionable companion to the heavier 20W-50, giving drinkers a way to enjoy that same roasted malt DNA without committing to a high-gravity pour. The toffee and chocolate layers are genuinely present rather than label-only promises, confirmed by consistent community ratings including a 3.8 on Untappd across several hundred reviews. For Illinois craft beer drinkers, it represents a hometown stout with real character and a brand identity that stands apart from the sea of skull-and-crossbones and hop-grenade labels. At 7% ABV, it hits a practical sweet spot — bold enough to satisfy a stout craving, moderate enough to enjoy across a full four-pack sitting.