J.W. Lees Harvest Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I had this beer at Max's on Broadway in Baltimore on Dec. 26 2011. This beer was quite nice. It was a big beer but the alcohol was quite modest in is presentation ... This beer was a 2010 and it wasn't the least bit hot. The flavor was slightly fruity with a nice hopped backbone. The color was slightly lighter than copper.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

2007 edition. Lots of debris is visible, even having tried to avoid pouring the dregs. That said, the body looks very good and lacing is present, albeit fine. Aroma is amazing! Various dried fruits like raisins, dates, figs, with apples, caramel, toffee, and notes of hardwood. Flavor is very sweet, with all aforementioned aromas present, with brown sugar and a bit of bitterness like scorched malts. I think my bottle has seen too much sunlight, as some skunkiness is hidden behind the sweetness. This is very good; hopefully I can acquire a cleaner sample somewhere down the line.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

2007 edition. My GF Lilihel brought this back for me from the States (1 of 3 different Harvest Ale from J.W. Lees). Pours a deep amber colour that is hazy with full of flakes floating around. The head is off-white, big, foamy, with little retention and minimal lacing (which is acceptable with a beer of this alcohol level). Big nose with some dark fruits like raisins and plums. Load of sweetness as well, like caramel, brown sugar, toffee and strong sherry. Full-bodied with a water finish and no burns at all. Good butterscotch taste with a nice burnt and smoky flavour in the background. Notes of molasses, liquorice and prunes are present in addition. The aromas are very complex compared to the taste (which is not that far behind). Quite an interesting Barley Wine and definitely worth trying.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

sampled 2001 and 2008 vintage together 11/27/10. 01 pours dark, 08 is golden. both smell incredibly sweet, the former being in aroma and flavor like booz soaked raisinettes. the 08 smelled very good, but had a very odd off-putting component to the flavor. not too hot, like it needed age, but like something was in there that just didn't fit. can't quite put a finger on it, but the 01 was definitely better. don't think i like this enough to bump it from 101 into the top 100, and at the price (almost a buck an ounce) there are better sippers, and better barleywines out there, though this was good. 01-8,8,9,9,8 (4.2) 08-8,8,8,5,7 (3.7) i'll giver a 4.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

The first bottle I had was the 2006 vintage, and since then I have tried the 1999 vintage. The '06 was dark gold, while the '99 poured a deep brown. Rich aromas of caramel and malts. Very still, almost no carbonation. The rich explosion made my mouth very happy. One of the best English style barleywines I have ever had. Looking forward to the other vintages.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

1998 Vintage, a seriously aged brew that was met with huge satisfaction on my part. Thanks Paul for obtaining and cracking open this magnificent experience in a bottle. Unlike anything I’ve had to date. Viscous red/brown body with a dissipating head and no lacing, but some good legs. The aroma floored me, when I wasn’t sipping I had my nose constantly stuck in the glass. A concentration of heavy red grapes/port wine, bran cereal, cedar, and tobacco. Thick and coating to the mouth it’s a very heavy beer and demanded time to be savored. Sweet and calm. The flavor is in step with the aroma. A prominent tobacco quality coupled by a strong woody flavor. Dark fruits, raisins galore and who knows what else as descriptions have suddenly left me.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

2006 edition J.W. Lees Harvest ale poured a deep, murky brown body, with sporadic carbonation, no head but some lace. Aroma was strong with fruits like, plum, cherry, raisin, dates, prunes, sherry, and rum notes as well. Mouthfeel was thick and smooth. Flavor was the same as the aroma, and it was very sweet. Overall its a good beer buts its just not for me.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

.... had the night of Hurricane IKE ...... 2001 vintage .. loads of raisons rum sherry and dried fruits .. drank out of a coffee carafe do to situations, but it really let out the aroma .. has aged wonderfully ... super sweet, so complex and enjoyabel .. thanks ike, amazing stuff... Wishlist cross-off: put on originally 7/7/2005

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

2003 Vintage. Amber brown color, no head at all. The aroma was strong with strong vinous notes with noticeable presence of wood and soy and immense sweetness. The flavor was too sweet and was really hard to drink. Sickly soy, maple and rotten bananas. I'd like to try a newer vintage, but this wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

This is for the 2000, at the Brickskeller, so it's probably been aged in a refrigerator instead of a cellar for the last couple of years. It poured orangey amber, and still. It had a cherry aroma, with some after aroma that was a bit butter or cheesy ... a little bit like a wet dog in the spring. It tasted like a raw cherry syrup ale, not enough smoothness in the finish. This baby has not yet hit it's peak. Give it another five years or so, and keep it in a cellar, not a refrigerator, Dave!