On this day in 1843, A Christmas Carol was published by Charles Dickens, and as a nod to this quintessential Christmas story, today’s Advent beer pick is another English classic: Christmas Ale from Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes in East Sussex. No ghosts here, but if Christmas pudding were a beer, it would be this one, which the brewery describes as:

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 reached out to the brewery for more about the beer, and Miles Jenner, the head brewer and joint managing director, responded with a wonderful reply which I’m sharing here:

Harvey’s Christmas Ale is a traditional Barley Wine. Biscuity malt and vinous fruit palate is balanced by a strong hop bitterness. It ‘warms the cockles of your heart’, as my grandfather would have said!

I attach a certificate from Finland, which adds another dimension to the customers’ expectations.

It owes its genesis to my father, who adapted his ‘Elizabethan Ale’ (brewed since 1953) to produce a darker, dry hopped version for Christmas in 1972. We have brewed it every year since. He originally described it as ‘liquid Christmas Pudding’. Over the past 40 years, I have developed it somewhat using roasted malt, pinhead oats and different varieties of local hops but, in essence, it remains true to its origins.

Around 15,000 half pint bottles ‘fly off the shelf’ in our brewery shop each December. Additionally, on draught, approximately 20,000 half pint glasses are served in pubs during the festive season (it is not sold in pints for obvious reasons).

Each year we invite a priest to bless the brew when it is mashed. The hops are placed around the mash tun for the blessing. My favourite blessing was written by the Rev. Judith Egar:

“Generous God, all good things come from You. Bless, we pray, this Christmas Ale that we have mashed today and all those who have harvested and prepared it with skill and loving care. May this ale be to all who drink it a true celebration of Christmas, warming the heart, cheering the spirit and embodying that fullness of life which you promised to us in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.”

It has been blessed by numerous Bishops and priests. We are very ecumenical; Catholic priests, Church of England, Russian Orthodox, you name it…

The brewery is known locally as Lewes Cathedral and, at Christmas, the windows of the malt hoist are infilled with murals by Julian Bell depicting the visit of the Magi. In true renaissance tradition, all the models were local people and the artist’s self portrait can be seen in the background leaning against the open door of the inn.

Jenner also shared some photos from the Christmas Ale brew day on November 19:

Harvey’s Christmas Ale is a proper English barleywine, with a respectable 7.5% ABV that has accrued a number of awards over the years. It’s an ale to make even old Scrooge himself swell with Christmas spirit, and there should be a bottle on the table this year to accompany the goose and Christmas pudding.

Find Harvey’s Christmas Ale on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• RateBeer
• Facebook

Image credits: Harvey’s website and head brewer Miles Jenner