Harveys of Lewes best bitter

[fireworkmaster]

Hi all I was a Sussex born and bred lad and Harveys was the beer I was bought up on ( motorbike rally's nut brown ale as a lad 13 then on to bitter about 15 lol ) anyhow I know Harveys don't do kits but is their any kit even vaguely similar to their best bitter , even if I have to add additional extras ?

 

[Robin54]

HI- as a local I think I can say that there are "probably" no kits that get near their bitter. They use their own well water and a unique Sussex yeast. I do an all grain copy, but in reality its nothing like the real thing.

 

[trueblue]

Brelwlabs Sussex yeast is reputed to be the Harveys strain and I would say that you should start from there.

 

[Sadfield]

Brelwlabs Sussex yeast is reputed to be the Harveys strain and I would say that you should start from there.

Is it just the saccharomyces or does it contain the 'wild' Debaryomyces?

 

[fireworkmaster]

Is it just the saccharomyces or does it contain the 'wild' Debaryomyces?

No clue what either of them are off to Google and learn

 

[trueblue]

Is it just the saccharomyces or does it contain the 'wild' Debaryomyces?

Never used it myself just remember the was a lengthy discussion elsewhere, I think Jim's site, several years back with a few brewers trying to replicate this beer. Getting the right yeast and water profile made the difference. I have always found Brewlabs to be very helpful if you want to look into it.

 

[fireworkmaster]

I had a feeling it would be nigh on impossible to find, I know they use a unique blend of local hops as well.
Might just have to get a good kit recommend instead and continue dreaming .
Bays our local brewery is nice but not the taste I grew up drinking.
The water here is softer than soft. Where as Sussex is all chalk bed , I'm guessing even their well water is pretty hard initially

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Bays is a good brewery and I love Devon Dumpling buy it at their shop when in Torbay.

 

[fireworkmaster]

Bays is a good brewery and I love Devon Dumpling buy it at their shop when in Torbay.

Yup Devon dumpling is one of my favourite as well , were lucky free delivery for us on anything from shop

 

[Brewshed]

I am local to Harvey's and the yeast is key. A long time ago I brewed a recipe for a best bitter (not Harveys) that I had done a lot and knew well but this time went down to the brewery and got some of their yeast. The resulting beer was very like Harveys just from the yeast. They do not allow you to get yeast anymore.

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

This was as close to Sussex best as I could get. Ringwood ale yeast is a good substitute. I made a side by side test with the real thing and differences were so slight as to be almost imperceptible.

 

[dcbrookes]

I am local to Harvey's and the yeast is key. A long time ago I brewed a recipe for a best bitter (not Harveys) that I had done a lot and knew well but this time went down to the brewery and got some of their yeast. The resulting beer was very like Harveys just from the yeast. They do not allow you to get yeast anymore.

I agree, the yeast is key. Harvey's has a very distinctive flavour, which the MM recipe kit does not match (although I have not tried it with Ringwood yeast). Do they still do any bottle conditioned beer that could be used to build a starter?

 

[Brewshed]

I don't think any of their bottles are bottle conditioned. Not sure how the Ringwood yeast would turn out. Probably worth a try. The Harvey's yeast originated from John Smiths in Tadcaster in the 1950's but has been repitched so many times it will have changed significantly.

 

[Sadfield]

I don't think any of their bottles are bottle conditioned. Not sure how the Ringwood yeast would turn out. Probably worth a try. The Harvey's yeast originated from John Smiths in Tadcaster in the 1950's but has been repitched so many times it will have changed significantly.

This beauty is.

https://shop.harveys.org.uk/products/imperial_extra_double_stout

 

[Brewshed]

Oh yes, I forgot about this one. I might gave to have it a go!

 

[Sadfield]

I've a Vatted Porter ready to brew, that I normally age with Brett C. I'm now considering getting a few bottles of this and splitting the batch to pitch the dregs for the Debaryomyces Claussenii.

 

[Baldbrewer]

This beauty is.

https://shop.harveys.org.uk/products/imperial_extra_double_stout

ooh got a bottle of this in the brewery, our youngest daughter is studying at Brighton and she took us to Lewis to visit the brewery shop and pub.

 

[Scrattajack]

Is it known to be the original rather than a bottling yeast?

Though worth a go anyway, I suppose.

 

[Brewshed]

Not sure, but I suspect that it is the original. They are very protective of their yeast and I doubt they would want another yeast floating around in what is a very traditional brewery with open fermenters

 

[fireworkmaster]

Off topic slightly but I also highly recommend their Christmas pudding it's divine.
Patents live in Eastbourne so next time I'm over that way I'll grab a bottle of the porter and have a play , next decision is what beer kit to go for next. Need a nice bitter not overly heavy just a good supping one lol I know I'm a fussy bugger