Harveys Quatercentenary Ale

Brewed by Harveys
Style: English Strong Ale
Lewes, England

Bottle. Great looking chestnut colour with a creamy off-white head. Lovely rich aroma; malty, fruity, some vanilla. Thank God for that; taste doesn’t disappoint; sweet and malty, caramel and spices and great balancing hops. Full bodied, smooth and creamy. Fantastic.

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.

Red brown body, small beige head; Super nose, huge deep and complex, lots of Creme Brulée, backed by a fresh hoppy, unripe berry bitterness; Quite a bit of dry carbonation, soft texture, slightly bitter, balanced and deep; Looong slightly bitter and sweet finish, caramel like texture, aromas of Creme Brulée and Creme Caramel. Amazing beer!

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 :-)

Dark brown with a small off-white head. Rich aroma with port, wood, malt, grain, and hay. Sweet flavour with port alcohol notes, warming. Really excellent beer.

(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

Bottled.Bronze and poured with no head.Sweetness dominates but the alcohol presence although clearly there doesn’t take over.Malty and very pleasant. A winner.

A deep amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is very sweet with strong notes of over ripe fruits, as well as berries like strawberries and cherries. The flavor is sweet malty with strong notes of fruit and berries, as well as lighter notes of alcohol. The end is dry and OK bitter with a touch of wood. The mouthfeel is smooth.