Here’s a wonderful beer I discovered at Taco Mac last December. New Realm Harvest Ale, a barleywine/old ale said to be in the English Style by the brewer. If you take that to mean the beer is very malty with rich yeasty notes then yes indeed, that’s the impression I got when I sipped. When I sipped, I was in love with the deep rich malty notes of this beer. Examples of the style come too few and too far between.

This is a departure from the many quite hoppy beers I’ve enjoyed from New Realm. The brewery only opened a few years ago in Atlanta, and recently expanded to Virginia in the old Green Flash brewery there.

From the label:

This strong ale is brewed with a nod to 18^th century English ales, a six-hour kettle boil provides rich, crème-brulee maltiness & a deep amber color. Warming notes of fruit, toffee, caramel and herbal hop aroma keep you toasty as the autumn evenings cool.

New Realm Harvest Ale has an alcohol content of 10.8% by volume and I paid $6 for an 11-ounce glass at Taco Mac.

My glass of New Realm Harvest Ale arrived a deep tawny amber color with a thick creamy head formation and spice cake and perfumery hops in the nose. Taking a sip, I got a delightful malty palate that is flinty and faintly buttery, chewy with caramel, then more spice cake notes and a boozy warm finish that has grassy hops to boot.

Wow! I am totally impressed with this malty delight! Yes, the alcohol content is far above an English old ale or barleywine where 6% or so might be closer to the norm. Still, the flavors are true to that theme. Would I buy it again? Why, I already did. Spying the beer at Target I bought a 4-pack of pint cans for $12.34. They are marked as canned on 10/18/2018, so I am assuming my draft sample was kegged around that time, too. New Realm says on the label “Drink now or cellar”; I’m going to do both. I’ll pop a can soon and let the rest age. Back with details when I do.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, canned

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler



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