Bonfire Boy (Bottle)
(Batch of Bonfire Boy)
Harvey's in Lewes, East Sussex, England 🏴
Strong Ale - English Autumn|
Score
6.99
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A dark amber beer with a full malty palate. Slightly burnt, bitter aftertaste, and a superbly smoky flavour. A staple of Lewes Bonfire Night festivities.
Originally brewed to commemorate the gallant work of the Fire Brigade during the fire at the brewery in July 1996 and was originally called ‘Firecracker’.
Originally brewed to commemorate the gallant work of the Fire Brigade during the fire at the brewery in July 1996 and was originally called ‘Firecracker’.
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7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Panda at home, thanks to Mark The Bearded Avenger, 22/03/2026.
Deep chestnut brown topped with a beige cap of bubbles that veer to the edge.
Nose is stewed fruits, toffee, herb, straw.
Taste comprises toffee, fruit cake, brown bread, light sugar dusting, sultanas.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close.
Not bad.
Deep chestnut brown topped with a beige cap of bubbles that veer to the edge.
Nose is stewed fruits, toffee, herb, straw.
Taste comprises toffee, fruit cake, brown bread, light sugar dusting, sultanas.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close.
Not bad.
Tried
on 22 Mar 2026
at 17:33
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Bottle from Nisa, Upper Beeding. Opaque chestnut. Frothy foamy light beige head. Aroma has light berries, caramel, nuts and glue. Underlying doughy malts. Flavourwise it has a sour intro over a caramel sweet core. Develops woody, grainy bitterness. Light-medium bodied. Slick to oily. Soft-fizzy carbonation. Long dry somewhat astringent finish. Definitely trad, but on a cold night a Strong Ale goes down well.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Nisa, Upper Beeding
on 31 Jan 2026
at 21:51
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle at Rob Wick's. Lovely smooth and slightly sweet ale. Not getting much smoke but definitely a good glugger.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Dec 2023
at 22:16
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle from The Rusty Bucket, Eltham. Mahogany coloured pour with a beige head. Nose is caramel, bonfire toffee, nuts, cola,dried fruit. Taste is all of the above with a whisper of smoke coming through. Rich sweet malty finish
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Jun 2023
at 20:06
7/10
Bottle from Harveys Brewery Shop. Pours an almost clear dark chestnut colour with a small off white head. Aroma is malty, caramel, toffee, nuts and burnt bread. Taste has the same notes as the aroma with some dark fruits, cherries, roasted malts, wood, brown sugar and an earthy hop bitterness on the finish. Well balanced. Medium bodied with a slick smooth mouthfeel. Pretty good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Jan 2020
at 19:25
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Appearance is dark, clear amber, a small beige foamy head. Aroma- malty, raisin, caramel, toffee malt, nutty, trace of marzipan. Taste- full-bodied, nutty malt, toffee, sticky dark fruit, raisin, hop bitterness, smooth taste, lingering finish.
Tried
on 09 Nov 2019
at 13:20
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Creamy light brown head left a spotty cover on a reddish brown still body. Caramel, toffee & demerara aroma. Medium bodied, fluffy in the mouth with well carbonated back. Toffee, caramel, malt, smoky, nut & spicy tastes with lovely tangy finish.
Tried
on 04 Nov 2019
at 20:52
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle (many thanks to Mr.Rudat for this sample!!):Mahagony coloured, clear, small persistent off-white foamy layer; moderate sweet-bitter nose of dried fruits or raisins, port-wine-like caramel and some subdued medical hops, traces of wood and caramel detectable as well; moderate to solid sweet-bitter flavour, medium bodied; lingering sweet-bitter finish with fruits, caramel and a mild alcohol-burn in the aftertaste. A nice winter-warmer...
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Oct 2016
at 16:56
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle from Harvey’s. Didn’t realise this was such a whale until I chugged the whole thing! It pours clear mahogany brown with a minimal. The nose is rich, malty, brown bread, raisin, sultana, fruit cake, berry, earth, wood, toffee. The taste is bitter-sweet, toasty, roasted nuts, burnt toffee, dried fruits (particularly raisin), fruit cake, earth, wood, touch of alcohol and touch of spice with a dry, earthy finish. Medium body and fine carbonation. Pretty impressive stuff, especially considering that its pasteurised.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Jan 2015
at 11:34
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Rating from 2012: Dunkelbraune Farbe, fast weißer Schaum. Der Geruch ist sehr intensiv, dunkle Kirschen oder Trockenpflaumen. ein Bisschen wie Früchtebrot. Der Antrunk ist wie der Geruch - dickflüssig, leicht verbrannt, Früchtebrot. Dabei trotzdem leicht herb. Der Hauptteil wird intensiver, die Noten von gebackenen Pflaumen mit einer angenehmen Herbe werden deutlicher, dabei weich - die alkoholische Schärfe ist kaum wahrnehmbar und fügt sich gut in das Gesamtbild ein. Der Nachgeschmack ist lang anhaltend, warm, herb, Lebkuchen, Früchtebrot, Trockenpflaumen. --> Ein tolles, intensives Bier!!! --> 12,13,12,14,12,14 - 13,25
Tried
on 05 Oct 2013
at 08:27