J.W. Lees Harvest Ale

[Vintage 2003, sampled August 2004] A dark amber beer with a small disappearing orange head. The aroma is very sweet and very complex with notes of alcohol, caramel, flowers, honey, and cinnamon. It is like drinking warm honey or liquid caramel - it gives You a burning sensation on the tongue and a warming sensation in the throat, - but it is not heat that "burns" You, it is the alcohol presence. Wow.

Bottled, 2002 vintage, thanks rauchbier!
Hazy amber, no head. Deep woody, malty aroma. Superb megadeep, chewy maltiness. Port and wood is very obvious. Alcohol is there, but only enhances the fabulous flavours, and despite it’s size it is hugely drinkable. The sweetness however creeps up on you, butmy overall impression is that this is the best showpiece there is when it comes to malt character. Ultra-superb!

(Bottle 27,5 cl) Vintahe 2004. Beautiful, clear, dark amber with almost no head. Extremely sweet tasting - this is honey and toffee and caramel all the way through. I’d like to believe this is a complex beer, but all I get is sticky syrup. I really like sweet beers, but this was way, way over the top. 120805

Re-rate: I had a couple of vintages one after the other - a 1997 and a 1988. Both are malty and rich. The former had notes of brown sugar, apricot and burnt raisin toast. The latter had very well-developed flavours. The malts were deep and cohesive, the alcohol strong bu unobtrusive. Thick. Not a complex beer, but given long periods in the bottle it retains a lovely richness of malt. Surely one of the finest malty barley wines around.

Rich, luscious, earthy. Great balance - a quintessential English barley wine.

Bottled at RBESG 2005. 2004 edition. Clear orange coloured with an off white head. Acidic aroma with notes of caramel and dried fruits. Sweet flavour with lots of caramel. Too cloying for my liking.