Christmas Ale (Bottle)
(Batch of Christmas Ale)
Harvey's in Lewes, East Sussex, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Winter|
Score
7.03
|
|
A festive delight, this traditional barley wine exudes biscuity malts and rich vinous fruits, all balanced by a strong hop bitterness. Warm the soul with this award-winning beer which embodies the essence of Christmas spirit.
Sign up to add a tick or review
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Twas a nice English styled barleywine I had on Christmas eve of 2025.
Bottle to snifter.
Appearance: mostly dark red/brown close to black color with a thin finger's worth of white foamy head
Aroma: leather, caramel/toffee rich malts, clean wood & grassy/earthy hops, yeasty fruitiness
Flavor: semi-sweet with some dry leathery/earthy bitterness
Texture: medium bodied with some dry bitterness
Overall: def a winter seasonal English styled barleywine worthy of returning to.
Bottle to snifter.
Appearance: mostly dark red/brown close to black color with a thin finger's worth of white foamy head
Aroma: leather, caramel/toffee rich malts, clean wood & grassy/earthy hops, yeasty fruitiness
Flavor: semi-sweet with some dry leathery/earthy bitterness
Texture: medium bodied with some dry bitterness
Overall: def a winter seasonal English styled barleywine worthy of returning to.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Beverage Warehouse of Vermont
on 10 Jan 2026
at 01:56
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Old rating from 31-03-16 - A Xmas gift from a friend who went to Lewis for work. 275ml bottle. Pours a dark reddish colour with a very small beige head. Aromas of sweet malt, toffee & caramel. Taste is much as aroma along with biscuit, and mild alcohol. The finish has a sweet caramel bitterness. Overall a very good winter ale.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Jun 2025
at 20:51
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
9.3 oz. bottle from Florida Cork & Bottle. Pours a crystal clear orange-bronze color with a beige head and good retention. Good lacing. Caramel malt aroma. Faint caramel flavor with some dark fruit and a long, mild hops and bitter finish. Mellower than I expected. Medium body. Light carbonation with a semi-slick mouthfeel. Low bitterness. The 7.5% ABV is well hidden. Tastes like a typical amber ale to me. Okay.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jun 2025
at 20:10
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Poured a medium viscous brown. Nuts? Fruits spices. Some yeasty syrupy gunk. Ok but a bit off.
Tried
on 20 May 2025
at 01:06
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Dark amber in color with a small head. Aroma is fruitcake, spice and winter fruits. Taste is fruitcake and hops.
Tried
on 21 Jan 2025
at 05:39
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle @ Broadway Dive Bar, Manhattan (Mar 2023). Pours clear reddish brown with a large foamy beige head, caramel malt, honey, cloves aroma, low carbonation, initially sweet medium bitter caramel malt taste with nutmeg, faint cloves, thin body, long medium bitter finish. Smooth and spicy, a great winter warmer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Nov 2023
at 15:38
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle pour at Tørst. Pours rubescent brown. Toffee, biscuit, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, little boozy. Medium body. Good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2022
at 03:59
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
9.3oz bottle. I don't really think of this as a Barleywine as much as a Winter Warmer. Malty, pleasant amber vanilla notes, fleshed out by the oats. Faint hop balance. Great balance and drinkability overall, a blast from the past in that regard. Any warmth from the alcohol is perfectly balanced in. Smooth, sweet finish. Great beer. A classic in my opinion.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Sep 2021
at 03:33
6/10
Bottle from Harveys brewery shop. Pours a clear mahogany colour with hardly any head. Soft carbonation. Faint aromas of dry dark fruit, fruit cake, caramel and tobacco and leather. Taste is much more pronounced with more dry dark fruit, fruit cake, tobacco, caramel, treacle, cherries, orange peel, tea leaves, wood, sherry, spices, nuts and an earthy hoppy bitterness on the finish. Full bodied with an oily sticky mouthfeel. Quite complex and well balanced. A beer to sip and savour in the winter months. Good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Jan 2020
at 21:18
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Flaska från SB, 2017. Rostbrun med liten krona. Kola, toffee, kanderade äpplen, något oxiderad.
Tried
on 15 Nov 2019
at 19:12