Harvey's Sussex Best

Is there a beer more closely associated with the rolling downs of Sussex, or one that better embodies the essence of English Best Bitter? Using water from their own spring at the brewery together with locally grown hops and malts and their own 60 year old yeast strain this is quite simply a superbly balanced ale with doughy, caramelly malt, a firm hop bite and subtle notes of banana and floral spice.

Harvey's can fairly claim to be part of England's brewing heritage. They're one of the country's long-established regional breweries still under independent ownership - something of a dying breed - and have been run by the descendants of founder John Harvey since the late eighteenth century, operating from their historic brewery, locally known as the cathedral, in the heart of the Sussex market town of Lewes. Using locally sourced ingredients is high on their list, and their flagship ales are made with hops and malt sourced almost entirely from Sussex, Kent and Surrey. Tradition and continuity are the twin themes that guide them, yet while their best-known ale, Sussex Best, is something of an institution in its own right, they're not shy of embracing contemporary fashions. All of which leaves Harvey's well placed to play a significant part in England's beer culture well into the future.