J.W. Lees Harvest Ale '08

I appreciate the help. In general, I usually try the regular before I fry the barrel-aged. Is that also your general practice, or is there a specific reason that I should avoid barrel aged with this beer?

 

Had one in September and it had wonderful complexity! Oaky walnut, caramel, tobacco, cinnamon, molasses, prune, dark cherry, and green apple. I definitely recommend it. I grabbed as many as I could afford to when total wine put the 08's on sale

 

Might be my favorite beer. I prefer English to American barley wines, and this is perfection. I recently found an Indian liquor shop with a shelf of really old beer. The had several 2002 Lagavulin casks and about a dozen 2004 Colavados. They had several English Old Ales between 1998 - 2005. Each selling for $2.00. I was a bit nervous, because who knows where or how they were stored, so I only bought 2 of Lagas, and several different ales. The Lagas were amazing, but zero carbonation and slightly syrupy. The ales were horrible. I went back a week later, they were all boxed and put into storage. They let me go through stacks of boxes, but I couldn't find any of the JW Lees. My point, they age incredibly well, but I wouldn't go 12 years. I prefer some carbonation. I've had 6 year old, and found that perfect. Even 2 years is great.

I miss Thomas Hardy. That was the best beer. So bummed when I found out they stopped making it.