Harvey's Bonfire Boy

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 Garland, Redhill, Surrey

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		31 Oct 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Still exhibiting a very good head and lasting lacing on this Sussex seasonal brew. A dry but fruited first hit. A dark fruited maltiness rising. A dry bitterness joining in. Sweet caramel favours abounding on the shunt downwards but not sickly. Still served in very good nick following my earlier lunchtime tasting. For my full tasting notes for it, see my first visit to The Garland on Saturday 31st October 2026.
Hogan Sampling		31 Oct 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Served with a superb head and lacing lasting all the way on this Bonfire Boy amber ale, and where the brewers first boiled the copper for it in July 1996. Originally baptised as 'Firecracker' to salute the gallant fire brigade lads who saved the brewery from a massive blaze, it returns every autumn to fuel the world-famous, torch-lit November 5th processions in Lewes. A sweet toffee-infused first hit. A malty bitterness rising from its Crystal Malt aiding its sticky-sweet brown sugary toffee base and highly roasted Black Malt injecting a distinct charred, toast-like essence on my taste buds resembling burnt bread crust. A dark fruited note climbing. A smokiness joining in from its toffee and molasses leading to caramelised flavours that provide a suggestion of autumn smoke without mimicking a soot-choked chimney. A hint of honey-infused fruitiness from its British trinity of local Sussex hops, namely Fuggles behind its leafy, damp-earthy herbal hints, and Goldings lending a delicate floral spice and zesty, marmalade-like citrus fruit. A moreishly dry-roasted bitterness sliding down my hatch with stewed apricot preserves and jammy stone fruits lingering for me. Served in the very best of condition.
Hogan Sampling		09 Nov 2024	Superb long-lasting head and lacing in this powerfully strong, dark and smokey ale. A malty and slightly sweet mouthfeel with a lingeringly dry, smokey aftertaste.
Philip Pirrip		06 Nov 2012	At the recommendation of Kentish Ale in a previous post for the Pilot at Maidstone I hunted down this Harvey's seasonal to here. Full bodied but did not set me on fire
Steve	Not Tried	08 Nov 2006

Two Sawyers, Woolage Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		08 Nov 2025	This was lovely. Resinous and fruity

Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	16 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip		13 Apr 2024	Pity so pricey for such a superbly kept seasonal ale
Philip Pirrip		06 Apr 2024	4½* Possibly as good as it can be - an addictively flavoursome ale with lingering lip smacking bitterness
Philip Pirrip		09 Jan 2023	Bordering on 4*
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	05 Dec 2022
Philip Pirrip		30 Nov 2022	Broke the £5pp barrier
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 Nov 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jan 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	30 Nov 2016
ChrisE	Not Tried	30 Jan 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Jan 2016
ChrisE	Not Tried	07 Jan 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Nov 2015
HSB		14 Nov 2015	Rich and dark
Philip Pirrip		11 Dec 2014
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Nov 2014
HSB		08 Nov 2014	Very tasty beer.
Philip Pirrip		28 Nov 2013	Starve a fever feed a cold. So I did just that with this superb full bodied food
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Nov 2012

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		29 Oct 2024	Excellent condition
Philip Pirrip		31 Oct 2023	A classic example of this ale

Lord Nelson Inn, Brighton, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	10 Nov 2018
Andrew	Not Tried	14 Nov 2015
Ian		09 Nov 2006	Chestnut with disappearing head. Harvey's yeast and fruity malt aroma. Syrupy malt in mouth, some nice fruit. It's a good English strong beer, but lacks the heights.

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Nov 2017
Philip Pirrip		06 Nov 2017	The very best of this beer I have ever had
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Nov 2016

The Alma Arms, Uckfield, East Sussex

The Gardener's Arms, Lewes, East Sussex

The Ram Inn, Firle, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		29 Oct 2016	Rich roast malt, a bit of woodsmoke. Mellow, perhaps too mellow for lunchtime.

The White Rock Hotel, Hastings, East Sussex

The Pilot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	07 Dec 2013
Alenomore		03 Nov 2012	Superb. One of Harvey's best seasonals. Two pints of this heaven-in-a-glass devoured. (I'd strongly reccommend to Mr Pirrip to get to the Royal Oak a.s.a.p?)...
Alenomore		25 Nov 2011	Most of the group went through the range but I chose the extremely drinkable November seasonal. Stayed on this and in tip top condition tonite.
Alenomore		19 Nov 2011	The November seasonal. On top form too.

The Hop Pocket, Bossingham, Kent

John Harvey Tavern, Lewes, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Eddie		02 Nov 2012	Now I would have been very disappointed had this little beauty not been in tip top order and luckily I'm not this was wonderful very heavy with hints of smoke, cracking!! :)

The Queens Head, Icklesham, East Sussex

The Bull's Head, Boreham Street, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		25 Oct 2011

The Two Brewers, Hadlow, Kent

The Salehurst Halt, Salehurst, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		20 Nov 2010

The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		28 Oct 2005	Undergoing a run of good beers at the moment, Harvey’s continues with this strong ale. Russet/deep ruby in colour with thin off white head. Distinctive Harvey’s yeast on nose, but also incredible malt aromas too of toffee and choc. Mouthfeel is good and full with yeast, drying hop and toffee sweetness on the end. Brilliant