“Never mind the best barleywine I’ve ever had, quite possibly the best beer I’ve ever had. Caramel and toffee on the nose. Honey sweetness on the palate. The alcohol NOWHERE to be found. Simply amazing” Tony – Untappd 31/1/25

 

The 2024 Untappd Community Awards results are now in and we are thrilled to take home gold in the UK Barley Wine category with our 2021 Harvest Ale. Harvest Ale 1986 Yeast 2021 – J.W. Lees & Co. – Untappd Yes, you read right, our 2021 ale won the 2024 awards. After serval years of aging, the beer has mellowed nicely and rounded the beer off with a decadent fruitcake note coming to the forefront. After receiving a rating of 4.4 by Untappd’s loyal community, the beer received the highest rating in its category with 261 votes, a triumphant feat given the limited number of bottles filled.

1986 was the first year we brewed our now famous Harvest Ale, after managing to resurrect the yeast from a remaining bottle it was propagated for a new brew. The results where incredible, reaching back into our brewing past, the 2021 Harvest Ale was wine rich, with molasses sweet, hints of ripe fruit, combined with luscious toffee and delicate cherry undertones. The years have been more than kind on the ale allowing it to mature into the award-winning beer it is today.

At JW Lees we brew our Harvest Ale just once a year. Despite being brewed using the same process every year, the variation between vintages is remarkable. Some are light, while others are dark. Often a rich russet resembling antique mahogany or an oxblood-red Chesterfield, Harvest Ale is a glowing fireplace sort of drink for special occasions.

Harvest Ale proudly represents British brewing on a global scale, especially at a time when English brewing is heavily influenced by American craft beer. In the US, our Harvest Ale—simply referred to as ‘JW Lees’—is one of the most famous British beers. As a quintessential British original, it endures despite evolving tastes and the high alcohol content that may deter the faint-hearted. It’s one to be savoured.

Our wonderful friends at Good Beer Hunting perfectly capture the craft and heritage that surrounds this complex and often misunderstood brew. To discover more read Adrian Tierney-Jones’ fantastic blog on our age defying beer.
The Arrow of Time — How JW Lees’ Harvest Ale Has Defined British Brewing for Decades — Good Beer Hunting

Want to taste history? The great news is that you can still purchase our historic collection of JW Lees Harvest ale at The Best Of British Beer. JW Lees Brewery Craft Beers – Buy 12 Pack Cases of Traditional British Ales