Christmas Ale
Harvey's in Lewes, East Sussex, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Winter|
Score
7.09
|
|
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
7/10
Backlog
Tried
on 11 Sep 2018
at 09:45
7/10
Backlog
Tried
on 11 Sep 2018
at 09:45
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
How: Bottle.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Amber colour with an off-white head.
Aroma: Malt, some spices, syrup, fruit, a bit vinous.
Body: Full body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Malt, plum, fruit, caramel, spices.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Amber colour with an off-white head.
Aroma: Malt, some spices, syrup, fruit, a bit vinous.
Body: Full body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Malt, plum, fruit, caramel, spices.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Jan 2018
at 06:30
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle from Systembolaget. Amber with a small head. Aroma of toffee, malt and some wood. The same in the taste, also some red berries. The body was medium and the finish was sweetish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Dec 2017
at 11:33
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7
0.275 l bottle from 'Rudat', best before August 2018. Clear, dark reddish brown with a thin, frothy, slowly diminishing, beige head. Sweetish-malty, slightly herbal-spicy and a bit fruity aroma of plums, raisins, caramel, some strawberry jam and traces of sherry. Very sweet, malty, slightly fruity and a bit herbal-spicy taste of plums, raisins, caramel, tea leaves, orange peel, cinnamon and some sherry, followed by a medium long, moderately bitter, slightly herbal-spicy and a little boozy finish. Medium to full body, oily mouthfeel, soft carbonation. Rich, saturating winter warmer, very enjoyable, reminds me of Glühwein.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Dec 2017
at 14:10
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle - Vintage 2002? - Prune, date, cocoa and some oxidization. Deep brown with almost no head. Much like the nose, obvious oxidization and lots of dried prune.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Nov 2017
at 22:12
4.5/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 6
Vintage bottle keistered by Alex. 2002-2004 era. No carbonation. Medium brown. Heavy oxidation on the nose, kind of a light spiciness...cardboard. Thin on the palate at this point, leaving behind some darker sugars but definitely thin. Doesn't taste as cardboardy on the palate, but definitely turning sideways. Has some light fruitiness. But honestly, with a bottle this old it's an effort to pull positive things from it - studying it gives it more interest because without studying it, this beer would just be some oxidized thin thing. Ok - better go seek out a fresh bottle, cause I"m sure this rating is harsh; only reflective of what's in the glass before me.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Nov 2017
at 22:11
4.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
Best Before 2004 ("thanks" Alex). 275mL bottle, pours a deep dark mahogany with a small beige head. Nose is all oxidation, with subtle hints of caramel and dark fruits that were no doubt here when I was teenager. Flavour is totally unpalatable, with balsamic notes, subdued toffee and bready malt, and old folks home. Offensive and hard to take more than a few sips. Hilariously off by now. Unfair to rate this, but fuck it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Nov 2017
at 22:11
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Strong, sweet and rather bittern with notes of dried fruits and green apples.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Nov 2017
at 10:25
8/10
Tried
on 29 Sep 2017
at 17:30