J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) - J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd

beerandcycling88

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at brouwers.

A pours a kind of orange color with no head to speak of.

S very fruity with lots of apple, some berries, and booze. The sherry definitely is present.

T again very fruity with a very strong berry taste, that is accompenied by a nice earthy flavor. The ABV is very well hidden.

M thick yet smooth with little carbonation and no alcohol burn.

Overall this is a great beer to spend an evening sipping on and enjoying its nuances.

Serving type: cask

12-18-2011 20:23:50 | More by beerandcycling88

cleeze

Maine

3.63/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on cask @ Novare Res.

Poured a rosesy golden hue with a small head and some bad ass lacing.

Very boozy on the nose. Loads of sherry, little sweetness, and some nice fruitiness to round it out.

Taste was to complex for my palatte after a few Life and Limbs. Again loads of boozy sherriness

Serving type: cask

12-17-2009 13:45:56 | More by cleeze

shbobdb

Indiana

2.05/5  rDev -49.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

Well . . . it said that it was conditioned in a sherry cask and . . . it tasted like sherry! My girlfriend likes cream sherries and this beer tasted like a cream sherry that I'd expect to pay around $8 for (that's not a lot for sherry). Yeah, it tastes like a cheap cream sherry. It feels, in terms of mouthfeel, like a fine, full, rich english beer on a delightful beer-engine.

Yeah, not cool. The only thing about it that didn't feel like cheap sherry was the mouthfeel. Not worth it unless you really like sherry.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention . . . beer isn't sherry.

Serving type: cask

03-23-2006 04:52:50 | More by shbobdb

Billolick

New York

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours from the funky old wooden cask, dark and muddy, no head nor lace, seems to have very minimal carbonation. Nose is funky, musty, fruity, wine like. Notes here of figs and raisins, bold and deep, flavorful and complex. World class after dinner or desert sipper. Wine sherry notes present here but team players. Whenever you see a wooden cask on the bar or fest table, get on line and get you sample or two.

Serving type: cask

11-13-2005 14:50:56 | More by Billolick

PatYoda

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

On the handpull at downtown Indy's BW3. Appearance is a nice deep mahogany with a little bit of foam at first that disappears pretty quickly. Smell is...sweet! A few different types of sweetness combine to create a pretty sickeningly sweet smell. Of course the usual JW Lees toffee and caramel smell is very strong in there, and there is a little bit of malty sweetness, but there is also a strong maple syrup type smell and the sherry cask they aged this in must have been an extremely sweet sherry because it has a very strong influence on this beer. There is also a powerful spiced rum smell in there. The smell is very much in your face and powerful, but not appetizing at all to me. Taste is cloyingly sweet, as expected. There is some definitely depth and complexity here, and I'm sure this is probably what the brewers intended to achieve with this combination, but I can hardly stomach it right now. This is more rich and sweet than almost any dessert I've ever tried. Hardly any balancing bitterness in this one. Mouthfeel is nice and full and slippery without any carbonation. Drinkability is not great. I finished my 10oz goblet and decided that I could potentially enjoy it with dessert, but I definitely won't be ordering one again.

Serving type: cask

10-10-2005 15:40:04 | More by PatYoda

granger10

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at the BW3 in Indy. This beer pours a radioactive red color with a slight showing of a head atop the glass. There is a bit of lacing as well. Aroma was sweet and nutty at first. Then I notice vanilla and a woody component enter. Sherry shows itself along with cherries and finally a little alcohol kick. Really complex aroma. I picked up something new each time I whiffed. Taste is just as complex. I was continually picking up new flavors. There's a main dried fruit aspect to this beer that holds the sherry in and lets it be more noticeable. Apricots and cherry are there. More toasted caramel along with a roasted cashew taste. Alcohol and sherry flavor become more dominant in the finish but neither overbearing. The rich body supports these flavors well. Overall, this is a very enjoyable sipper. Maybe one of the few perfect after dinner drinks imo.

Serving type: cask

07-20-2005 11:47:24 | More by granger10

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.54/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2006 vintage, 275mL bottle. poured into snifter

appears a dark chestnut brown color, kinda murky. no head whatsoever. rich sweet aroma of caramel with dark fruits - figs, black cherry, raisin. taste is not as sweet as the smell. complex. brown sugar, tobacco, boozy fruity finish.

overall - you can taste the contribution of the grapes from the sherry. fruit notes added. great, but just not as good as the normal version when aged.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 02:12:27 | More by jmdrpi

Kooz

New York

3.43/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque orane color with a creamy, tight-packed head. Not too much of a nose, but a bit boozy and warm. Tastes sweet with caramel hints. The boozyness continues throughout, but it gives it warmth and isn't unpleasant. The beer isn't over-carbonated, and is nice. It's really smooth and I'd enjoy drinking this again. It's a pretty good beer overall.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 01:57:48 | More by Kooz

nemetz

4.56/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

To start off - I live in Hawaii and it is hot! plus I have no cellar. So it was served well beyond the recommended temperature. About 70F.
The glassware was on the spot though.

A Dark honey color, no head

S. amazing aroma of sweetness.

T. Sweet then instantly strong. rich with warm

M. Very rich and smooth

O. Despite being 11.5% its very pleasant. After half glass it just runs smooth and rich

P.S. My first review - Please message me if I did something wrong.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 06:59:26 | More by nemetz

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.39/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dated 2004.

A: Rich dark amber. Large pieces of sediment suspended within the brew. Has a thin but beautiful off-white head of large bubbles mortared together with cream.

S: Strong impression of sherry. Honey, dried figs, soy sauce. Very similar to the nose on the port version.

T: Very sweet. Strong overall sherry flavour. Dried figs. Very lovely solvent alcohol at the back before swallowing. Very refined aftertaste - a nice balance of sherry and hoppy bitterness to remind you it's still an English ale. Perfectly balanced.

M: Sticky and jelly-like but juicy enough at the same time. Very little carbonation.

O: Very similar to the port version only this is slightly less sweet and syrupy and far more palatable. It's very nice but not something I'd drink often.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 06:29:20 | More by Hoppsbabo

herman77

Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

2008 vintage

A: Clear orange amber with a small off white head. No lacing.

S: Lots of honey, molasses, sugar, raisins. Sherry, candied sherry. A tiny bit of oak

T: Wholly hell is this sweet. Just when you think it can't get any sweeter, it does. Pretty much tastes like complex simple syrup. Has a slight oaky, wet tobacco, wet cardboard taste in the finish that isn't pleasant.

M: Fuller body, low carbonation, but there is some left for sure. Sticky.

O: It's just way too damn sweet for me. I would have liked to try the others, not sure if I want to now. But maybe this is just so sweet from the sherry?

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 22:55:42 | More by herman77

maximum12

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Part of a three-bottle J.W. Lees experience my wife bought me last Christmas, & here it is almost this Christmas, & hey, I don't want her to think I don't appreciate it! So here goes the second, 9.3 ounce bottle, 2007 vintage, popped while pecking away at the Great American Novel.

Pour is smooth amber silk until the last ounce or so disgorges dozens of solids, & the liquid turns to a sludgefest; guess I'm going to have a late snack with my beer! Little if any carbonation survived the brewing & bottling process. Nose is whack sherry, along with a heavy yoke of sweetness. Like the Lagavulin Whiskey, the barrel drowns the beer in its infancy. But that's OK.

J.W. Lees Harvest (Sherry Cask) could be reviewed in two words: sweet sherry. But I'll waste a few more. It's sweet, & the sherry is strong. Really? OK, so there's a ton of caramel, sticky sugar-water, honey, touch of raisin. Consistency is thick, strong, & edging towards boozy. When I poured I cursed the midget bottle, but now, I'm appreciative of the brewer's restraint in portion control.

Overall? Good, solid, unique beer. I couldn't name another sherry-aged beer. Now just the Port version to go, & looking forward to it.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 03:37:29 | More by maximum12

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

275 mL bottle poured into a Hunahpu snifter. 2009 vintage.

Appearance - Just a hint of a head that got me so excited that I forgot that the chunks would soon start to flow. Sadly, a giant lump of something gross fell into my glass. It burst into smaller chunks and suspended itself into the murky amber liquid. Like a water sample from Lake Erie. Yum.

Smell - Huge sherry aroma. Like an oxidized barleywine, but without some of that cardboard. Harsh alcohol in the back of the aroma. Lots of raisins and sugars.

Taste - Intense sherry flavor up front that fades to raisins and brown sugar. Then the back end kicks in. Bitter cardboard. Rather unpleasant.

Mouthfeel - Syrupy as every other Harvest Ale. The sherry does nothing to cut the sweetness. Definitely a rough finish with the bitterness and the cardboard. Almost a burnt oak flavor.

Overall - Big beer. A sipper. A sugary sipper. It's complex, though. It's one of those beers you can ponder for a while. Maybe the result of the pondering isn't the best, but the activity of drinking it is nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 01:21:22 | More by Alieniloquium

metter98

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very hazy amber orange in color and has some large particles of yeast visible that are floating in suspension. It poured with a quarter finger high dense beige head that gradually died down, leaving a thin film on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are sweet aromas of caramel, grapes and toffee in the nose; these become stronger as the beer warms up.
T: Like the smell, the taste is sweet and has an interesting mix of butterscotch, caramel,
sherry and toffee flavors.
M: It feels a bit shy of full-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation with some warming from the alcohol.
O: This is a very nice dessert beer to sip. Although it tastes a bit strong, any flavors of alcohol are surprisingly well masked from the taste considering its strength. I thought it could use a slightly stronger body and a bit more carbonation.

Note: 2010 vintage

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 01:39:13 | More by metter98

wd40

New York

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2009 Vintage.

Pours a nice hazy orange/reddish colour. I love the aspects of the Harvest Ale base that are present in the smell and taste. There was a really nice amount of carbonation that balances out the sweetness of the base nicely. The sherry cask's contribution to the taste is actually pretty well integrated and pleasant, but I don't love the contribution to the nose. It's just a little overwhelming for me. Everything else about the beer is really enjoyable and I look forward to trying the other versions of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 02:34:26 | More by wd40

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a snifter; 2008 Vintage

Shared side by side with the Lagavulin 2008

A murky, iced tea brown color with no head or lacing. A thin collar surrounds the glass. The nose is full of sweet sherry, tobacco, raisins, cocoa, brown sugar, and molasses. This versions tends to enhance the sweeter characteristics of the base beer. On the palate, raisins and cocoa hit you up front, then a wave of sweet sherry, with molasses, brown sugar, and dry tobacco in tow. The finish is sweet and boozy. Full body, low carbonation. High complexity. This varietal was more enjoyable than the Lagavulin. The sherry flavors/aromas imparted by the aging process seemed much better incorporated and really enhanced some of the other flavors that weren't present in the other version.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 21:28:26 | More by ColForbinBC

Dope

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 bottle

A: Murky rusty brown with just a tiny tan head. Almost no lacing.

S: Lots of molasses, toffee and fig. Sherry is there but milder than the other barrel-aged versions I've had. Smell isn't nearly as overpowering either, it's actually quite nice.

T: Syrupy sweet molasses and toffee just like all of the variants. Sherry adds a decent fruitiness without being overpowering AND it covers a bit of that ridiculous molasses.

M: Super heavy, syrupy, blah blah blah.

O: Honestly not a bad variant. The sherry is very mild but it helps ease some of the ridiculously cloyingly sweet molasses. Not to say that it's NOT ridiculously cloyingly and syrupy sweet, just less so.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 02:56:24 | More by Dope

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2005 Vintage.

Beer is a murky toffee colour. A vigorous pour results in a bit of bubbly off-white head.

Lots of sweet caramel malt in the nose. Sherry, apple, brown sugar, raisin.

Taste is like the smell, but the sherry flavour is stronger. Caramel malt, brown sugar, oak, apple, cherry. Very sweet. Alcohol is noticeable, even seven years after bottling. Finish has an odd flavour that I can't place, makes me think of leather.

Full bodied, but with a low carbonation that makes it feel quite thin. Syrupy sticky.

Overall, too sweet for me. Some very nice flavours, but too sweet and sherry is not one of my favourite flavours. Worth checking out but I don't expect I would buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 17:47:29 | More by jrenihan

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy, ruddy amber with no head.

S: Aromas of sherry, apple, caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, and brown sugar fill the nose.

T: Notes of sherry, apple, milk chocolate, toffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla bean, black currant, plums, raisins, figs, and Medjool dates. The finish is sweet and long with plenty of port, chocolate, and dark fruit notes.

M: Full in body, sticky, and syrupy. Carbonation is very gentle, but even after eight years in the bottle, is still present. Alcohol presence is decidedly restrained.

O: This is a fantastic English barleywine, and may very well be my favorite of J.W. Lees' cask-aged ales. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 22:00:54 | More by mrfrancis

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a cloudy brown-orange color with a bit of bubbly white head. The head fades away fairly quickly leaving behind barely any lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of rich sweet caramel malts with some white grape, dark fruits, some oak, brown and caramelized sugars, a bit of vanilla, and some booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of rich sweet caramel malts, caramelized sugars, grape, and some raisin and other dark fruits. Through the middle, some oak comes through with some more sherry flavor alongside some vanilla and a bit of brown sugar. The finish is a mix of sherry, sweet caramel malts, brown sugar, oak, and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth and syrupy with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. The Sherry adds a nice complexity to the base beer. Overall nicely bold and fairly balanced.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 05:57:33 | More by ngeunit1

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to barfdiggs for sharing this one at NoSignsOfPain's birthday bottleshare hosted by mrbubbler.

2009 vintage.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, honey, brown sugar, wood, and sherry/alcohol. Taste is much the same with a nice sherry and woody aftertaste. There is a medium amount of bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that features a nice barrel aged treatment.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 07:01:49 | More by UCLABrewN84

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

9.3oz bottle served in a snifter.
2006 vintage.

pours a murky russet brown tone with a fair amount of flakes/sediment; no head whatsoever. not entirely unexpected so i'll keep style in mind but, judging solely on appearance, this is one unappealing looking beer! good thing appearance is the least important judging criteria. nose is sweet and malty with notes of caramel/toffee, brown sugar, sherry, and some dark fruit-like qualities.

taste follows the nose, very rich and buttery with a tasty range of flavors, from the toffee and brown sugar to the sherry and fruity notes. medium-full bodied mouthfeel with below average carbonation, the latter being (beside the appearance) one of my few criticisms.

overall a tasty, tasty beer; while far from flawless - or cheap - it's rich and complex. worth the occasional splurge.

(originally reviewed: 08-23-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 00:59:49 | More by BostonHops

mdfb79

New York

3.15/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2008 vintage, 9.3 oz. bottle poured into a taster glass. Tried side by side with a 2008 Calvados version.

a - Pours a dark reddish amber color with a few bubbles of off white head and light carbonation evident. Darker then the Calvados, and with less carbonation and head.

s - Smells of sherry, oak, clay, light fruity malts, dark fruits, sugar, and molasses. Not bad, but the clay smell is a littl weird. I think I like the Calvados smell a little better as it is a little sweeter and doesn't have that clay smell to it.

t - Tastes of sherry, sweet dark fruits, fruity malts, molasses, sugar, clay, light smoke, and toasted malts. Again decent, but I think I like Calvados better again.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Thick and some alcohol to it.

o - Overall a decent beer but my least favorite of the variants so far. I like the normal Harvest Ale, and love English barleywine's in general, but for some reason can't get into the variants at all; I really don't think they add anything good to the base beer. This one had some weird clay-like smells and tastes to it. I'd personally rank them the normal Harvest Ale, Calvados, Port, and then Sherry. Wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 00:22:08 | More by mdfb79

UnknownKoger

California

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last reviewed a year ago. Scores reflect the latest tasting. 2005 vintage poured into Bruery tulip glass

Appearance is a hazy brown color. Virtually no carbonation. It's pretty flat

Smells delicious. The sherry is very apparent in the nose. There are also notes of fig and other dark fruits. Some smoke. Malt sweetness. Smells good

The taste is pretty good. The sherry notes give this barleywine a pleasant sweetness. Even though it's lacking carbonation, it's still pleasant to drink. No hop presence.

Mouthfeel is very smooth. Goes down nicely.

Overall I'm giving the 2005 a better score than the 2007 I reviewed a year ago. Perhaps the vintage is different or perhaps my tastes have changed. Cheers

---

Bottled in 2007, consumed now. Purchased from K&L Wines in Hollywood and poured into my New Belgium tulip glass.

A: After pouring, I was afraid I'd screwed something and would have to strain the beer or chew it. The floaties others have mentioned I think are congealed bits of liquid because I tried smashing some against the side of the glass with my finger. I suppose the lesson learned here is don't pour it too cold. Otherwise it poured a hazy brown with very light carbonation

S: Smells like it was made in a sherry cask. Very sweet and malty. It made my mouth water

T: Granted, this is my first English barleywine, it's definitely a sipper in my opinion. Whereas in American barleywines it's a hopfest, this brew is all about the sweet sherry notes mixing with the caramel malty goodness. First drink I was kind of put off, but it started to warm up to me.

M: Like gold, this is super smooth and light on the tongue and goes down smooth. It's weird; you can taste the alcohol, but it's not overwhelming. Given that it's 11.5% it goes down a lot smoother than others near this level and in this style.

D: As I mentioned earlier, it's definitely a sipper. Others have mentioned it's a good nightcap, and that's exactly how I'm drinking it. Not sure if I'm entirely sold on English barleywines, but it's definitely a good beer...just not my particular style of choice

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 01:54:41 | More by UnknownKoger

jdprmd

Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 Vintage, pored in oversized snifter.

A - ruby red, very little head that disappears quickly.

S - Wow, sherry, and so many dark fruits, peat and sweetness... sublime

T - Damn this is sweet, tastes more like a grand crue than a barleywine. It has some smokiness and peaty notes that make it interesting. This taste is really complex, if you like sweeter beers this is a home run. Lots of dark fruits: grape, cherry, plum... and so on... and of course sherry! The only thing not giving this a 5 on taste is the high sweetness.

M - very velvety, I had the lagavulin version the other night and it was perfect, this one not as good but very close... super smooth going down the hatch.

O - damn J.W... the whole series is great from what I have had... if you find any of them do your self a favor and make the purchase! This as well as the others are very complex... a bit pricy but well worth it. What is even greater is that you can find bottles as far back as 2005! I will be seeking bottles of this out for years to come.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 05:20:53 | More by jdprmd