Harveys...underrated?

I love Harveys but I can count the occasions I've encountered their beers in the North East on less than one finger. I have to go to the source or London for a pint or five. As nice as the high ABV bottled offerings and Old Ale are, without barrel aging and super hopping they're just not going to attract the rating site users. It's as if Harveys dont give a damn and are happy to just brew and sell great beer to people who enjoy it. Madness! ; )

 

I've tried two of their beers so far and haven't been particularly impressed. The first (Sussex Wild Hop) was just awful while the second (Christmas ale) was OK but fell short of my expectations. I've got quite a few other bottles of theirs so I'll reserve judgement until I've sampled more of them, but to date the brews have been underwhelming. Sussex Wild Hop was certainly poor - watery, yeasty and lacking in character. Although I'm a fan of so-called modern beer styles I like to think that I can also appreciate well made traditional English ales when I encounter them. Perhaps their yeast imparts a flavour I don't like, or perhaps I just had bad bottles.....

I'm not sure how long it's been since you had their beers but they wouldn't be the first brewery to decline in quality.

 

I have relatives in Lewes, so was down there visiting a couple of months ago (hence the Harveys beers). I had a pint or two of Sussex Best while I was there (cask) and that wasn't brilliant either. A bland, wishy-washy ale - naff. I'm sure that I'll be back down there at some point and will hopefully have more opportunity to sample some of their beers, so my opinion may change......

 

I've had many Harvey's ales over the years and enjoyed them immensely - I don't know where my reviews have gone, but only one remains.

I was disappointed that the Russian Imperial changed, as it was not nearly as sour in the past (meaning many years ago).

I agree, I think they are underrated. In fact, I believe all English ales are underrated to a certain extent on BA. Why? Probably because the brunt of raters are American (the Bros could weigh in on that). I think a lot of German beers are underrated as well.

 

The bottles (the majority of which are pastuerised) are worlds apart from the cask versions of the same beer. In addition Harveys have a very particular house yeast which divides opinion. It can very much a love-hate thing.

 

Sussex Best is one of the, er, best Bitters still around. A real taste of the past. One of my favourite breweries.

 

Happened upon Sussex Best at a pub in Stoke Newington (was staying at a friend's flat nearby). The beer was just delicious and in great condition-best pint of my trip!

 

I tried the bottles of their normal strength beers a couple of years ago as I really liked their cask offerings when I tried them in southern england and the stout, but never see their cask offerings up here

Can confirm they are a bit nondescript in bottle, like any standard pasteurised supermarket bitter basically. So if the ratings are crap from bottle ratings, I wouldn't contest them

 

Sorry OP and no offence but you are totally wrong about Harvey's Imperial Double Stout. It is one of the classics of the style. Problem is that people are still hoarding and drinking cork sealed tired ten year old bottles and expecting miracles. Since crown cap bottles were introduced about 5 years ago Le Coq is a force to be reckoned with.

 

Too generous wesbray. I scanned your post, read what I wanted to read and it was me who got wrong end of the stick. Sorry about that.

 

As long as they are not named as England’s finest brewery they will always be underrated. There is nothing else left in the UK quite like Harvey's. But the beer is certainly an acquired taste. I didn’t enjoy my first pints of it at all.

 

A pint of well conditioned Sussex Best is a fucking amazing experience.

 

Perhaps this is where I've erred so far - I've only had their beer on cask once. But I'll be down there again at some point.....

 

Yes. Christmas Ale, IRS, Elizabethan. Only the first one ever showed up locally. The other 2, I bought online. No bloody regrets.

 

Don't recall having seen their beers anywhere.

 

Harveys used to be regularly on tap at the pub in London I used to work at. Sussex best it was.