Harvey's

Old Ale 'Exhibition Brown'

ABV 3.6% • Vol 275 ml • bottle • UK • • Flavour 7
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Part of a boxed gift set of Harvey's beers, this seasonal beer is available from October to May. This bottled version is weaker than draught Harvey's Old Ale (xxxx), which is also available over the same period but has 4.3 ABV. The bottled version was originally called 'No. 1 Brown Ale', but apparently it was renamed after receiving several successive awards since 1952. This information was gleaned from a leaflet that came with the boxed set - the label is much less informative, though it displays a nice picture of the brewery as it must have been in the 19th century.
The beer pours a deep mahogany brown, with a thin but lasting, fine-bubbled head. Nose is light, yeasty and grainy. On the palate it is smooth (partly due to a low level of carbonation), sweetish and malty, with gentle nutty, creamy flavours, plus a touch of jammy fruit. Despite these flavours, it is very light indeed, in keeping with its strength, though not thin. Finish is of sweetish malt, lingering into a slightly cloying malty aftertaste. Rather than an old ale, this seems more akin to a mild - as such, it is very enjoyable and worth seeking out, though perhaps it is a little sweet for some palates.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

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