Beer Me! — J.W. Lees Brewery — Middleton, Manchester, United Kingdom

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J.W. Lees Brewery

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Greengate Brewery
Middleton Junction
Middleton M24 2AX
Telephone: +44 (0) 161 6432487
Brewer: Giles Dennis
[Contact] [Update]

Notes

Opened: 1828

Contributor: Mario Kornmesser

The recipe for Brooklyn Best comes from New York's Brooklyn Brewing.

Updated: June 4, 2024

News

2019-03-20: MAJOR BEER TANK RUPTURE FLOODS STREETS IN THE UK (American Craft Beer)

Beer List

Bitter

(Special) Best Bitter

4.00% abv.
Brooklyn Best

English-Style (Extra Special) Strong Bitter

5.00% abv.
Crackerjack

(Special) Best Bitter

4.50% abv.
Dragon's Fire

Ordinary Bitter
GB Mild

English-Style Pale Mild Ale

3.50% abv.
Greengate

(Special) Best Bitter

3.90% abv.
Harvest Ale 1997

Old Ale

11.50% abv.
- Date: October 7, 2001 (#3912)
  
  Package: bottled
  
  Place: from the brewery
  
  Score: 17½ points
  
  Overall Impression (3)
  Deep dark red, thick head. Diacetyl odor on caramel aroma, lots of fusels. Richly malty all the way through. Lots of wood character. Mildly drying and warming. Fairly roasty. Thanks to Steve Olson for the sample!

Harvest Ale 1998

11.50% abv.

Date: October 20, 2001 (#3950)

Package: bottled

Place: Flanagan's Stop and Shop, Appleton WI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Red, some haze, thick head. Very slight odor of oxidation, but still very pleasantly malty. Thick, much darker caramel character than 1999. Lots of oak character, raisiny, sweet and warming.

Harvest Ale 1999

11.50% abv.

Date: October 20, 2001 (#3949)

Package: bottled

Place: Flanagan's Stop and Shop, Appleton WI

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Bright red-brown, thick head. Mild dark caramel malt aroma. Thick, hugely malty, molasses, maple flavors. Vanilla. Drying and warming at the end.

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Harvest Ale 2000

11.50% abv.

Date: June 28, 2003 (#4926)

Package: bottled

Place: Discount Liquor, Milwaukee WI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Deep red-amber. Thick head. Caramel aroma with English grassy hops. Big body. Intensely caramelly. Toasty. Raisiny. Graham crackers. Phenomenally malty. Exquisitely malty. Hugely malty. Really malty.
Date: March 1, 2002 (#4250)

Package: real ale

Place: Real Ale Festival, Chicago IL

Score: 20 points

Overall Impression (3)
(Primed with Lagavulin Malt Whisky.) Bright amber, no head. Strong aromas of vanilla and whisky! Big chewy body, fantastically malty, with loads of vanilla, some coconut, and some oak...and LOTS of alcohol!

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Harvest Ale 2001

11.50% abv.

Date: February 2, 2003 (#4672)

Package: real ale

Place: TrimB's Restaurant, Appleton WI

Score: 20 points

Overall Impression (3)
Primed with sherry and served from a gravity-dispense tap. Dark brown, no head. Intensely sweet aroma, dark, sherry-like, coconut, woody, lots of plum. Like a very dark Thomas Hardy's Ale. Big smooth body. Mildly sweet and fairly hot from the alcohol. Lots of sweet dark maltiness. Tastes better than any port wine! Incredibly dark and complex.

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Harvest Ale 2002

11.50% abv.

Date: March 28, 2011 (#8500)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs IA

Score: 19½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright red-amber. Low head.

Aroma (4)
Earthy. Leather. Rich deep caramel malt. Some alcohol. Bready. Molasses.

Mouthfeel (9½)
Thick and chewy. Intensely malty. Spicy, bready. Just a hint of papery oxidation, but lots of sherry. Faintly warming; the alcohol is well hidden behind all that flavor.

Overall Impression (3)
Date: November 3, 2007 (#6684)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs IA

Score: 19½ points

Appearance (2½)
Deep red. Very hazy, with some chunks. Big thick head.

Aroma (4)
Intense caramel, bready malt. Some alcohol. Lots of dark fruit. Some vanilla, oak.

Mouthfeel (10)
Big body, still. Silky sweet maltiness with an intense caramel character. Lots of vanilla. Not a lot of alcohol. Hint of grassy hop flavor?

Overall Impression (3)
Very nice beer. It's in much better shape than I expected after finding it on a shelf in the store. I went back and bought a couple more for the cellar.

Harvest Ale 2004

11.50% abv.

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Harvest Ale 2005

11.50% abv.

Date: January 7, 2007 (#6263)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Red-amber, very hazy. No head.

Aroma (3)
Lots of caramel malt and alcohol. Hint of acetaldehyde.

Mouthfeel (8)
Huge body, still. Lots of malt, caramel, and maple. Big alcoholic finish, with a hint of bitterness.

Overall Impression (2½)
Seems very young.

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Harvest Ale 2005 (Calvados)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: March 26, 2007 (#6407)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (2½)
Amber, chunky. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Mldly malty. Nice apple, like a sweet cider.

Mouthfeel (9)
Huge smooth body. Big apple flavor up front, along with a lot of malt and some alcohol. The apple doesn't linger, leaving pure Harvest Ale.

Overall Impression (2)
Ale matured in Calvados casks.

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Harvest Ale 2005 (Port)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: January 7, 2007 (#6264)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (2½)
Red-amber. Hazy, chunky. No head.

Aroma (3)
Cleaner than the standard version — less maple, more vanilla.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big chewy body, still. Intensely malty. Big vanilla flavor. Lots of caramel. Some alcohol. Smoother, richer than the standard version, but still seems young.

Overall Impression (2½)

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Harvest Ale 2005 (Sherry)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: March 26, 2007 (#6406)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (2½)
Amber. Really chunky. Moderate carbonation and head.

Aroma (3)
Richly malty. Mild sherry.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big body, low carbonation. Hugely malty with a BLAST of sherry flavor and alcohol. Smoky, with a mild gingerbread flavor. Lingering sweet sherry finish.

Overall Impression (2½)
Ale matured in Sherry casks.

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Harvest Ale 2005 (Whisky)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: March 26, 2007 (#6408)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Amber, slight haze. Low head.

Aroma (4)
Very subdued malt, mild whisky.

Mouthfeel (10)
Big body, smooth. Hugely malty, with a nice mild whisky note. Cask flavor lingers in the finish. Nice smokiness.

Overall Impression (3)
Ale matured in Lagavulin Whisky casks.

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Harvest Ale 2006

11.60% abv.

Date: June 29, 2007 (#6561)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 18½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright-ish amber. No head.

Aroma (3½)
Huge caramel. Alcohol. Phenolic, in a very pleasant sort of way.

Mouthfeel (9)
Huge body. Fiercely caramelly. Intense dark toffee. Think "Heath Bar with alcohol".

Overall Impression (3)
Damn tasty, albeit a bit rough around the edges.

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Harvest Ale 2006 (Calvados)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

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Harvest Ale 2006 (Port)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

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Harvest Ale 2006 (Sherry)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

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Harvest Ale 2006 (Whisky)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

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Harvest Ale 2007

11.50% abv.

Date: July 9, 2017 (#9759)

Package: bottled

Place: Place unknown

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (2½)
Amber-red. Opaque when poured, but brilliant after it settled. No head.

Aroma (3½)
Biscuit malt. Spicy.

Mouthfeel (8)
Big, rich, still. Intensely malty. Biscuity. Grassy, resiny hop flavor, low=medium bitterness...or is it oxidation? Rich malty-biscuity finish.

Overall Impression (2½)

Harvest Ale 2007 (Port)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Harvest Ale 2007 (Sherry)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

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Harvest Ale 2008

11.50% abv.

Date: May 18, 2010 (#8230)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Amber, some haze. Low head.

Aroma (3½)
Fiercely malty and bready. Alcoholic.

Mouthfeel (9)
Massively malty and really peppery: jalapeño. Warming, but not hot.

Overall Impression (2)
Good beer that will be very welcome in my cellar. Bottle conditioned.

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Harvest Ale 2008 (Lagavulin)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: February 20, 2010 (#8157)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Golden. Hazy. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Richly malty. Mildly grainy. Spicy. Bready.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big, smooth. Low carbonation. Spicy. Very peppery. Bready. Mildly smoky.

Overall Impression (2½)

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Harvest Ale 2008 (Port)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: February 24, 2010 (#8166)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Deep amber. Hazy. Moderate dense head.

Aroma (3)
Intensely malty. Dark fruit. Some alcohol.

Mouthfeel (9)
Huge and fiercely malty. Really spicy. Nice alcohol warmth is very much in balance. Port flavor — grapes — is noticeable, but also very much in balance.

Overall Impression (2½)
Very good beer. Bottle conditioned.

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Harvest Ale 2008 (Sherry)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: May 18, 2010 (#8231)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Amber-red. Some haze. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Intense sweet malt.

Mouthfeel (8)
Big, malty, peppery. I don't really get the sherry flavor.

Overall Impression (2½)
It's almost identical to the straight version.

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Harvest Ale 2009

11.50% abv.

Date: July 9, 2017 (#9758)

Package: bottled

Place: Place unknown

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (2½)
Brilliant red, with big protein chunks. Thick, short-lived head.

Aroma (3)
Malt. Leather. Hint of tartness.

Mouthfeel (9)
Huge, still. Malt, malt, and more malt. Leather, raisins. Alcohol, but not hot.

Overall Impression (3)
Mouth-filling glass of goodness.

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Harvest Ale 2009 (Sherry)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: June 16, 2012 (#8851)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Deep copper color. Low head, surprisingly high carbonation.

Aroma (3½)
Earthy, leather. Hint of wine.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big body, smooth. Roasted pepper flavor, earthy. Mild sherry flavor. Malty, dark toffee, burnt toast.

Overall Impression (2)
Bottle-conditioned.

Harvest Ale 2010

11.50% abv.

Date: June 16, 2012 (#8848)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Bright deep copper color. Low head.

Aroma (4)
Richly malty, dark fruit, leather, cedar.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick and chewy. Big peppery flavor up front. Intense toffee, with hints of coffee and vanilla. Fresh-cut wood. Lingery peppery, woody, toffee finish.

Overall Impression (3)
Bottle-conditioned.

Harvest Ale 2010 (Calvados)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: June 16, 2012 (#8849)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Golden-amber, hazy. Low head.

Aroma (3½)
Red apple. Mild toffee. Candied apples.

Mouthfeel (9)
Huge body, mildly fizzy. Big peppery flavor on top of mild toffee. Mild red apple flavor. Lingering peppery finish, with a hint of oak.

Overall Impression (2)
Bottle-conditioned.

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Harvest Ale 2010 (Port)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

11.50% abv.

Date: June 16, 2012 (#8850)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright copper color. Low head.

Aroma (3½)
Leather, toffee. Hint of wine.

Mouthfeel (9)
Thick, smooth. Big roasted pepper flavor all the way through. Malty, dark toffee. Earthy. Hint of vanilla.

Overall Impression (2)
Bottle-conditioned.

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Harvest Ale 2011

11.50% abv.

Date: November 8, 2013 (#9292)

Package: bottled

Place: John's Grocery, Iowa City IA

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright copper-amber. Surprisingly thick head.

Aroma (3)
Mild malt, leather, wood.

Mouthfeel (9)
Thick and chewy. Hugely malty and nicely alcoholic. Rich oxidative flavors that will only improve with age.

Overall Impression (2½)

Dortmunder/European-Style Export

4.70% abv.

(Special) Best Bitter

4.00% abv.

5.00% abv.

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Manchester Star Ale

7.30% abv.

Date: November 29, 2006 (#6179)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Deep dark garnet. Moderate dense short-lived head.

Aroma (3)
Molasses. Some English hops. Sherry.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, nowhere near as heavy as I expected. Very low carbonation. Lots of very dark caramel malt, molasses, treacle, brown sugar. Mild roasty, coffee character.

Overall Impression (2)
Needs more body for balance. The label notes that brewer Giles Dennis visited Garrett Oliver and "resurrected this long forgotten ale".

Maypole Madness

(Special) Best Bitter

4.50% abv.

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Barley Wine-Style Ale

7.50% abv.

Date: January 7, 2007 (#6262)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Deep bright red-brown. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Dark toffee. Black smoke. Raisin.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light-medium body, still. Sweet, with lots of dark fruit, dark caramel, and malt. A bit of a "cola" flavor.

Overall Impression (2)
Like Hambleton Nightmare, it seems thin for the flavor profile.
Date: June 28, 2003 (#4925)

Package: bottled

Place: Discount Liquor, Milwaukee WI

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Deep red. Thick head. Sweet, caramelly, earthy aroma. Big body. Creamy. Caramelly. Drying. Some herbal hop flavor. Rather a lot of diacetyl.

MPA Manchester Pale Ale

American-Style Pale Ale

3.60% abv.

American-Style Lager

4.00% abv.

(Special) Best Bitter

4.50% abv.

(Special) Best Bitter

4.20% abv.

Herb and Spice Beer

4.10% abv.