Harvey's Christmas Ale 50th Anniversary
We are excited to share that we are celebrating the 50th golden anniversary of Harvey's festive favourite Christmas Ale!
Recently awarded a Gold medal at the British Bottler's Institute 2022 competition, this traditional barley wine exudes biscuity malts and rich vinous fruits, all balanced by a strong hop bitterness.
Christmas Ale is not only rich in flavour, but after fifty years of brewing is also steeped in Harvey's heritage with a rich history to match.
It owes its genesis to previous Harvey's Head Brewer, Anthony Jenner, who adapted his 'Elizabethan Ale' (brewed since 1953) to produce a darker, dry hopped version for Christmas in 1972. We have brewed it every year since and he originally described it as 'liquid Christmas Pudding'. Over the past 25 years, his son and current Head Brewer and Joint Managing Director Miles Jenner, has developed the beer somewhat using roasted malt, pinhead oats and different varieties of local hops but, in essence, it remains true to its origins.
Around 15,000 bottles 'fly off the shelf' in our brewery shop each December. Additionally, on draught, approximately 20,000 half pint glasses are served in pubs during the festive season ( we don't recommend it is sold in pints due it's high abv of 7.5% ). It has found its way into some notable London department stores and bottles have found their way overseas to America.
The beer is blessed each year and this takes place when the brew is mashed (mixing the crushed malt and spring water to produce the sugars which will then be boiled with hops, cooled and fermented to produce 'the beer'.) The hops are placed around the mash tun for the blessing.
Miles' favourite blessing was written by the Rev. Judith Egar;
"Generous God, all good things come from You. Bless, we pray, this Christmas Ale that we have mashed today and all those who have harvested and prepared it with skill and loving care. May this ale be to all who drink it a true celebration of Christmas, warming the heart, cheering the spirit and embodying that fullness of life which you promised to us in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."
The brewery is known locally as Lewes Cathedral and, at Christmas, the windows of the malt hoist are infilled with murals by Julian Bell depicting the visit of the Magi. In true renaissance tradition, all the models were local people and the artist's self portrait can be seen in the background leaning against the open door of the inn.
A multi-award winning beer, Christmas Ale has received no less than 30 awards in it's 50 year history, as well as being the recipient of Finland’s Olutseura Olviretki award for ‘excellently’ fulfilling “The Christmas Beer Regulation” described in Aleksis Kivi’s novel ‘Seven Brothers’.
"There are other Christmas Ales brewed in the UK, Europe and beyond, I guess, but I doubt whether many of them have this heritage or tradition. It 'warms the cockles of your heart', as my grandfather would have said", Miles Jenner.
Christmas Ale is now available online, and in store as well as pouring at a Harvey's pubs and stockists throughout December.
