Harvey's Christmas Ale (Cask)

Christmas Ale (Cask)
(Batch of Christmas Ale)

 

Harvey's in Lewes, East Sussex, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

  Barley Wine - Barley Regular
Score
7.18
ABV: 7.5% IBU: - Ticks: 140
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6.6
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


7.1
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


7.5
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

From cask at Garland, Redhill, Surrey, on trip to 22 southern counties with OGJ and EE 06.01.19. Translucent copper. Foamy and persistent beige head and lacing. Fine aroma and tasteo of sweet medium dark malt, menthol, cranberries and dates. Good!

Tried from Cask on 06 Jan 2019 at 12:49


5.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at pub opposite brewery in Lewes. I knew they had some problems with the batch this year with the Christmas ale (which apparently justified mental price put on a half pint!!!). The taste was quite odd from cask and was surprised how much it tastes like an off port...not pleasant given this is one of my favourite Christmas beers in bottle form. (9/2/17) ---- Cask at The Victoria, Eastbourne. Trying to right a wrong here. Still and brimming glass of mahogany glory. Very rich and tasty and yet hides it's abv surprisingly well on cask. Yummy. 1.9 to 2.8. (23/12/22) ---- Cask at The Hursts Arms, Eastbourne. It is nice but it is extremely sweet. Kept 2.8.

Tried from Cask on 09 Feb 2017 at 12:51


8.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

On Cask at the Royal Oak. Thick and spicy beginning. Lots of sweet malt, spices, round and intense. Not too sticky but fresh and round. The aftertaste is long, full-bodied spies, dried plums, apples, Clive. Great aroma and a great complexity! Fascinating!

Tried from Cask on 18 Dec 2015 at 08:42


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Cask@Charlies Bar, CPH - reddish brown pour with off white head. Very sweet malty aroma and taste, some caramel, fudge toffee, dried fruit, some herbal notes but overall on this outing but to overt sweet for my palate. ---Sent via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Tried from Cask on 19 Dec 2014 at 10:33


6.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at 32nd WHOAF. It pours jet black with a minimal head. The nose is rich, roasty, earth, umami, liquorice, black jacks, oily, dried fruits and garabaldi biscuits. The taste is big old fashioned liquorice vibe, booze, wood, earth, treacle, eccles cake, oily, umami, charry wood, tar and spice with a rich, warming finish. Full body, low carbonation and oily mouth-feel. Rich and complex. Big liquorice character to it. Crazy stuff, but tough going.

Tried from Cask on 20 Nov 2014 at 09:41


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Cask @ the Wharf, Aalborg. Clear dark brown with an off-white head. Aroma is sweet, malty, caramel, dark fruit and a little alcohol. Flavor is quite sweet and moderate bitter. Dry and moderate bitter finish with a little warming alcohol. 231213

Tried from Cask on 23 Dec 2013 at 11:02


7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at the White Horse Old Ale fest 2011, Parsons Green, London. An amber/copper coloured pour with a very small off white head on top. Aroma of dark fruit, caramel, port. Tastes of Christmas, sweet, dark fruit, caramel, raisins, oranges. An all time favourite from Harveys.

Tried from Cask on 28 Nov 2011 at 02:41


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Cask at the Wenlock Arms, London. Poured a cloudy, ruby-brown with an easy, off-white head. Sour malt aroma with faint fruits and earthy hops. Sweet, tart, malty flavor, also vinous with hints of sugar plums, apples and toffee, syrup and brown sugar. Medium bodied with average carbonation. Has a sweet, wine-like finish with a boozy kick and more sour notes. Awkward, but decent. Can’t really understand the tart, sour fruit notes.

Tried from Cask on 15 Oct 2010 at 14:33