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

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BA SCORE
95
world-class
-
996 Ratings

THE BROS
100
world-class
-
read more »

rAvg: 4.29
pDev: 13.99%
Reviews: 763
Hads: 233

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd

United Kingdom (England)

Style | ABV
English Barleywine | 11.50% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (718), cask (28), on-tap (17).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (16) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by weizenbob:

weizenbob

Michigan

4.3/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This 275 ml bottle (incorrectly labeled 2.75 ml) was purchased at Beertopia in Omaha, NE. It is the 2008 vintage and was purchased for $3.99. It was served at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The cap was popped and the bottle was poured into a Duvel tulip glass. I poured aggressively to rile up as much head activity as I could muster from this high gravity ale. I was rewarded with about a finger's worth. The downside of my pour is that I also ended up with an excessive amount of chunky sediment that remains suspended in the beer as though frozen in time. Unsurprisingly, head retention is poor, though lacing grips mercilessly to the glass. The beer is amber tinted with little translucence and (unfortunately) a lot of floating dregs. The chunks are a result of my pouring faux pas and will not be counted against this beer's score. It is otherwise average looking per style. Pour with care!

Though this bottle is over three years old, the aroma is still incredibly alcoholic. The potency is near-gag inducing. I cannot imagine what this must have smelled like when first released. Intense blasts of butterscotch put up a good fight but are no match for the alcohol. It is vaguely reminiscent of paint thinner in aroma and nasal-clearing power. Hmm; I wonder if I'll get high off of the fumes. I enjoy the richness and complexity of a good strong ale but this is too much of a good thing for me.

Being a little bit of a health nut I've often enjoyed organic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches prepared on whole grain bread. The flavor of this ale is strongly reminiscent of that PB&J experience. Honey-like sweetness aggressively fronts the flavor of this beer. As the honey melts in the mouth, literal impressions of whole grain bread emerge on the tongue. Nutty undertones prime memories of peanuts, sunflower seeds, rye and flax. A hint of woodiness fills the nostrils with each breath after the first sip. Despite its dominance in the aroma, alcohol is incredibly well-hidden amid the powerfully sweet and grainy flavors of this strong ale. If hops were added to the boil, there is no evidence in the finished product. It is pretty darned tasty.

Yes, this is a heavy ale, but the feel is not as heavy as one might expect from a brew of 11.5% ABV. The body is medium-heavy. Carbonation is relatively low, yet ample for the style. Sweetness coats the mouth like honey, but the overall effect is thankfully not syrupy. There is no alcoholic burn. It is a sipper that feels like magic in a bottle.

My overall impression of this legendary ale is positive, despite the rocky start. It looks average and smells over-the-top, but the taste and feel are both excellent. The price equates to $5.15 for a 12 ounce serving. That's pricey for lesser brews, but for a beer of this quality I call it a bargain. The small bottle is even enough to split with a friend and still not feel cheated. Just be sure to pour the bottle with a lot of caution.

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The Two-Schlitz Scale: (reference my profile for an explanation)
I give two Schlitz about the 2008 JW Lee's Harvest Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 01:12:56 | More by weizenbob

More User Reviews:

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