SPOTLIGHT JW LEES

J W Lees have been pre-eminent pioneers of impeccably made traditional real ale in the UK for nearly two centuries! Formed in 1828, the Manchester brewery is still family owned and operated six generations later, with 170 pubs and hotels in the North West.

Whilst Lees is best known for traditional, sessionable styles perfect for caskconditioning, such as their beautifully balanced Mild and Bitter, one of their most respected and sought after beers is their annual Harvest Ale barley wine that’s brewed in Autumn ready for a Christmas release. The beer has gained a cult following in the USA, and has become the epitome of the British approach to the style.

Although utilising exactly the same recipe and ingredients, each year’s release brings its own distinct qualities which then develop further when left to rest. According to master brewer Tom Evans, the beer displays the benefits of aging best after about a decade, and so we have chosen to feature the 2014 vintage in this month’s gold box. A complex harmony of caramel, sherry and dried fruit with a dry, nutty bitterness and rounded sweetness, this beer will taste great now or will be fine to be left to sleep until a special occasion.

www.jwlees.co.uk