J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

2003 & 2004 Vintages tasted side x side thanks to egajdzis. These were 2 completely different beers! The aromas of the 2003 where softer and consisted of lots of peat, earhtiness, lighter vanilla, wood, and nutty. The 2004 aromas consisted of smoke, whiskey/bourbon, and some vanilla. The tastes of the 2004 had lots more vanilla and whiskey in it vs. the 2003. 2004 was way more sweet too.

Thanks to egajdzis for sharing 2003 and 2004 bottles side by side. 2003 - Pours a mostly translucent amber with a ton of golden notes and a small bubbly off white head that went away to nothing quickly. Aroma was very earthy, some alcohol burn, peet smoke, nuts, whiskey and some vanilla. Flavor of smoke, vanilla, oak, caramel, nuts and toffee. 8-3-9-4-17 2004 - Pours a lightly hazy deeper amber with ruby/goldents and a small bubbly off white that went away to nothing. Aroma of molasses, malty sweet, caramel, biscuit, toasted malt, very like smoke and some earthy notes. Flavor was very sweet malt, some smokey notes, vanilla, molasses, beef jerky and some oak. Too sweet. Surprised at how much more driedl, woody, balanced smokey, nutty and just plan better the 2003 was. 7-3-6-3-13

Cask at Seattle International Beer Fest; Huge line that only half the people got a sample; Nose of scotch, dark fruitiness, caramel, and woodiness; clear brown with a small ring of tan bubbles; flavor was scotch, dark fruit, caramel, and a molasses note; finish fruity with some alcohol warmth. Best of the fest for me.

9.3oz bottle. Pours cloudy amber in color with no head at all. Aroma sweet, caramel and malt. Taste is creamy, sweet and caramel with bitter finish. When it warms up a taste of smoke.

at Seattle IBF. No head, amber red. sweet, typical barley wine aroma. very sweet taste with a light bit of caramel. slight pucker on the palate from the alcohol and sweetness.

27.5 cL bottle. Pours hazy deep orange with a lacing off-white head. Dense malt aroma and solid fruity but also smoked. Flavour is dry and light smoked. Once again extremely sweet caramel malt. Dense smoked flavour into the sweet finish.

Great thanks to Papsoe for sharing!
Hazy dark amber color. Sweet smokey malt aroma. It has a full mouthfeel, with full malt flavor, very sweet, classic English Barley Wine, with minimum bitterness. Almost syrupy at the end, but luckily there is some more caramel and bitterness, and a light smokey touch. It’s the most intriguing of the 4 special editions. Excellent.

Wow. I can taste the Lagavulin for sure. This is a sweet after dinner sipper without a doubt. If you are looking for carbonation or hops...move along...nothing to see here. A very unique beer for sure.