Christmas Ale
Harvey's in Lewes, East Sussex, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Winter|
Score
7.10
|
|
Harvey’s Brewery Christmas Ale is a strong dark barley wine is reminiscent of the strong ‘stock ales’ drunk during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and should be treated with respect. 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
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Half pint from the cask at the John Harvey Tavern, Lewes. Pours a red/brown with a small white head. Aromas & tastes of dried fruits, brown sugar, plums & malt. Medium body. Rich finish
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Dec 2025
at 10:53
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 5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Cask at Royal Oak, Borough. Aroma is surprisingly lacking.. malty dark fruits in there. Opaque chestnut. Frothy off-white head thins out. Initial sweet start soon followed by fruit Vinegar sourness. Thick. Oily. Average-fizzy carbonation. Long astringent finish. Enjoyable. Suspect that the bottle wasn't so sour?
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Apr 2023
at 14:47
Historic check-in
Tried
on 16 Nov 2022
at 05:32
6/10
Really tastes more like a traditional winter ale than a barleywine.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Jan 2022
at 23:14