THE ARROW OF TIME
Our limited-edition barley wine is rich. Molasses sweet. Hints of ripe fruit are combined with luscious toffee and delicate cherry undertones. We brew JW Lees Harvest Ale using the first hops of the harvest and the finest British malt, which evolve as they age. So, each vintage is unique in colour, reflecting its character and depth.
“It is an aristocratic beer that is elegant and persuasive, and the fact that it is made using the new season’s malt and hops helps it stand apart. This, coupled with its potential for aging, marks it out as one of the most exceptional British Barley Wines available”. Good Beer Hunting Adrian Tierney-Jones How JW Lees’ Harvest Ale Has Defined British Brewing for Decades
MADE BUT ONCE A YEAR...
Harvest Ale is a venerable barley wine. This unique, strong ale commemorates the season’s first barley malt and hops, making it a truly romantic and inspiring brew.
Despite being brewed using the same process every year, the variation between vintages is remarkable. Some are light, while others are dark. Often a rich russet resembling antique mahogany or an oxblood-red Chesterfield, Harvest Ale is a glowing fireplace sort of drink for special occasions.
Harvest Ale proudly represents British brewing on a global scale, especially at a time when English brewing is heavily influenced by American craft beer. In the US, our Harvest Ale—simply referred to as ‘JW Lees’—is one of the most famous British beers. As a quintessential British original, it endures despite evolving tastes and the high alcohol content that may deter the faint-hearted. It’s one to be savoured.
Buy bottles of Harvest Ale 2014 – 2024 today at Best of British Beer
