J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

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

Jakebra crush. Smoky sweet nose. A little too much molasses in the flavor, little too sweet for me, but the finish doesn’t last long, so that helps.

2k7 Bottling. Clear, thick blonde, some off-white head. Big malty smoky nose. Thick and malty, big peatiness, strong smoke, tastes of meat. Playful alcoholic notes. Almost cloying, not quite.

2006 bottling. Clear amber with no head. Big malty sweet, yeasty bread aroma. Medium body. Sweet malty flavors of pit fruits with citrus and caramel, didn’t pick up much peat or cask flavors as advertized. A little better than the Calvados.

So I was not sure how I would like this and it just bombed. Aroma is decent. Whiskey is prominent with a dry wine background. Appearance apple juice colored with a thin lacing but then has suspended particles in it. I think its the yeast but not sure. Flavor is pure alcohol of the whiskey. Palate is alcohol. I can’t drink this because the alcohol really comes out.

2004 bottle. pours a deep red with no head. nice whiskey and sweet malt aroma. not overpowering at all... huge full body, incredibly sweet and syrupy. the sweetness is a bit overpowering... there are some surprising flavors of apple and banana hidden in here which come forward on the front of the palate. the finish is a bit short, but is pleasant. the whiskey aging comes through strong here. overall, a bit too sweet, but very enjoyable. very warming.

Pin cask, 2007 vintage, at Beer Table in Brooklyn. Pours a very hazy golden brown, with absolutely no head. Nose is peat smoke and honey, woody and decadently sweet. Taste is peat smoke, honey and caramel, brown sugar and hints of walnut and molasses. Burn of whiskey in the back of your throat as well, though the alcohol is unbelievably well hidden and smooth. Amazingly balanced, a singular experience from the pin cask. The kind of beer that makes you understand what beer can really aspire to be. Fantastic.

Bottle 2006 from River’s Bend. Poured cloudy brown with medium fizzy head that diminished quickly with fair lacing. Complex aroma of sweet woody malt and alcohol. Full body with thick texture. Complex flavor of bittersweet earthy fruit flavor with medium sweet woody finish of moderate to long duration. Solid complex woody bourbon brew.

Hazy amber with tiny beige head. Sweet and vinious aroma with wood, smoke and whiskey notes. Sweet flavor with notes of plums, peat, smoke, wood, caramel and whiskEy.