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

Bottom from the Royal Oak. Had this on cask there in 2011 and it was favorite beer that day. Now gotta tick the bottled version. It's the sole Harvey's beer in the MJ 500. Hoppy, fruity nose. Orange, grapefruit, minerals, caramel malt, toast, estery yeast character. Flavor almost seems Belgian in its esters. Stone fruits, a touch of banana, orange and grapefruit from the hops, earthy, toasty malts, light caramel sweetness. Finish is dry and bitter. Much more estery than usual for the style. Classic British hops, rich malt. I must say that I prefer the Sussex Best Bitter, but this is also a classic that has stood the test of time.

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

Dark amber color and a small off-white head. Nose is dried fruits , sweet, a little boozy(?). Taste is stronge, sweet-bitter fi ish.

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

500 ml bottle, as Harvey's Tom Paine, from Seven Cellars. ABV is 5.5%. Copper to amber colour, moderate white head. Malty aroma, hints of toffee and a slight dark berry-like fruitiness. Malty and fruity flavour, pleasant tingling hops on the tongue, earthy and slightly resinous finish.

Bottle from Harveys Brewery Shop. Pours an almost clear amber/chestnut colour with a thin bubbly off white head. Very light carbonation. Aroma of apples, tea leaves, honey, caramel and mild hops. Taste is similar to the aroma, more apples, tea leaves, honey and light notes of caramel. slightly floral, herbal with a mild earthy bitterness. Nicely balanced. Very good.

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

4/4/2018. Bottle from Cobbetts, Dorking. Pours amber with an off-white head. Aroma of sweet caramel, hop, fruit and malt. Medium plus sweetness, light bitterness. Medium body, oily texture, average carbonation.

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5.5

Bottle at home from the brewery. A good pour with minimal head and it looked good in the tankard. A deep malt flavour with a balanced hop bitterness in taste and a good mouthfeel from the malt. There was also a caramel flavour that developed into a not unwelcome sweetness as I worked my way through the beer. This is more of an ESB than anything else and was enjoyable, if a little odd. I have two more bottles and I am intrigued to see how my opinion changes.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle from brewery in Lewes. Just a fantastic cuddle in a beer form. No one makes bitters like Harvey’s. --- Bottle from brewery in Lewes. Ok, last rating (4.5) was from NYE in jolly environment and old rating system (it got 5/5). It is really an ale made for those cosy winter afternoons, evenings or good sessions down the pub. Now it’s spring and this bottle has been in my custody for a long time. The alcohol has battered through a lot more over time it seems and created a much harsher palate. It is however still an exceptional bitter. It is so cuddly, tasty. Just palate is a bit off this time. (19/5/17). ---- Bottle from the brewery in Lewes. Aroma was somewhat plain. The appearance a slightly lighter look than the Sussex best. Taste is more hop forward but also a great deal more sweet - more caramel and nearing Christmas ale ish. That boozy ending that I mentioned before is clearly just a trademark of the beer - I just feel it is misplaced in a good bitter personally. That said, when treated as an ESB it deserves a reasonable score. 3.8 to 3.2. (27/12/22)

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

0.5 l bottle from ’Marktkauf Nowak’ (Iserlohn), best before November 2017. Clear, reddish amber with a thin, frothy, slowly diminishing, off-white head. Sweetish, floral, fruity-spicy aroma of orange jam, honey and hints of tea leaves. Sweetish, fruity-spicy, a bit floral taste of orange jam, apricot, tea leaves, toffee and some honey, followed by a medium long, moderately bitter, rather dry and a bit herbal-spicy finish. Medium body, smooth and slightly effervescent mouthfeel, very soft carbonation. Decent Ale, well-balanced, easily drinkable, nice!

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle (many thanks to Oespel!): Deep golden, almost clear, small and lacy white foamy layer; moderate nose of raisiny fruits and juicy malt with distinctive herbal-hoppy backbone; moderate bitter-sweet flavour, medium bodied and smooth;lingering - slightly drier - herbal-hoppy and malty-raisiny finish. An archetypal english goody...

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

Bottle bought at the Royal Oak. Smooth fruity beginning. Nice and fresh with ale characteristics. Fruity and fresh with earthy hints. Not much bitterness in the aftertaste but rich and full-bodied. Nice!