J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

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

Clear shining amber. Nose simply marvelous, lightly sweet with a lovely smoky, peaty character, has a mild barleywine richness mixed with a rauchbier-esque smokiness. Whisky character very prominent in the flavor, bits of smoke, peat, and richness. Finishes sweet like the other Lees’ products. Transition from the earthiness to the sweet is a bit sudden, misses something in the middle. Still quite good.

Pours orange/gold. Aroma is like none I’ve ever smelled in a beer before. It’s smoky, reminds me of a smoked ham. Taste is also like smoked ham , cloves, vanilla and a bit of malt. Mostly sweet, with some subtle hops. Mouthfeel is full, body is thick and heavy. The smokiness goes a long way, but a definite must try due to it limited status and unique aromas and flavors.

Bottle. Poured a small white head with virtually no lacing, very little carbonation, transparent and an orange hue. Aroma was malty, sweet, whiskey, caramel, and alcohol. Flavor was malty, whiskey, caramel, and vinuous. Mouthfeel was vinuous and a slight burning sensation.

(Bottle, ’03 vintage) Pours a clear amber body with a small white head. Aroma of whisky, wood, and caramel. Has a mild whisky and caramel flavor. Warm alcohol presence. Enjoyable!

Nice amber body with small white head. Aroma supports the fact of being aged in Lagavulin casks. Smoke, wood, whiskey nose. Some caramel. Good full body and mouthfeel. Syrupy. Flavor was warm and alcoholic and some earthiness and potency. This series of Harvest Ales will age in awesome fashion if one could stay away from them long enough to give them the chance. I doubt I can.

2003 bottling. I poured this straight in to the glass and was rewarded with a large rocky head of off-white. The body of the beer was sparkling light amber with tints of orange and pink as well. Nutty warm aroma. The flavor was sweet and heavy with a long finish. Bordered on syrupy but was exceptionally creamy and smooth. Whiskey was not popping out at me so maybe this has mellowed some. Nice but will have to be a special treat as it’s price is probably not worth it.

smells like wild turkey and coke, but without much coke. pours a ruddy brown with a cream head. scothc notes are there in the nose too. this is rough. whiskey smokey flavor that bites. raIsin chocolate pine flavors are there. alcohol dry finish. a nice sipper that really opens up as it warms. gets smoother and the whiskey that was forefront melds a bit better. luscious sweetness emerges. a vanilla quality emerges to say hi and brings it’s friend toffee. yummy. i’ve done a 180 on this. at first taste i did not like it and thought, "oh christwagons here we go with another failed barrel aged beer welcome to 1.8 territory." but no, this is good, real good.

Bottle. A orange beer with a big beige head. Sweet caramel malt, whisky, wood and fruits aroma and taste. Medium to full body with a sweet warming finish. More please!