JW Lees (see also Lees) Harvest Ale

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		10 Jan 2023	Just a few sips of a taster of this syrupy sweet medicine was all one could tolerate!
Jack William		20 Dec 2022	Just a taster, in a brandy glass, warmed by the hand of the landlord!
Ian		18 Jul 2015	2008 version, slight sourness, dry oloroso sherry. Unbelievable.
Philip Pirrip		21 Aug 2014	Just a sip taster but lethal and just potentially moreish
Philip Pirrip		14 Feb 2013	2006 version which seemed more rounded than the 2005 which my colleague pushed down
Ian		06 Jul 2012	Just incredible. Walnuts, dry oloroso sherry. Sheer brilliance in a glass.
Pedro		07 Jan 2012	This was more than exceptional. it was excep ++ super beer, if only more obtainable. It isn't on all the time, so ask nicely for a taste !
Andrew		06 Jan 2012	Umm. Want JW's harvest? Well come here.
Ian		06 Jan 2012	Chocolate raisin christmas cake dry oloroso sherry. Phenomenal
Blair	Not Tried	23 Feb 2011
Ian		05 Feb 2011	Slightly salty, Christmas cake, molasses, Oloroso sherry. Alex suggested having this with celery which would work well I think.
Andrew		07 Jan 2011	2004 vintage. As Martyn said there are only 16 bottles of this left in the world and he has all of them. Smoother than you could believe; raisins, walnut, molasses.
Ian		07 Jan 2011	A half pint from 2004. Wow. Christmas cake, dry oloroso sherry, intense. No oxidisation at all even after 6 years. Possibly the best barley wine in the world found in this little pub.
Blair		04 Mar 2010	Introduced my brother to this and I think it rocked his world. He never wants to drink wine again, just replace it with this. I'd agree with him.
Blair		22 Dec 2009	Just amazing, so rich and flavoursome. Raisins adn other dark fruit dominate, wow.
Andrew		10 Oct 2009	Ok, I've only had a few sips of Ian's but hell-fire this was an unbelievable beer. I would say that it had no alcohol in it which is a fantastic testament to its quality. Molasses, raisins, Christmas cake. Hell of a beer.
Ian		10 Oct 2009	If I could rank this higher I would. 2004 version half pint. Must have taken me the best part of an hour to drink. During which time I went from being completely speechless to raving about how good this is. Raisins, molasses, nuts, dry oloroso sherry, it has it all. And not a hint of alcohol presence in the taste which for a barley wine shows how good this is. If you haven't been here and haven't had it. Come. You won't be disappointed. But have a pint of Hophead first.
Blair		28 Apr 2009	I was given this by one of the customers. Took 3 of us an hour to get through a small glass of it. So rich and flavoursome.
Blair		07 Apr 2009	Unfortunately only had a small glass of this to try, but it was sensational. It tasted like a cross between a strong ale and a sherry. Very sweet, perfect for a christmas dinner.
Andrew	Not Tried	17 May 2008
Andrew	Not Tried	31 Dec 2005
Ian		29 Jan 2005	Sensational barley wine with raisins and brown sugar balanced by a hoppy finish. Magnificent. Like drinking a good sherry
Andrew		29 Jan 2005	Just like a sherry. Bit too strong for a session though!

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2005, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		04 Feb 2005	Took me 50 minutes to chew through a half pint. Brilliant barley wine