Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter is a quintessentially British ale that has served as the flagship product for Harvey & Son since it was first brewed in the mid-20th century. The beer is deeply rooted in the brewing traditions of Southern England, specifically the town of Lewes in East Sussex, where the brewery has been operating at the Bridge Wharf site for over 230 years.

Production remains strictly artisanal and local. Harvey's continues to use a traditional brew house and sources its ingredients locally, including artesian water from their own well and hops grown in the nearby Sussex countryside. The beer is famous for its distinctive yeast strain which has been in use at the brewery for over half a century, contributing to its unique character.

Ownership of the brand has remained remarkably stable, being passed down through generations of the same family. Harvey & Son (Lewes) Ltd remains an independent, family-owned regional brewery. This independence allows them to maintain traditional brewing methods that larger conglomerate-owned brands often abandon for efficiency, ensuring every bottle and cask of Sussex Bitter stays true to its Georgian origins.