Harvey's Christmas 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 Garland, Redhill, Surrey

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		25 Jan 2025	With a name like this I expected something very sweet and sickly but not in the least and so pleasantly surprised. Good head and lacing on this dark barley wine with just a hint of sweetness alongside the spices in the first hit. A dryish and fruity mouthfeel with just a gently sweet spiciness lingering.
Stephen Harris		14 Dec 2013	Amber/brown. A bit cloudy. Very sweet. Near to end of barrel I think, should be better than this.

Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 Dec 2024	No harsh tones
Philip Pirrip		02 Oct 2024	2023's ale. Very woody, a slow drinker. Full on flavour but flat
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Jan 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Jan 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Jan 2022	Tempting, another day perhaps
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Jan 2020
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	20 Jan 2020
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Nov 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 Jan 2018	Tempting
Philip Pirrip		25 Jan 2017	Very innocent in taste
ChrisE	Not Tried	30 Jan 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Jan 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	28 Jan 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Dec 2014
Philip Pirrip		29 Jan 2014	Nicely rounded. The hit came later
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Dec 2013	Lower abv than previous years but £5.50 pp

Two Sawyers, Woolage Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		17 Dec 2023	I don’t usual rate strong ales this low but it was sickly sweet. Condition fine.

The Rusty Bucket, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		24 Dec 2022	A whole pint as Santa's nightcap
Philip Pirrip		23 Dec 2022	Pleasant surprise in a gravity served pin. Only time for a half as later commitments required some degree of sobriety

Bridge Arms (formerly The White Horse Inn), Bridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		23 Dec 2021	Powerful barley wine, albeit rather too sweet for my liking.

The Dorset, Lewes, East Sussex

The Ale House, Chelmsford, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		02 Jan 2020	Another taster, too sickly sweet

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Dec 2018	In a pin on the counter top. Rather flat and warm, needed some cooling arrangement to make this more enjoyable

The Cat's Back, Wandsworth, Greater London

The Market Porter, Southwark, Central London

The Snowdrop Inn, Lewes, East Sussex