About
Harvey's is the oldest independent Brewery in Sussex. Founded by John Harvey in 1790 it still remains a privately owned family business, with the eighth generation currently working there. We pride ourselves on the craft of our brewing, environmental credentials, local distribution, local charitable activities and loyal staff. Widely known for our Best Bitter, our beers and pubs can be found in and around the South East. As a Regional Brewer we tend not distribute further than 60 miles from the brewery premises, however our beers can be purchased via our online shop shop.harveys.org.uk and at our Brewery Shop in Lewes. Show Less
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 7
Overall 8
10/4/2026. Cask at the Isle of Man CAMRA 13th Beer & Cider Festival. Pours very well. Aroma is malty, biscuit, caramel, sweet tropical fruits, bready, banana. Medium sweetness and bitterness, some brown sugars but very well balanced. Rich, smooth, quite full bodied. Very drinkable, a dialled down abv apparently but seemed stronger than 5.6% and definitely a cut above the average Harveys.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Apr 2026
at 13:39
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
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to snifter.
Appearance: dark brown close to black with a quarter finger of eggshell white foamy head which trickled off nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: dark roasted malts, some black coffee, some bitter dark chocolate, tart dark berries, vinous tones and some vinegar sharpness
Flavor: seems to blend the prior noted aromas somewhat nicely to a slightly tart to sour to roasty quality flanked by a light sweet tone from the dark chocolate; finishes semi-sour/tart with the vinegar punching out the chocolate tones
Texture: medium bodied; this is a sipper; quaint smoothness but plenty of roastiness and vinous to tart sharpness being as aggressive as it is
Overall: honestly, initially, I didn't know what to think when I first had this and thought "oh, this was cellared wrong." Nope, after further research I see that was intentional by the brewer for the tart to vinous character so with that in mind - well, I somewhat liked this for me but this will fool a lot of people if they don't read what the brewer intended.
Bottle to snifter.
Appearance: dark brown close to black with a quarter finger of eggshell white foamy head which trickled off nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: dark roasted malts, some black coffee, some bitter dark chocolate, tart dark berries, vinous tones and some vinegar sharpness
Flavor: seems to blend the prior noted aromas somewhat nicely to a slightly tart to sour to roasty quality flanked by a light sweet tone from the dark chocolate; finishes semi-sour/tart with the vinegar punching out the chocolate tones
Texture: medium bodied; this is a sipper; quaint smoothness but plenty of roastiness and vinous to tart sharpness being as aggressive as it is
Overall: honestly, initially, I didn't know what to think when I first had this and thought "oh, this was cellared wrong." Nope, after further research I see that was intentional by the brewer for the tart to vinous character so with that in mind - well, I somewhat liked this for me but this will fool a lot of people if they don't read what the brewer intended.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Mar 2026
at 15:25
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
500ml bottle from the brewery shop. Pours dark brown with an off white head. Aromas & tastes of cola, liquorice, toffee, caramel, raisins, molasses & roasted malt. Medium body. Rich smooth moderate bitter finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Feb 2026
at 11:39
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
6.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Derde en laatste Harvey's cask in de Calthorpe Arms. Vrijwel heldere goudgele kleur, met maar weinig schuim. Geur is vooral fruitig, met in de mond alweer dat gistige/kurkachtige, en een licht zoetje. Smaak is wat zoetig en vooral fruitg, zelfs lichtjes zurig. Lichte body. Behalve fruity voldeed deze niet aan de omschrjving (hoppy & dry) en was daardoor de minste van de 3.
Tried
from Cask
at
Calthorpe Arms
on 16 Jan 2026
at 23:13
6.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Tweede Harvey's cask in de Calthorpe Arms. Vrijwel heldere licht koperen kleur met een kleine kraag. Aroma's: fruitig, ietsje bitter en ook hier weer iets gistig en/of kurkachtig. Smaakt lichtjes bitter. Lichte body. Afdronk is bitterig, inderdaad wat aards.
Tried
from Cask
at
Calthorpe Arms
on 16 Jan 2026
at 18:30
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Cask in The Calthorpe Arms. Vrij heldere diepbruine kleur, vrijwel geen schuim. Geur is moutog, lichtjes zoetig. In de mond os het pok wat gistig, kurkachtig. Smaak is lichtjes zoetig met een vleugje bitter. Lichte body uiteraard, zacht koolzuur.
Tried
from Cask
at
Calthorpe Arms
on 16 Jan 2026
at 17:57
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
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
A - old world hops with a tinge of new world, spice and bready malt
F - bit grassy, bit of citrus, malty backbone, again somewhere between a traditional English IPA and a modern IPA
F - bit grassy, bit of citrus, malty backbone, again somewhere between a traditional English IPA and a modern IPA
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2026
at 23:46