Harvey's Christmas Ale
 

Review Date 3/25/2007 Last Updated 12/28/2025 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Old Ale   Brewery: Harvey's   Country: England   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.71 (B)   ABV: 7.5%

It’s not that strong ales are not brewed in England; they are. It’s just that we don’t see a lot of them here in the colonies. Most of the English ales you’ll come across, from brewers like Bass, Young’s, Samuel Smith’s and so on are about as strong as Budweiser, and no more.

Not, however, Harvey’s Christmas Ale. At a formidable 8.1% alcohol by volume, this is a complex and multi faceted brew that packs a punch along with a boat load of flavor. Such a shame then that it comes in such small portions, 275 ML bottles to be precise.

Brewed with only the finest classic English ingredients, Harvey’s Christmas Ale is made with Maris Otter and crystal malts and Fuggle and Golding hops. The hops are used in copious quantities, and the beer is dry hopped for added aroma.

Harvey’s reportedly brews large quantities of this one, though they do brew it only once a year. So don’t let Santa’s grinning visage prevent you from picking up a bottle any time of year. This is a rare and delightful English Old Ale style brew that simply should not be missed any time of year.

Harvey’s Christmas Ale pours to a bright mahogany color with a light creamy head formation and a sweet raisiny malt nose. The palate is thick and luxurious, sliding gracefully over the tongue with a full bodied texture that you just want to loll about on the tongue forever.

As you swirl the liquid around the mouth, it deposits its sweet malty flavors on the tongue: chocolate, toasted nuts, raisin and prune, molasses. Subtle notes of candied fruit combine with the nutty notes and bready malt to bring to mind a holiday fruitcake; the warming alcohol in the finish recalls the rum my mom used to add to hers. But take it from me, this is one “fruitcake” you won’t A perfumey hop aroma permeates the beer, and imparts a grassy herbal dryness in the finish. With all the malt going on, it’s amazing that the finish is as bitter as it is. Try it after dinner as a digestif or just before as an aperitif.

First rate stuff, and a brew that will age nicely if properly stored. Don’t let the “Christmas Ale” bit fool you; this is a brew that makes for wonderful sipping throughout the year. If you enjoy a fine port or sherry, try a glass of this delicious brew some time and see how complex beer can really be.

Update 12/28/2025: I've had Harvey's Christmas Ale a few more times since I last checked in. I do not see this beer often, but when I do, I buy it. It has lost a little strength over the years, now at 7.5% ABV down from 8.1% when I first reviewed it. I paid $11.99 for my most recent bottle from Half Time, this time in a full half liter. The previous sample I bought was a diminutive 9.3 ounce bottle. Harvey's says:

A festive delight, this traditional barley wine exudes biscuity malts and rich vinous fruits, all balanced by a strong hop bitterness.

Warm the soul with this award-winning beer which embodies the essence of Christmas spirit.

I enjoyed the smaller bottle on November 27th of 2022 and took the following notes:

Harvey’s Christmas Ale pours to a brilliant ruby color with a light wispy head on a vigorous pour. The aroma is cakey malts and candied fruits. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body, malty with burnt treacle notes, fruity with hints of dark raisin, bright cherry, and orange zest. It is buttery and flinty and finishes warm with alcohol and infused with earthy hops.  Christmas Cake Fruit Cake in a glass.

From the label of that bottle:

Recipient of Finland’s Olutseura Olivetkia award for “excellently” fulfilling “The Christmas Beer Regulation of the Seven Brothers” described in Aleksis Kivi’s novel “Seven Brothers”.

I took these notes on my most recent bottle:

Harvey’s Christmas ale 2025 pours to a deep amber color with a moderate head of creamy foam and a nose of flinty malts. Taking a sip the beer is medium to full in body with a rich malty spice cake maltiness. Raisin and toffee and a big bitter finish.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??