thejam
05-13-2003, 02:40 PM
I tried to drink two bottles of J.W. Lees Harvest this past weekend. A bottle of 1997 and a bottle of 1998.
I opened the 1997 up first. I have never smelled such a complex beer! Fruity, grainey, woody, sweet smelling stuff... It was truly amazing. I brought the glass up to my lips, took that first taste and "Oh my God, this stuff is STRONG"! I needed to regroup. I've never had anything like this before. It had been in the fridge so I thought that I would let it warm up a bit and give it a second try. 1 hour later and now at around 60 degrees I started again. Sip by sip this beer became better and better. I swear that it changed between sips. It reminded me of a delicious cigar. Yes, as complex and ever changing as a Cohiba! This is a brew that I could see drinking on a cold winters eve. Their were flavors of maple and honey with a malty flavor followed by a smokey hop after taste. Then on towards an earthy, woody, grainey taste. And I was careful with my pour to watch for the sediment.
This is a complexing flavorfull brew with lots of alcohol. Delicious. And as my tastebuds become more educated to the complexities of beer - it will only taste better.
So I have put away the bottle of 1998. With an alcohol volume of 11% it should be fine down in the 62 degree basement until December.
Cheers!
David
I opened the 1997 up first. I have never smelled such a complex beer! Fruity, grainey, woody, sweet smelling stuff... It was truly amazing. I brought the glass up to my lips, took that first taste and "Oh my God, this stuff is STRONG"! I needed to regroup. I've never had anything like this before. It had been in the fridge so I thought that I would let it warm up a bit and give it a second try. 1 hour later and now at around 60 degrees I started again. Sip by sip this beer became better and better. I swear that it changed between sips. It reminded me of a delicious cigar. Yes, as complex and ever changing as a Cohiba! This is a brew that I could see drinking on a cold winters eve. Their were flavors of maple and honey with a malty flavor followed by a smokey hop after taste. Then on towards an earthy, woody, grainey taste. And I was careful with my pour to watch for the sediment.
This is a complexing flavorfull brew with lots of alcohol. Delicious. And as my tastebuds become more educated to the complexities of beer - it will only taste better.
So I have put away the bottle of 1998. With an alcohol volume of 11% it should be fine down in the 62 degree basement until December.
Cheers!
David