Harvest Ale
(has 20 batches)
J.W. Lees in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Regular|
Score
7.61
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This fully fermented strong ale has been brewed by J.W. Lees as a celebration of the brewers art since 1985. Harvest Ale can be enjoyed now or laid down like a vintage wine for enjoyment in years to come.
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8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Edit: Why has Rate Beer merged these beers, the relative vintages are simply not the same this is absurd. Bottle 2021. Nose is marmalade, honey, brown sugar, toffees slight woodyness. Taste is brown sugar, slight burnt sugar, toffee, smoke, some earthiness, marmalade, lots of licorice, almost aniseed, herbal sweet, slight pith note. Harvest seems to vary between the ultra sweet and the darker smokier and slightly herbal versions. This is cracker of the smokier ones. Earlier Rating: 9/29/2021 Total Score: 4.2 2018 Bottle rated late 2021. Nose is toffee, slightly yeasty, caramel, a slight earthyness. Taste is caramel, toffee, leading to fruits, candied orange, bread, syrup, sugar, a lightly vinous, sherry note, hint of apricot. As it breaths I get more wood, Christmas cake, dark fruits, figs, a nuttyness; hazelnut, toffee apple. Smooth mouthfeel. Delicious barley wine, very well balanced, and much smoother than some of the younger bottles I've had. Not sure if its the age or this particular year but very good. A Earlier Rating: 7/19/2020 Total Score: 3.9 2019 drunk 2020. Nose is sweet, apples, hint of white grape, almond, Taste very sweet, boozy, apple, brandy, banana, caramel, spice, raisin, some dried fruits, hints of marmalade malty, peppery boozy bitterness. Much less sweet than the 2014, and still feels very raw and peppery in 2020. Will put one down to mellow. Earlier Rating: 5/16/2018 Total Score: 3.8 Bottle. 2016 drunk 2017. Nose is yeast, pear drops, caramel, malt, sugar. Taste is rich honey, caramel, candy, very sweet, pear drops, hint of cherry syrup, brown sugar, hint vanilla, malt, plums, butterscotch, more sweetness, hint of marzipan. It's enjoyable but is perhaps the sweetest beer I've ever drunk, to the point of being overpowering, would perhaps benefit from some time in a cellar. Bottle drunk October 2021: Nose is yeast, caramel, toffee, malt, marzipan, sugared nuts . Taste is sweet, syrup, brown sugar, butter scotch, soreen, slight frutiness marzipan, candy sugar, slightly nutty. It remains very sweet, but not as overpowering; I was right it does benefit from time in the cellar! I do prefer other years however. Earlier Rating: 10/6/2021 Total Score: 3.9 Bottle drunk 2021. Nose is toffee, hints of marmalade, slight pear drop, brown sugar. Taste is brown sugar, caramel, toffee, marmalade, honey, leading to light fruit, fruit cake. There is a spicy quality to this similar to the 2018 which is not present in the older beers, and the sweetness is much more balanced. Good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Oct 2021
at 19:30
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle at Craig's. Pours clear amber, nose is toffee, marzipan, caramel, taste is juicy fruit, citrus, sweet, nutty, caramel, sherry.
Earlier Rating: 5/31/2021 Total Score: 4.1
Bottle at ash's. Pours reddish brown with bits, nose is huge raisin, sherry, fig, caramel, taste is similar, sweet, nutty.
Earlier Rating: 5/17/2014 Total Score: 3.5
Bottle at Craig’s tasting, 2006 edition. Caramel, peanuts, sweet, dry toffee.
Earlier Rating: 5/31/2021 Total Score: 4.1
Bottle at ash's. Pours reddish brown with bits, nose is huge raisin, sherry, fig, caramel, taste is similar, sweet, nutty.
Earlier Rating: 5/17/2014 Total Score: 3.5
Bottle at Craig’s tasting, 2006 edition. Caramel, peanuts, sweet, dry toffee.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Sep 2021
at 07:46
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle thanks to cgarvieuk. Appearance - orange to brown. Thin off white head. Nose - hazelnuts, toffee and light date note. Taste - hazelnuts, toffee and chewy malt loaf. Palate - medium bodied, rich texture. Dry light roast finish. Overall - lovely stuff.
Earlier Rating: 6/3/2021 Total Score: 4.5
Bottle, huge thanks to cgarvieuk. Appearance - deep copper with red chinks. Low carbonation but some head. Nose - toffee, glace cherry, panetone and molasses. Taste - dates, hazelnut, slight oxidation giving sherry and generally cakey. Palate - medium bodied and sweet, then with a balanced, dry finish. Overall - delicious, perhaps the beer of the year so far (although it's not of this year).
Earlier Rating: 6/3/2021 Total Score: 4.5
Bottle, huge thanks to cgarvieuk. Appearance - deep copper with red chinks. Low carbonation but some head. Nose - toffee, glace cherry, panetone and molasses. Taste - dates, hazelnut, slight oxidation giving sherry and generally cakey. Palate - medium bodied and sweet, then with a balanced, dry finish. Overall - delicious, perhaps the beer of the year so far (although it's not of this year).
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Sep 2021
at 14:43
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle pour at CW Family & Friends, Session 1 @Manchester Central, 21/02/20. Clear golden copper with a good sized off white cap that thins to a swirl. Nose is dusty fruit rinds, brown breads, dark malts, toffee, fruit cake. Taste comprises dusty fruits, brown sugar dusting, raisins, toffee, fruit cake. Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a light boost offered at the curtain call. Solid old skool Barley Wine (is life).
Earlier Rating: 3/5/2020 Total Score: 3.7
Bottle pour at CW Family & Friends, Manchester Central, Session 1 - 21/02/20. Clear golden copper with a decent light beige cap that dissipates to a swirl. Nose is bitter sweet dried fruits, vinous twang, toffee, brown sugar coating. Taste comprises fruit loaf, toffee, vinous, dates, prunes, brown sugar kiss. Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with balanced alcohol at the curtain call. Drinks easy.
Earlier Rating: 2/27/2020 Total Score: 3.6
Bottle pour at CW Family & Friends, Session 2 @Manchester Central, 22/02/20. Dark amber with a decent off white cap that dissipates edgeward. Nose is oak, dark malts, light wood must, toffee, dried fruits. Taste comprises fruit cake, light oxidisation, toffee, dusty fruits. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with just a trace of alcohol. Pleasant enough sipper but age is starting to set in here.
Earlier Rating: 1/4/2020 Total Score: 3.5
Bottle split at L6 Tasting, picked up online, 22/08/19. Clear golden to light amber with a decent off white covering that dissipates to a swirl. Nose is fruit cake, sweet malts, dusty, caramel, sugars. Taste comprises ripe fruit esters, straw, toffee, dates, sugars, caramel, light booze, grains. Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a kiss of booze. Ok Harvest but a touch overly sweet for my liking.
Earlier Rating: 1/23/2016 Total Score: 3.7
Bottle at home, 23/01/16. Lightly hazed orange amber with a decent off white covering. Nose is light spice, caramel fudge, dried fruits, dates. Taste comprises sticky toffee pudding, caramelised brown sugar, figs, sweet licks, earthy stewed fruits, treacle toffee pie. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close, warming alcohol in a boost fuelled curtain call. Good boost for bucke affair.
Earlier Rating: 11/17/2013 Total Score: 3.9
Bottle shared at my 5K tasting at Bruce’s pad, huge thanks to our host with the most for unearthing this whale, 13/11/13. Murky orange amber with floaties and a topped with a moderate beige covering. Nose is big dark fruit notes, spice, dark toffee, light booze, Xmas cake, treacle, lightly roasty malts. Taste comprises burnt sugars, nutty tones, dark toffee fudge, caramelised sugar, dates, stewed prunes, figgy pudding. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, no heat at all, sweet finale but not overbearing. Great drinking BW for the ABV and holding up very well indeed, great stuff.
Earlier Rating: 3/5/2020 Total Score: 3.7
Bottle pour at CW Family & Friends, Manchester Central, Session 1 - 21/02/20. Clear golden copper with a decent light beige cap that dissipates to a swirl. Nose is bitter sweet dried fruits, vinous twang, toffee, brown sugar coating. Taste comprises fruit loaf, toffee, vinous, dates, prunes, brown sugar kiss. Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with balanced alcohol at the curtain call. Drinks easy.
Earlier Rating: 2/27/2020 Total Score: 3.6
Bottle pour at CW Family & Friends, Session 2 @Manchester Central, 22/02/20. Dark amber with a decent off white cap that dissipates edgeward. Nose is oak, dark malts, light wood must, toffee, dried fruits. Taste comprises fruit cake, light oxidisation, toffee, dusty fruits. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with just a trace of alcohol. Pleasant enough sipper but age is starting to set in here.
Earlier Rating: 1/4/2020 Total Score: 3.5
Bottle split at L6 Tasting, picked up online, 22/08/19. Clear golden to light amber with a decent off white covering that dissipates to a swirl. Nose is fruit cake, sweet malts, dusty, caramel, sugars. Taste comprises ripe fruit esters, straw, toffee, dates, sugars, caramel, light booze, grains. Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a kiss of booze. Ok Harvest but a touch overly sweet for my liking.
Earlier Rating: 1/23/2016 Total Score: 3.7
Bottle at home, 23/01/16. Lightly hazed orange amber with a decent off white covering. Nose is light spice, caramel fudge, dried fruits, dates. Taste comprises sticky toffee pudding, caramelised brown sugar, figs, sweet licks, earthy stewed fruits, treacle toffee pie. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close, warming alcohol in a boost fuelled curtain call. Good boost for bucke affair.
Earlier Rating: 11/17/2013 Total Score: 3.9
Bottle shared at my 5K tasting at Bruce’s pad, huge thanks to our host with the most for unearthing this whale, 13/11/13. Murky orange amber with floaties and a topped with a moderate beige covering. Nose is big dark fruit notes, spice, dark toffee, light booze, Xmas cake, treacle, lightly roasty malts. Taste comprises burnt sugars, nutty tones, dark toffee fudge, caramelised sugar, dates, stewed prunes, figgy pudding. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, no heat at all, sweet finale but not overbearing. Great drinking BW for the ABV and holding up very well indeed, great stuff.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Jul 2021
at 17:28
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
0,275l bottle at home. Cellar release 11-2012. brown color, small off-white head. smells sherry, oxidation, bit smoky, molasses, marzipan, some figs, dried fruits. nice smell. full body, no carbonation. tastes of sherry, marzipan, nutty, some figs, light sweetness, dried fruits, raisins. finishes medium sweet with notes of dried fruits, sherry and some figs. very nice stuff, rather sweet, but also rather expressive, great balance.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Jul 2021
at 16:14
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle thanks to cgarvieuk. Appearance - deep copper to red with thin lacing. Nose - caramel, Jamaica cake, wood and spice. Taste - figs, boozy, hazelnuts and caramel. Palate - medium to full bodied, creamy, boozy and roasty. Overall - lovely.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Jun 2021
at 08:29