j.w. lees harvest ale vintages

[ColonelForbin]

a few weeks ago i was in atlanta ga, and i visited hop city. great beer selection and some homebrew supplies. there i picked up a 1999, 2002, and 2008 harvest ale. the difference between each one was amazing. i remember the 2002 being the maltiest while the 2008 of course had a little more bite to it. what really got me going was the 1999. it tasted like lactobacillus and pediococcus was introduced to it. it had the lactic acid taste and was more carbonated than the other two. it was definitely the best as well. truly an epic beer. if you are in the atlanta area pick up a few 99's.

 

[MadViking]

I used to sell beer and one of the brands I sold was JW Lees. I would collect the beers as I sold them and a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to open a bottle of the 1998 JW Lees Harvest Ale and it was outstanding. I was amazed how much backbone that beer had. I wouldn't be suprised that it could have lasted another 10 years. I was very impressed. I have a bottle of the 1999 JW Lees in my cellar that I won't open for another 10 years. By the way, that same weekend that I opened that bottle of 1998 JW Lees Harvest Ale, I also opened a bottle of 1998 Lindemans Cuvee Rene. All I can say is, "WOW!".