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Talk - Harvey’s
Brewery
When Harveys Brewery was built in 1790 24% of an average family’s
budget was spent on beer, according to Miles Jenner, the MD
of the modern-day company, who is giving a talk tonight on
‘Lewes Breweries, the History of a Brewing Community’.
A startling statistic, down to the fact that 200-odd years
ago it was unsafe to drink the water provided by the water
company, and typhoid epidemics were rife. “Back in Georgian
times,” says Jenner, “Lewes boasted nine breweries.
Today only Harveys remains.”
In 1790 the ale we drank tasted very different. “It
would be nothing like the modern Harveys Best,” says
Jenner, “though we do brew a couple of ales which are
similar to those available then, our Imperial Extra Double
Stout and our 1830 Porter.” His talk charts the local
brewing industry through two centuries. “I will talk
about a number of the personalities who have emerged during
that period and also about the interaction of the urban and
rural in the economy of a County Town, a synergy which still
exists today.” Harvey’s Best, of course, was voted
CAMRA’s Real Ale of the Year in 2005, and Jenner was
made Brewer of the Year by the Brewing Guild in 2001. Contrary
to popular belief, Harveys beer is not made from Ouse water:
since a typhoid epidemic in the 1870’s it has been drawn
from a spring under the site. Nowadays, of course, it is safe
to drink Lewes’ tapwater: even so we do know quite a
few people who still spend around 24% of their income on the
local ale. AL
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