Harvey’s is marking 25 years since the River Ouse flooded its home town of Lewes, and the brewery itself, with the return of Ouse Boose, a 6.5% ABV brew.
Brewing was abandoned that day — 12th October, 2000 — with two half-full fermenting vessels of strong malt sugars left standing as the river raged through the brewhouse.
The brewers combined them into a single vessel and left it to ferment naturally while the floodwaters receded beneath over the course of 36 hours.
The beer that emerged was bottled, named Ouse Booze, and sold in aid of the Lewes Flood Appeal. It became testament to the resilience of both Lewes and the brewery’s enduring spirit of perseverance.
Floodwater at Harvey’s in 2000
Twenty-five years on, it has been faithfully recreated. Brewed using the same techniques, malt, and hops, sourced from the original growers, it’s smooth and full-bodied, with a gentle sweetness and abundant hop character. The special edition has been released in a limited number of 440ml cans.
During the floods, many of Harvey’s empty casks floated out to sea and were later spotted by passengers aboard the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry. The flood caused more than £2m worth of damage, and the brewer was told it would take nine months to get the facility back on its feet. But nine days later, they were brewing again.
“A calamity brew, Ouse Booze, was born of disaster, yet captured the resilience and creativity of our team and town in the face of crisis,” said Harvey’s head brewer and joint managing director Miles Jenner.
