Harveys Elizabethan Ale

Brewed by Harveys
Style: Barley Wine
Lewes, England

Bottle (275ml - dated 1998 #2631 & #2625) - Shared with blankboy, GregClow, jerc and tupalev - two bottles courtesy of me and blankboy. Poured a hazy dark tea-colour with a minimal light tan head. Aroma - oh, my, I love experiences like this - I didn’t want to spoil that complex heavenly scent by actually drinking it. Strong caramel malts, some sour wine, a bit of moss, alcohol - very complex, went right to the back of my brain. Taste was strong caramel malt, almost burnt, alcohol, musty moss, some tree bark, roasted chestnut, resin, a little hop bitterness on warming. Mouthfeel was chewy, sticky, sweet, alcoholic, flat; complex - nice! Overall you can certainly tell it was an older bottle but it made my tongue tingle and was a real pleasure to experience.

Vintage 1998 Bottle #2631 sampled August 2005. Thin beige head tops a dark hazy brown body. Sweet malt and brown sugar in the aroma, slight caramel. Sweet treacle-brown sugar-Kraft Caramels up front, malt throughout. Odd note in the finish is jarring, and the only obvious flaw. Medium to full bodied. Very nice! A nice reminder of how nice big malty brews can be, as I have been drinking hoppier stuff of late.

Bottle 1998 drank in 2005: Poured a dark brown color ale with a small brown head with minimal retention. Aroma of strong roasted malt and some alcohol is easily distinguishable. Taste of strong malt, molasses and sweet caramel makes up for a nice warming drink. Alcohol is evident but not as much as to ruin it for me. Body is quiet full with some very light carbonation. I suspect a minimal used of hops since there is not much bitterness or maybe this is due to aging. Nice English style barleywine overall.

bottle, 1996. pours a brown red no head just a thin ring of foam around the sides of the glass no lacing. aroma is port, caramel and sweet malt. tastes of barley caramel some subtle dark fruits. smooth mouthfeel little carbonation and a touch of bitterness pretty good.

1998 bottle #4169 8.1%. Aroma of alcohol, molasses and cinnamon. Skiff for a head but still manages a light lacing. Light body for style. A bit wine-like. Subdued for the style. Some wine flavour, backing molasses. Finish is a bit watery.

Smells like molasses, brown and headless. Somewhat old tasting, but not too much. Not reminiscent of other barleywines I’ve had - not special, especially for the style.

Dark malty aroma, sweetness, notes of prunes. Dark brown body, small off-white head. Sweet flavor, hints of prunes and alcohol.

Bottle. Clear orange red coloured with an off white head. Aroma of malts, caramel and rye bread. Very sweet flavour of malts, caramel, rye bread and dried fruits.