A quite glorious olde worlde scene graces the Exhibition Brown Old Ale from Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes. I was a bit surprised to see the 3.6% ABV on the label as I would have expected an Old Ale to have a bit more grunt in the alcohol stakes. If I can find a bottle or handpump at the AGM in June I shall have to sample a drop.
2 Comments
23 March, 2016
at 9:50 am
The New Brewery on the Bridge Wharf site at Cliffe, Lewes, was another design from William Bradford of Carlton Chambers, Regent Street, London. In June 1881 Harvey’s commissioned a fifteen quarter brewery and the building work commenced in the autumn of that year, undertaken by Messrs. Card & Son of Lewes, under the direction of Bradford. The plant was installed by Messrs. Pontifex and Wood of Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, London with backwork provided by James Oxley of Frome, Somerset. Ironwork was supplied by both Young & Co. of Pimlico and Morris of Lewes. Brewing continued in the old premises while the new brewery was being erected and just ten months later in July 1882 and at a total cost of just over £8000, the head brewer Henry Barratt (formerly of Wethereds at Marlow) was able to put through the first brew in the new building. During the building works Bradford made a total of forty-eight visits to Lewes and his professional fees for the project were £440, 10/-, 1p. During the excavations for the foundations of the New Brewery a weathervane dated 1621 was unearthed. After repairs, strengthening and gilding it was mounted on the building where it remains to this day.
30 March, 2016
at 8:08 am
One of my favourite Breweries! Love their beer & such a rich history! Check out the Event Diary as we will be holding this year’s Society AGM at Harveys and I am really looking forward to visiting the brewery again!
Cheers
Dale