Need to choose my words carefully here as I know fatwas can be issued in Sussex if you're critical of Harveys but why the hell is it so inconsistent?? Pre-match yesterday, our group of 3 ale-heads left a Harveys pub in Lewes after one very ordinary/kinda rubbish pint (their 'IPA' tastes EXACTLY the same as Harveys Best btw...) 'cos we really couldn't face drinking any more of it but then once we got in the Amex (surprisingly!) I had a lovely fresh pint (nice creamy head etc) that lived up to the 'Sussex nectar' legend that Harveys enthusiasts so fervently believe in... on a rough estimate, from my experience, I'd say only about 1 pint in 20 of Harveys ever tastes as fine as the good one did... please explain, fellow ale enthusiast Albion brethren...
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[Drinking] Why is Harveys so inconsistent??
- Thread starter Buckeejit
- Start date
theboybilly
Well-known member
Never had a bad pint of Harveys at the Amex.
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
Never had a good pint if Harveys.
Then again, I don't drink beer anymore.
Then again, I don't drink beer anymore.
Lord Bracknell
On fire
The whole point of real ale is the challenge to achieve quality and consistency. So much depends on how it is kept in the pub. Are the pipes clean and well rinsed? Was it served from the cellar anyway? Or was the barrel stored on a shelf behind the bar? How old was the barrel?
And which Lewes pub served the disappointing pints of IPA? There SHOULD be a difference between IPA and Best Bitter.
And which Lewes pub served the disappointing pints of IPA? There SHOULD be a difference between IPA and Best Bitter.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 70,151
Not a HarveysHead by any means, but would suggest it maybe requires a second opinion as to whether the statement in bold above is actually the case or whether you are, on this occasion, being an anal ventriloquist.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 70,151
The Birdman
New member
The beer sold at the Amex is Bright beer that's why they can roll a barrel in and serve it straightaway they don't have to tap it and lay it down for 24 hrs before serving.
- Thread starter
- #9
In that case, all three of us were anal ventriloquists 'cos that was the unanimous collective verdict on the IPA... only our opinion of course!
It does vary a little but most of the variation is due to the pub/vendor. But the Harveys was particularly good at the Amex yesterday, sometimes it tastes a bit fizzy.
I think their IPA and Best taste utterly different but I think I am a "supertaster". The only similarity, though, is due to the fact that they both use the same (English) hops, whereas most of the microbrews these days use American varieties.
I think their IPA and Best taste utterly different but I think I am a "supertaster". The only similarity, though, is due to the fact that they both use the same (English) hops, whereas most of the microbrews these days use American varieties.
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Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Maybe some goon had hooked up the wrong barrel.
Raleigh Chopper
New member
So it was particularly good at the Amex, making it inconsistent and the IPA is both utterly different to best but similar.
Hillian1
( . ) ( . )
Harvey's do produce some superb beer.
Sadly the bog standard Harvey's ale is bloody awful.
Sadly the bog standard Harvey's ale is bloody awful.
Harveys Bitter IS VERY GOOD however it does need looking after...Whilst the Amex has been improving their keeping/serving it is rare to get a good pint there.The Brewers Arms and the Lewes Arms , are two Lewes Pubs that serve a magnificent pint of Harveys.
The Smugglers in Alfriston serves a pretty good Harveys too
The Smugglers in Alfriston serves a pretty good Harveys too
Missing word added, please accept my apologies.
HantsSeagull
Well-known member
I prefer Dark Star - their American Pale Ale is delicious!
Drink Harveys at the Amex but it isnt a patch on Dark Star beers
Drink Harveys at the Amex but it isnt a patch on Dark Star beers
Raleigh Chopper
New member
I try Harvey's when in Sussex but I just don't like it.
Which of their beers is superb, I will look out for it and try it next time which will be the Easter weekend in and around Heathfield if know of any pubs that stock it.
Oh let's not start that again, they're not the same thing. Just depends whether you like musty English or bitter American hops.
The 'traditional brewing' element of Harvey's (and all Real Ale) makes it vulnerable to a host of human errors after the casks leave the brewery. Being 2016 and all, there are of course plenty of modern solutions available to get a good tasting beer into a pub (like secondary fermentation in breweries, dry hopping, key kegs etc) but the tradition and power of CAMRA mean that breweries like Harvey's will always hand over the responsibility of pouring a good pint to the pub staff. No other country has this obsession with such old fashioned brewing techniques and it seems the craft beer revolution is having a similar effect on real ale as it is on the dull lager market in reducing their popularity . Of course, real ale has it's place but I get the feeling the younger generation of beer thinkers and drinkers want this :http://www.taptakeover.co.uk/ as opposed to this: http://www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk/
driller
my life my word
Kronenburg is consistent.