JW Lees Harvest Ale

First published in BEER December 2007 as part of a piece about strong beers for the festive season. For more strong festive beers see previous post.

ABV:  11.5 per cent
Origin: Middleton Junction, Manchester, England
Website www.jwlees.co.uk

JW Lees Harvest Ale

The term “vintage”, which strictly speaking refers to the grape harvest, is often misapplied to beer – unlike wine, beer is made from dry ingredients and its provenance doesn’t depend on one particular year and season. But this barley wine from Manchester family brewer Lees is an exception.

Harvest Ale is brewed annually in limited quantities that season’s harvest of Maris Otter barley malt and East Kent Goldings hops, and released, vintage-dated, in December. A special yeast strain is used and, although the beer isn’t Real Ale in a Bottle, it gains complexity and loses sweetness with age, and even throws a sediment.

A well-matured 2002 poured dark ruby-brown with a fizzy and quickly declining nutmeg-coloured head. The heady fumes of a rich, winy, Dundee cake and olive aroma heralded a still sweet but fine and oily malt palate with cherry fruit, artichokes, port and salt. A very long and mouth coating sherryish finish developed chewy marmalade notes and a hint of wood.

I’ve not yet been able to track down any of the occasional special releases matured in port, sherry and whisky casks – a special treat for Christmases yet to come. 

More strong beers for the festive season in the next post.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/jw-lees-harvest-ale/6070/