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136-Year-Old Beer Recipe Revived!
27 Oct
Summary
- A 136-year-old beer recipe was recreated from a rediscovered archive.
- Harvey's Brewery in Lewes brewed the ale using a 1890 recipe.
- The brewery aims to recreate more lost recipes from the uncovered journal.
A historic beer recipe, lost for 136 years, has been brought back to life by Harvey's Brewery in Lewes. The 1890 recipe was recreated from the journal of Henry John Barrett, son of one of the brewery's former head brewers. This rediscovered journal, unearthed in 2019, also contains five other recipes that Harvey's aims to recreate.
Peter Yarlett, the current head brewer, expressed excitement about brewing a beer from such an old recipe in its original location. He noted the fascinating process of working with original brewing notes and the distinct character of the resulting 7.7% ABV ale, attributed to its extended fermentation. The recipe, dubbed Lost Brew No.156, was found in the archives of Beard's Brewery, which closed in 1984.
To preserve these historical brewing methods, Henry John Barrett's journal has been digitized and archived at The Keep in Falmer. The discovery and recreation of this lost brew highlight a significant connection to the brewery's past and its potential to revive further heritage ales.
