J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

Brewed by J.W. Lees
Style: Barley Wine
MIddleton, England

Serve in Snifter

2010 vintage bottle poured into a CBS Sniffer. A. Beautiful red hue, thin layer of head even with an aggressive pour. Head faded quickly to a clean as glass surface. S. Smells of sweet fruit, cherries, sour. Very much like sherry, and nearing the smell of a sour. T. Very sweet, light cherry, a little honey and and a tiny bit tart. Noticeable charred oak after taste along with some chocolate. Mild whiskey taste, but very well balanced. This is one of the better additions of whiskey I have ever had. After 2 years, it has clearly mellowed to an ideal balance. M. Medium body, watery with a coarse slightly dry finish. A little chewy. Thick without being hard. O. This is a very good barelywine to me. I think 2 years was perfect for this one. Minimal alcohol with a fair amount of barrel really make this a pleasure to drink. You do not taste the 11.5% at all. If this wasn’t so spendy, I would have a fridge full of it.

Bottle shared with GT2 and nuplastikk, thanks for drinking with me gentlemen. Clear and flat golden color (I got the first pour!). Aroma of dilute Lagavulin (no kidding). Taste is sweet syrupy caramel attenuated by the whisky. Nice enough.

275mL thanks to Travlr.Pours a tepid, hazy, light amber with yeast chunkies. Oxidized red apple nose with muted smoky Islay Scotch and honey. Taste up front is warmer with Scotch heat and big honey moving to meat and mild BBQ smoke. That odd tannic apple skin I get in all of the JW Lees barleywines gets demolished thankfully by heavy rich honey and smoked Islay Scotch. Without dregs and yeast chunkies the pour is clear amber with mild legs like a decent Scotch. Not too sweet with nice saltwater/brine and smoke to balance. Very surprising.

Bottle Brewed in 2009 .... Hazy orange amber pour thin ring of off white head little or no carbonation ..... aroma is of peat and wood nicely smoked aroma .... taste is a nice balance of smoked peat, wood, light scotch whiskey, fruity (peach) like and slightly sugary malts .... dry lingering sweet finish ... mouthfeel is syrupy abv hidden well

Pours a clear and dark brown beer with a weak white head. The aroma is malt, caramel, peat and smoke. The flavor follows the nose with additional alcohol and sweetness. The palate is sweetness with smoke. Overall an average beer.

I tried the 2009 offering. Wow. Overwhelming peaty, malty aroma, with some soy sauce and smokiness. Maybe some sour apple in there. Truly unique. I love it because I am a big Lagavulin fan. Copper color, somewhat cloudy. Almost no head, which is not surprising given the almost complete lack of carbonation. Very complex flavor. Somewhat sour and sweet flavor, with salty, minerally overtones. Heavy bodied, not a beer to watch the game with (unless you’re like me). Essentially flat in terms of carbonation. Long finish with almost a copper flavor and whiskey really comes out in the end. Overall, I think it is a spectacularly good, and unique beer.

Pour is deep copper with a thin tan head. Aroma is interesting with notes of caramel malt, deep smokey peat, light spice, and a hint of hay. Flavor is complex with notes of smokey, peaty, sugary malt and light hints of rye spice and lots of sweetness. I find most of these beers too sweet for me. The deep peat and smoke help, but still not my thing. I think Its uniqueness make it rate a little higher though It’s one of a kind.

UPDATED: NOV 13, 2011 Purchased on recommendation: 2005 consumed 10/2011. Huge, massive beer that is stunningly complex and incredibly sweet. Dominated by sweet malt and peaty smoke but without the iodine I expect from Islay, hops are decidedly in the background. As others point out, really a sipping beer that would do well in a brandy snifter.