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John Harvey Tavern (Harvey's Brewery)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Harvey's - Bonfire BoyExceptional1
Harvey's - Star of EastbourneExcellent1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent3
Harvey's - Armada AleGood2
Harvey's - Hadlow BitterGood1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood3
Harvey's - OlympiaGood2
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)Good2
Harvey's - Primus AleNot Tried0
Harvey's - PorterNot Tried0
Harvey's - Christmas AleNot Tried0
Harvey's - IPANot Tried0
Harvey's - Sussex Wild HopNot Tried0
Picture 1. John Harvey Tavern, Lewes, East Sussex

Visits Details

20 Sep 2014 (Andrew)
Flying visit after popping in to the Harvey's bottle shop opposite.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00GoodVery cold but very refreshing.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - IPA3.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Primus Ale5.00Not Tried
05 Apr 2014 (Stephen Harris)
A quick, early evening visit. Getting pretty busy in here as guests were starting to arrive for somebody’s birthday party.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Olympia4.30GoodCrisp, balanced, golden ale.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
Harvey's - IPA3.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Wild Hop3.70Not Tried
02 Nov 2012 (Eddie)
14:30 visit. I'm hoping that my visit this time will change my opinion of this pub as I've always felt it to be a bit grubby and full of youngish "trendy" types drinking out of bottles plus the ale quality has always been disappointing all of which I find strange as its slap bang opposite its parent brewery??
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Bonfire Boy5.80ExceptionalNow 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!! :)
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50ExcellentVery dry and bursting with hops, quite hazy but does not distract from the taste and quality of the ale.
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentNow this is more like it wonderful full bodied ale displaying wonderful fruity notes great stuff :)
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodLacking in condition but still has that wonderful Harvey's trait to it
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50GoodNice little pale ale this :)
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00AcceptableNever my most favourite of milds this, but I always seem to order it and give it another go, not that good really I had a much better example in a Harvey's pup in Maidstone Kent.
09 Apr 2012 (Pedro)
Early lunchtime
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Olympia4.30Good
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50Not Tried
10 Dec 2011 (thebrewingman)
Busy Saturday lunchtime.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Excellent
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Christmas Ale8.10Not Tried
20 Mar 2010 (Pedro)
Afternoon
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Excellent
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Porter4.80Not Tried
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50Not Tried
08 Jun 2009 (Ian)
Just came here for one before the brewery tour. Nice enough interior, but I seemed to spend most of the time the group were here walking to and from Waitrose
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00AcceptableWe all felt that this was a bit tired maybe
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Olympia4.30Not Tried
25 Apr 2009 (Ian)
We'd just had a great tour of the Harvey's Brewery with head brewer, Miles Jenner, on the Butcher's Arms coach day out. Glyn had organised for us to have one of the upstairs function rooms at the pub to have chilli for lunch all as part of the trip.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Star of Eastbourne5.50ExcellentThis had been dry hopped when we tried it at the brewery and was like drinking liquid hops. This version hadn't been dry hopped, so although still very good, just not quite as good.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50Not TriedIn the breweey tasting room, the cask had been dry hopped and that version was very hoppy and drinkable.
14 Nov 2008 (Ian)
Like Andrew I don't get the feeling of a pub in here, but looking back on it, it was one of the nicer experiences of the day. We sat side by side looking at the bar, and just chatted. It's alright, and I would come here again when next in Lewes.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentServed on gravity. Good flavours came through on this. I really do like this beer when its served as well as this.
14 Nov 2008 (Andrew)
Big barn like place that really doesn't feel like a pub. We sat by the window and talked about beer - like the rest of the day.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50AcceptableZesty apple. A bit tight
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not TriedOn gravity
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Hadlow Bitter3.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not TriedOn gravity

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About the John Harvey Tavern

The pub sign. John Harvey Tavern, Lewes, East Sussex

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional3
Excellent12
Good9
Acceptable8
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AN.

Sited in Bear Yard, a lane which is opposite the brewery shop and overlooking buildings on the side of the River Ouse. Long narrow pub. Main bar has 5 handpulls on the bar counter and stillage for up to 6 casks on a shelf on the bar back for Harvey's beers on gravity. Very busy and popular especially with tourists. Lots of wood in evidence. Lounge room to the left with sofas and pictures of film stars on the walls. Upstairs function room. Effectively the brewery tap.

We have visited this pub 22 times, seen 23 different beers and tried 14 of them.

Map location

Postcode: BN7 2AN