Harvey’s revives Ouse Booze 25 years after Lewes flood
A quarter-century after the River Ouse devastated Lewes, Harvey’s Brewery has recreated its much-mythologised “Ouse Booze” beer. The commemorative release pays tribute to an extraordinary moment in British brewing history and the resilience of a community.
In October 2000, the River Ouse burst its banks and inundated the town of Lewes, including Harvey’s Brewery itself. Brewing was halted mid-process, leaving two half-full fermenters of strong malt wort stranded in the brewhouse.
The brewers, faced with no electricity and receding floodwaters, combined the wort into a single vessel and left it to ferment spontaneously over a 36-hour period, according to the brewery. The resulting beer was bottled as “Ouse Booze” and sold to raise funds for the Lewes Flood Appeal.
The damage to Harvey’s was estimated at more than £2 million and many empty casks were swept away, with some later spotted floating at sea by ferry passengers. Early forecasts suggested it would take nine months to resume operations, yet Harvey’s was back to brewing in just nine days, demonstrating extraordinary perseverance.
Recreating a legend for 2025
Twenty-five years later, Harvey’s Brewery has faithfully recreated Ouse Booze to mark the anniversary of the 2000 disaster. The 2025 edition has been brewed using the same traditional methods, malt and hops from the same growers as the original.
The brewery describes the result as “a smooth, full-bodied ale with a gentle sweetness and abundant hop character” at approximately 6.5% ABV. It is being released as a limited run in 440 ml cans, cementing its status as a commemorative brew.
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“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 Miles Jenner, head brewer and joint managing director of Harvey’s Brewery. “This anniversary edition has been brewed from the same hops, the same strength, the same maltsters, and as a single copper brew, just as it was that day. Hopefully, it will be as warmly received as the original.”
Remembering the floods
To commemorate the anniversary, Harvey’s has also released a series of short interviews with long-time staff who experienced the 2000 flood first-hand, sharing their recollections via social media.
The wider Lewes community organised educational events throughout October, including a public forum titled “Lewes Floods: Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future” on 31 October 2025. Such initiatives aim to keep the collective memory of the disaster alive and to discuss future preparedness.
Serving history by the pint
The revived Ouse Booze went on sale from 9 October 2025, available in cans at the Harvey’s bottle shop in Lewes and through its online store.
The beer is also being poured on draught at local pubs that themselves endured the 2000 flood, including The John Harvey Tavern, The Dorset and The Gardeners Arms, as well as the brewery’s own taproom.
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