Harvest Ale 2004

[Wilson]

The other night I was happy to see some JW Lees Harvest Ale 2004 (aged in Lagavulin casks) in my beer store so I got several; also picked up some 2001 (which I havent tried yet).

Well, I have to admit, this wasnt a beer for me. It looked GREAT! A nice ruby color, with a slight head. But it was way too sickly sweet for me. It had a smokiness at the end that was nice, but overall the sweetness overpowered everything. I had high expectations for this old ale, but alas, the syrupy sweetness all but ruined it for me. I was dissapointed. I'm going to keep the others for a long while before I drink them, see if anything changes.

What are ya'lls experiences with this ale? I am alone in this assesment?

[stronk]

Well, it's sweet, but you have to get past that. If you think of it as like drinking port or pudding wine, it's a different point of view and you begin to appreciate it more. I don't have tasting notes from the 2001 version, unfortunately (although I think I may have a bottle in the cellar at my parents' house).