JW Lees: what's the best year?

I don't do the barreled stuff just because I don't care for barrel aged beers of pretty much any flavor.
That said, the '88 is a nice one of you can find it.

 

I've had the 2002 and 2008, both were nice, although I prefer the 2002 a bit more. I haven't tried the 1998 or 1999 vintages, but from what a few friends told me, they are really good. Should probably look out for those I guess.

 

1999 and 2002 are really good right now, but I would say 2002 has the edge.

 

Since these are 'beers', I'd see the 1999 bottle I split with a friend was probably one of my top 5 beers I've ever had. Granted it was incredibly sweet and almost tasted like pure honey.

 

I have two 2007s and a 2006 waiting for the proper time to open.

 

I bought a Lavagulin bottle last week, and drained poured it. I love Islay whiskey and this one was awful.

 

best i've had is 2008 port cask. otherwise, 1999~2000 j.w. lees @10~ years old was amazing.

apparently this beer uses a single malt (maris otter) and a single hop (east kent goldings), with a really long boil. crazy how much flavor you can get from so few ingredients. one of the world's best beers, easily.

edit: re: lagavulin cask aged, 2~3 sips were the best beer i've ever tasted, the rest tasted like liquid smoke / bad islay whisky. (shrug)

 

I've had the Lavagulin, Port, Sherry, and Calvados. All recent vintages (2007-2009) I thought all were way too sweet other than the Lavagulin. Very nice smokiness on that one.

 

1999 FTW.

 

I've got 1997-present in my cellar, and the 1998 regular and the 2003 port variant are impressive.

 

Is 2005-06 too early to crack open, in your opinions?

 

The best I've had is the '99, but you really have to appreciate sweet, malty beers to enjoy it.

 

I've had all vintages back to 1987 and the best I've had is the 1998. I've had at least 15 bottles and all have been stellar.

 

I think 1998 also was the best I've had. I still have a 97 but the last time I opened one of them, it did not impress me like the 98.

 

I've bought a couple of 1999 JW Lees Harvest recently and they were all tremendous. One of my favorite beers. And altogether not a bad price at $8 for a 275 ml

 

Or not. JW changed my view on sweet beers by 180 degrees: before that I didn't like sweet in my beer.