JW Lees Harvest Ale (2000)

I figure go big with the first post, huh?

Purchased the bottle at Friar Tuck's in O'Fallon, MO. $7.99 for a 9oz. bottle. Served it at around 50 degrees F. 11.5% abv.

First time trying this.

Pours a real deep mahogany, with a good one-finger head after an aggressive pour. Pretty decent head retention, usually something you don't see in an aged beer with this much alcohol. Smell is extremely sweet, definitely boozy and a bit spicy. Also has a bit of musty smell that I can only describe as "old". Makes sense, as this beer was brewed in 2000 (that's 10 years old for the numerically challanged). You know there has to be a load of hops in this one, but it's not really coming through in the smell. Toffee, figs, raisins, all that is coming through in the nose.

First taste is an absolute kick in the ass. It's almost impossible to list all the flavors going on, here. EXTREMELY heavy and velvety on the tongue. Everything I said in the smell is there, the big heavy sweetness, raisins, figs, toffee comes in right away with a nice, distinct port-wine quality. The booze comes next, but it's not an astringent bite, it's still smooth, still sweet. That only lasts for a touch then it comes with a bit of bitter chocolate, then finishes with what only can be described as black licorice. As in the smell, there has to be a ton of hops in this, but the malt and booze dominates this, and you get maybe a touch of hop bitterness in the very end, but that's being generous. This is honestly as complex of a beer as I've ever had. It's extremely fun to drink.

Halfway through, there is still a nice soapy ring as far as the head is concerned, and some moderate lacing on the glass. As it gets warm in my hand, the booziness starts to play a little more of a role. There's also a toasty/biscuity note coming in on the middle of the tongue as well. I've had a lot of "big" beers in my days, but I'm already feeling this halfway through one bottle. Budweiser gives you some bullshit line about "drinkability", but what the hell does that even mean? It's easier to eat a lot more salad or celery than a freaking 16oz new york strip, but I'm not sure I'd take salad in making a decision as to which one I prefer. So while this isn't majorly high in terms of "drinkability", I think it has very little effect on the quality of the beer, at least this one.

I realize this is a bit long of a post for one beer, but I can guarantee you that this beer needs a lot of words to describe it. It's really a different animal. I understand I spend a lot of money on beer and that sometimes I feel guilty as the prices are jacked up....just because. But, this might be worth the $7.99. You could honestly enjoy it for an hour, it tastes fabulous, and is really fun to drink if you're a big beer nerd like I am. Not something you'll have often, but a nice treat.

Final verdict: Phenomenal. Like I said, worth the price if you really want a treat that you can sit down and enjoy. All the crap I read about this was true and it truly is a work of art.

9.5/10