Harveys Quatercentenary Ale

275ml bottle (2005 of course), courtesy of reakt, drunk (fittingly) at the Royal Oak, 24th Nov 2008. I really can’t thank Ang enough for letting me try this. It means I’ve now had every Harveys beer available in the UK. I did drink a bottle when it originally came out in 2005, but that was before I started rating and my palate was far, far less developed. Pours a deep amber with a slightly off-white head which lasts, despite its age. Candy sugar and malt at first then a dry liquorice flavour, then a raisin sweetness and finally a lingering dry finish with hints of aniseed and Christmas spices. The palate is suprisingly light and this lets the flavours shine. You get hints of creme brulee, spotted dick and good quality brandy. The taste just lasts and lasts. The alcoholic strength is only apparent by a subtle underlying warmth. This beer shows that a winter beer doesn’t need to be heavy to be complex. On the nose, you have caramel sugars and the distinctive Harveys hopping and these same notes return at the finish. As a Lewes man, I think it is fitting that Harveys excelled when brewing a beer for the 400th anniversary, but by God, if there is one recipe they should put go back to for a new seasonal, this is it.

Bottle sampled at the Pre-RBSG ’Tosa gathering on 6/21/07 courtesy of hezron: Pours a transparent dark caramel with a thin, wispy-lacing white head. Sweet lightly doughy caramel malty nose has a touch of wintergreen mint. Body starts with a fairly full sweet caramel maltiness well-balanced with a touch of bittering hops and toasty malt along with some light fruity esters toward a drier, but smooth finish. A nice English strong ale/barleywine.

Bottle at home ... Thanks to Fin for this ... nice red tinges brown ale ... slightly lambic tart fruity hop ... Nice balance. very mellow ... I dont know the age of this bottle but this has the mellowness of an aged ale ... very deep fruity cherry ... lots of sweet toffee ... great character... looking at Fins rating prob BBE DEC 06 so nealy a year past stated date... I recon a beer mails in order to see if Fins got anymore :-)

(Bottle 27,5 cl) Pours a warm, clear, reddish amber golden with a small, off-white head. Complex, vinous, sherry-like aroma. Full-bodied, notes of overripe fruit, sherry and wood - salty even, but the sweetness lingers. The finish is dry. 310807

Bottle. [Courtesy of Papsoe, another great session @ Papsoe] Small beige and fizzy head that mostly diminished. Fair display of lacework. Color was a lovely amber color. Aroma was caramelized, fruity, lovely dominance of rye bread, raisins just like a good cherry, Very nice sweet and complex. Some distant wood and maybe a hint of oxidation. Very full bodied with a flat carbonation and a thick texture. Moderated sweet flavor with some underlying tones of bitterness. Nice complex and sweet lingering finish. 31-08-2007

Thanks Henrik (Papsø) for finding this beer that was ALSO missing in my collection…..he he

Hazy reddish amber color; creamy head. Sweet caramel aroma, not persistent. Thick body, sweet, malty, with a woody and raisin touch that was already announced by the aroma. Not very bitter, but at the very end the palate is more balanced. Somehow a juice.
Thanks Henrik (Papsø) for finding this beer that was missing in my collection.

Bottle at pre-RBSG tasting

Thanks to hezron for cracking this. I believe it came by way of Doppleganger who also should get some credit as well. There wasn’t much to go around but I was glad to give this a try. The small sample left me wanting more - I could see how someone could easily finish off a whole bottle on their own.

Aroma / Appearance - The thin foamy head protected a reddish brown liquid which swirled gracefully around my small sampling glass. The scent of malty cherries, bananas and blackberries formed an enticing bouquet which captured my attention for a few minutes.

Flavor / Palate - The palate and mouthfeel reminded me of a young barleywine - caramel, chocolate and peanut butter with a hint of graham crackers thrown in for good measure. The dry aftertaste was like sherry and reminded me of an old ale (a style which I find hard to distinguish from barleywines most of the time). The alcohol is present but not overpowering - if it were a little less hot I would be prone to bump the flavor and/or palate another two points. On the whole however this is a fun release that only comes along every once in a while.

Pre-RBSG Milwaukee: Bottle shared by herzon I guess: Poured copper with no head. Aroma, caramel and fruits, some sugars. Flavor, caramel, some fruits, aged hops, interesting brew.