J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask)
J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask)J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask)
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Barleywine
Ranked #140
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,110
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 13.73%
Reviews:
224
Ratings:
407
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 03, 2024
Added:
May 07, 2004
Wants:
  40
Gots:
  65
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by nickfl:
Photo of nickfl
Rated by nickfl from Florida

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Jun 21, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.23 by DBosco from Massachusetts

Feb 03, 2024
Photo of Mikexw
Reviewed by Mikexw from New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance was a muddy tan, with a mild head that disappeared quickly. Nose reminded me of raisins/dates/figs, along with something wine-like which I assume is the sherry. Taste was very similar to nose - I think I’d describe it as dried fruit, only a lot sweeter. The feel was incredibly smooth, with a medium body. And an 11.5% ABV that was completely hidden.
Nov 12, 2023
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a 2017 bottle 12-7-22 from the Appalachian Vintner for $10.99. Consumed 9-5-23.

Beer poured a murky light brown with an okay head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is very nice, notes of light and dark fruits dominates.

Taste is very nice as well as the large malt base gives notes of figs, oranges, and apples. A touch of brown sugar sweetens the concoction a bit and is counterbalanced by the sherry alcohol.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall this is my favorite of the three harvest ales, glad i was able to try!
Sep 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.16 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jun 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.46 by hopley from Massachusetts

Mar 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by smithj4 from New York

Dec 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by festizio from California

Dec 07, 2022
Photo of trevormajor
Reviewed by trevormajor from Ohio

4.31/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage:
8.4 oz can poured into a snifter at 55 degrees F:
L - a murky copper with a tan head that quickly disappeared
S - a bit of funk
T - sweetness of sherry, notes of toffee, butterscotch, caramel, a bit of leather, the , slightest bit of funk
F - thick mouthfeel and no carbonation
O - very nice and interesting, 5.5 years in, it still has strong barley wine and sherry characteristics. Next tasting of this vintage in about a year
Apr 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by Ox8840bo from Illinois

Mar 20, 2022
Photo of MNAle
Reviewed by MNAle from Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
2016 canning 8.4 oz. can. Strong aroma of ripe fruit, apple, woody tannins, toffee, leather.

Murky orange-red body. Active carbonation visible with a backlight. Short off-white head that recedes fairly quickly to a thin ring with scattered slight bubble islands.

Flavor has a wine-like (sherry) character, relatively complex with tannin sharpness. Ripe stone fruit, tart apple, wood, leather. There is a lot going on with the flavors so I'm sure I'm missing describing some. The dominant flavors are ripe tending toward over-ripe stone fruit, tart apple, and woody tannins.

The mouth feel is also wine-like, if slightly thicker and more substantial. Sharp tannins.

Overall, an excellent sipping beer.
Feb 28, 2022
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2022-02-25
8.4oz can served in a small plastic hotel cup. Brewed in 2016.

Pours a murky amber with a small head, despite the fizzy hiss emitted when the can was popped. Smell is fruity, sherry is coming through strongly, cherries and maybe stonefruit.

Taste is oaky and sherry, very prominent. Cherry flavor is there, very noticeably boozy.

Mouthfeel is thick, heavy, chewy. Overall, very good.
Feb 26, 2022
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

2.68/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
2016 vintage from a can. Pours a muddy reddish orange with a large head. Aroma features date, fig, funky leather, highly oxidized caramel malt, tannins, and a vestige of earthy hops. Flavor is similar but oddly sour, somewhat astringent, and off-putting. Not much of the sweet sherry I was anticipating; it seems to have turned to vinegar. Honestly it was not pleasant to finish my half of the mini-can. One of the most disappointing beers I've had in a long time, and I have 3 more cans to go of this not-cheap beer (I paid just over $30 for the 4-pack including shipping).
Feb 14, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016 vintage

I’m drinking this one side by side with the port cask version. I picked both up at OEC a few weeks ago, along with the base beer and a whiskey cask one I had just the other day. So far the original (2020 vintage) is my favorite, but I’m interested to see how 2 different wine casks will influence the beer. Let’s pop them open and find out

Pours a cloudy burnt orange with 2 fingers of fluffy off white head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing. Much better looking than the port

It's also much more spirit driven in the nose than the port version. I'm picking up on aromas of sweet sherry, orange marmalade, white grape, sweet toffee, biscuity malt, toasted oak, golden raisin, and light caramel

Taste-wise they're totally different, and this one actually falls a bit short of the port, though it's good for what it is. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting chewy toffee, orange marmalade, sherry, brown sugar, and apple skin. The swallow brings notes of super sweet sherry (almost to an oxidized point), golden raisin, toasted oak, brown sugar, apple skin, caramel, and biscuity malt

A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a very rich beer. Finishes slightly sticky and quite sweet

This was one hell of a comparison. This one was more even while the quality of the port one fluctuated. However, the taste on the port version was borderline mind blowing, while this one was sweet and contemplative. Both great beers, but the port takes the cake
Jan 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4.04 by SFHbeerME from Maine

Oct 30, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by Beerbom from California

Sep 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Sep 05, 2021
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Hazy, brownish-red body; nice head, soft and creamy. Light maltiness with a dominating sherry overtone. Nice caramel malt base; toffee; fairly big sherry notes; very little hop bitterness noted. Heavy body; slick; dense residual sugar presence.

At five years plus of age, I'm sure the beer has lost some of its original character, yet the sherry aspect still rings strong and true, and the barleywine malt dominance is quite apparent.

Poured at 56 F; 2016 brewing year.
Sep 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4.34 by mike22ne from Massachusetts

Jun 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.13 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Apr 17, 2021
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Sherry Cask) from J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 407 ratings