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

Todd

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 275ml brown bottle. Limited Edition - 1st December 2000. No sediment in the bottle.

Appearance: A rich, slightly hazy, copper coloured beer with a magnificent foamy, creamy head. Initial pour is about 3-4 fingers thick! Head retention is outstanding -- seems to last forever.

Smell: Raisins, molasses, raw honey, buttery toffee, rich fruity esters and an almost pungent raw hop aroma.

Taste: This is a huge beer! Silky smooth and ultra-creamy with a gentle carbonation that attempts to break through a thick syrupy malt profile of rich caramel, toffee, molasses, coffee and chocolate milk, honey and raisin. All sorts of toasted malt flavours play the palate, with baked sweet bread flavours. Alcohol notes follow, and try to hide in a cornucopia of big sweet ripe fruit flavours (pineapple and sweet honey dew melon come to mind). Bitterness is just enough to tame the malt from dominating 100%, with light citrus notes. The ale finishes with a touch of buttery diacetyl, toasted malts, coffee, milk and a bit of grain flavour.

Notes: Last time a tried one of these it was a bottle of the 1986, I believe. It was staggering. For being around a year and a half old at the time of this review, the 2000 is simply to die for. There's so much complexity of flavour going on that you almost need to stop analyzing and simply enjoy it before the glass is empty.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2001 00:00:01 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Alcohol is still a bit boisterous as well as the forceful fruitiness. Jam packed with flavour with a similarity to a port or sherry minus the carbonation. I preferred this year over 1997 due to it being a bit more robust and over the top for a barley wine.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2000 23:26:04 | More by Jason

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-22-2013 01:12:57 | More by mikeincharleston

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage.

This will mark the occasion of my 2,200th review on this site and I figured that it should be something worthy of the milestone. I was at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Altoona following the Pints for Pets fest when I spotted this beauty in the cooler. I was pulling beers out left and right when I noticed a small sign on the right-hand side of the cooler advising me to ask my server/bartender/waitstaff for assistance in gathering beers from said cooler. Whoops! In my defense, although I am right-handed, I like to work from left to right and simply glossed over their note. It did not matter to them as I was summarily dragged into the courtyard, pilloried and accordingly whipped by a buxom central-PA beauty while still wearing my infamous monk's robe. Admission was charged for the sight and I was comped the beer, so it all worked out. Except for the fact that I am still unable to sit down comfortably. Ah well, c'est la guerre.

From the bottle: "This fully fermented strong ale has been brewed as a celebration of the brewer's art. It can be enjoyed now or laid down like a vintage wine for enjoyment in years to come. [undersigned] Head Brewer".

I initially employed a gentle pour so as not to disturb the (potential) lees, but to no avail. I was still getting a murkiness with floaties so I went back to the drawing board and used a heavier hand, resulting in a quickly disappearing finger of light-tan head and a LOT of floaties. It really depends on how much such things bother you as far as which style of pour to utilize, I suppose. Color was a murky, deep-amber with loads of evident floaties. Nose was enough to make me want to pay homage to my sinuses for finally clearing up. Holy dried dark fruit, Batman! This smelled of raisins, prunes, worn leather, tobacco, a newspaper mustiness and alcohol heat. Jeezus. My first sip was thick and viscous and sat on my tongue like a big glob of something that I might not want to swallow. The taste was sweet and smoky and my first thought was "S. Clyde Weaver's Sweet Lebanon Bologna". Finish was still sweet and smoky, but now with a tobacco-like smokiness, like I had partaken of a stogie. Double Jeezus. I almost wish that I had purchased more than one, but how many of these types of beers do I have left in me?

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 23:07:25 | More by woodychandler

cp45

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-19-2013 19:12:04 | More by cp45

midlifec

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-19-2013 17:46:08 | More by midlifec

ShawnMH

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%

05-19-2013 15:36:34 | More by ShawnMH

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-18-2013 22:03:43 | More by Photekut

raffy313

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 00:05:31 | More by raffy313

gpawned

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-17-2013 05:13:04 | More by gpawned

Tom-Peters

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-13-2013 18:53:57 | More by Tom-Peters

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-13-2013 18:43:41 | More by Slatetank

vrbulldog22

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-13-2013 02:07:52 | More by vrbulldog22

Bill235

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-12-2013 22:35:06 | More by Bill235

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-12-2013 15:56:31 | More by ipas-for-life

nbaeteer

Pennsylvania

4.66/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

2010 poured into a wide bottom wine glass.

Appearance: Striking, flat light brown color with almost no variation from light. Very little if any head that completely dissapears very quickly.

Smell: Wow. Can they make scented candles that smell like this? Brown sugar, raisin, malt.

Taste: Complex sweetness up front with the alchohol showing up late. The kind of taste so powerfull you want to swirl it in your mouth as long as possible to hold onto it. So complex I might have to drink another one and revise this post.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, smooth, smooth. Perfect weight.

Overall: This feels like a beer I should be sharing with friends to celebrate a special ocassion. Now I understand the JW Lees following and price tag. This is in my personal beer HOF.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 06:11:19 | More by nbaeteer

jjheinrichs

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%

05-09-2013 02:08:08 | More by jjheinrichs

bigclydeoliver

Ohio

2/5  rDev -53.4%

05-09-2013 01:01:51 | More by bigclydeoliver

mctizzz

New York

3.33/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2006 Vintage.
This great brew has diminished into a flat sweet syrup with almost no hint of booze. I would like to try it after 2 years but this makes me question whether cellaring a brew for 7 years is even worth it. I have only had 3 beers now that have been cellared for over 5 years and this is the only one I know was far over the hill, live and learn...

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 22:12:26 | More by mctizzz

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-07-2013 23:53:10 | More by cadaugherty

cnbrown313

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-07-2013 14:09:00 | More by cnbrown313

prisoner1572

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -41.7%

05-06-2013 18:00:19 | More by prisoner1572

garfscores

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -18.4%

05-05-2013 17:16:01 | More by garfscores

Archemedies

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-05-2013 13:12:57 | More by Archemedies

lordredsnake

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +16.6%

05-03-2013 23:54:12 | More by lordredsnake