As you may know at Herbert Scott we celebrating our 20th Anniversary this year. Being a Lewes born and bred company, we were invited to celebrate our anniversary, with one of the longest standing business’ in Lewes, Harvey’s Brewery.
The Herbert Scott team alongside their chosen guests, commenced the tour in the courtyard outside of the building also known as “Lewes Cathedral”. Our tour guide and Head Brewer, Miles Jenner, eloquently spoke about the building that we so commonly associate with Lewes, but know little about. The present Harvey’s Brewery was designed by William Bradford, a renowned brewery architect in the Victorian era and it became a Grade II Listed building in 1985.
On from the courtyard – when Miles found his keys! – and into the brewery, where we started to learn more about the brewing process and the raw materials required to make ales. The brewing process typically uses gravity to facilitate the brew, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint but it does mean we have to head up the stairs to the top of the Harvey’s tower for the tour to commence! As we made our way down, we learnt about the different machinery involved and smelt and even tasted some of the raw materials.
We continued onwards into the room which houses the ale whilst it reacts with the almost 60-year-old yeast and onto the ground floor, where they bottle and keg the ales ready for distribution.
The best and most important stage of the Harvey’s brew, is the last one – the drinking! The tour concluded in the sampling room, where we were invited to taste the various Harvey’s brews, including Harvey’s Old Ale, which had yet to officially been released.
We are very thankful to Harvey’s for this great tour and for helping us celebrate our 20th Anniversary year.
You can of course visit Harvey’s shop on the Cliffe High Street in Lewes, or alternatively go online – www.harveys.org.uk