UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen - Harpoon Brewery

kmo1030

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours a haxy rose color with a good sized head that disoslves to a film.
the aroma is dominated by raspberry with notes of citrus, lime if i had to choose one.
the taste is dominated by fresh raspberry as expected, with the same citric notes backing it up. towards the end some of the wheat comes into play, lending just a little white breadiness.
the mouthfeel is just to thinnner side of medium bodied with active carbonation.
overall quite good for what it is. it's got nice raspberry flavor in spades.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2010 01:09:39 | More by kmo1030

Soonami

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen is a good offering from Harpoon. The base beer, what I can tasteof it, really isn't a hefeweizen more of an American wheat, but truly the Raspberries dominate in this beer and provides the majority of the flavor and aroma. The smell of raspberry manifests as the cap is popped and perfumes the air as the beer is poured. The color is a orangey red with a wispy white lacing. The raspberry flavor is pronounced and tastes very fresh. Overall, the beer is tastes like its a common wheat beer with a couple jolly ranchers dissolved into it. Good in it's own way, but a little too sweet and candy-like to be a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 21:57:49 | More by Soonami

IronGiant

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's hard to pull off a really good fruit beer. Most taste like Yankee Candles.

Harpoon UFO Raspberry is an exception. It's really delicious. Pours with a purple hue, smells and tastes of raspberries without being two sweet, fake or overpowering.

This is a great summer beer and goes down easy.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2010 03:58:27 | More by IronGiant

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Murky dark pink in color small head. Very surprised to see this beer actually pour pink. Looks like a Cantillon Lambic. First time I saw this beer, I was nervous. The pink color makes it look really gimmicky. Don't be fooled, this one is the real deal.

S-Pretty tart raspberry, not artificial raspberry but real raspberry. I enjoy the flavor here. After seeing the color, I expected to smell some sugary-sweet artificial raspberry flavor here. I actually find some really aromatic delicious raspberry scents instead.

T-Slightly tart raspberry. Not overpowering but noticeable. Traditional hefeweizen taste kicks in after the raspberries have their go. This beer for some reason makes me so happy to drink. I love raspberries. I think this one does the taste right. It has the perfect amount of tartness.

M-Very light with good carbonation. Lively, crisp, clean. Excellent for warm weather.

D-Very, very drinkable. A great session beer for a hot summer night...or day. I love this beer. I get made fun of sometimes because of its pink hue. But man, this is an underrated beer. If you like raspberries, and you would rather taste real raspberries rather than artificial Splenda aided raspberry flavor, try this. Don't let the pink color fool you. This one is a great time!

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2010 01:17:59 | More by VelvetExtract

jmarvin4189

Vermont

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - a cloudy golden redish color, very unique

Smell - the raspberry smell is very dominant but you also get some of a hop or malty smell mixed in

Taste - has the hefeweizen light wheat taste to it with a powerful but not dominant raspberry flavor. It is very good and I'm not a huge fruit beer person since other fruit beers i've had were really sweet and had too much of a berry flavor to it but this one is different. the raspberry is just the right amount for you to say oooo raspberry and yummmm beer at the same time.

Mouthfeel - good carbonation, smooth and refreshing. Very good for a nice summer day or night

Drinkability - very drinkable, its so good you just want more.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 01:35:30 | More by jmarvin4189

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a weizen glass.

Pours a hazy orange copper with a white head that has just a faint pink hue and leaves a bit of sticky lacing.

Smells of fresh raspberries and mild hops.

Tastes of tart raspberries and wheat with a mild, slightly bitter hop finish.

Light and carbonated.

This is a highly drinkable raspberry hefeweizen. Refreshment on a hot summer day, that offers a unique spin on the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 02:23:21 | More by ujsplace

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

2.13/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Got this as part of the UFO Explorer sampler 12-pack, on sale for $10.99 at the Lebanon Co-op grocery. Best By 09/15/10 106. Poured cold into a chilled pint glass.

A: Hazy bronze brew shows pinkish highlights and generates a fizzy 1" pink head that settles quickly to a thin stable layer of foam. Generates only a modest bit of lace that slowly rolls down the glass.

S: I smelled raspberry flavoring immediately after cracking the cap. From the glass it is more of the same, fairly strong and sweet, overpowering anything else.

T: More raspberry, same as the smell. Again, not much else. Is this a beer or is it a wine cooler???

M/D: Thin and fizzy, too much carbonation and too little body. Fairly easy to drink. Nothing particularly offensive except for the overpowering raspberry and lack of anything else. In a blind tasting I'd definitely peg this as a wine cooler.

Meh. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 22:39:59 | More by BeerNinja007

DrJay

Massachusetts

2.48/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Quite hazy, pink grapefruit colour with next to no cap. Fruity aroma, raspberry, slight banana. You can pick up a hint of wheat if you really try, but it could just be an illusion. The flavour was heavy with raspberry, but the mineral character and coarse carbonation made it taste processed and artificial. Light bodied, high carbonation, a bit dry. I really like raspberries so I hoped this beer would impress me, but it just didn't work for me at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 23:17:54 | More by DrJay

dogfishandi

New York

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle at fridge temp poured into a hefe glass.

pours a cloudy grapefruit color with some creamy retentive pure white head. has some nice lace. little hues of pink were visible in the head off of the pour.

the aroma is almost all tart rasberry. hardly any hefe characteristics noticable. my girlfriend enjoys the aroma very much. kinda reminds me of some sort of wine cooler.

a slightly better balance of things in the taste, but still very one sided to the tart, almost sour rasberry. the rasberry does not seem too artificial tasting like you find in most fruit beers. some light pilsner malts come into play but in the finish it goes back to the tart rasberry.

light body, ample carbonation. goes down smooth and easy. a little watery at times.

pretty good drinkability, but the rasberry taste gets a little old after awhile. i would have like to seen a little more hefe characteristics come through. i prolly wouldnt buy this again, but it was nice to try.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 01:14:13 | More by dogfishandi

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy grapefruit like color with some visible carbonation and a thick three finger head which disapates to a skim with very little lacing. The aroma is fanstastic, it hits you as soon as you open the bottle. The smell of raspberries and flowers hits your nose. The taste is very good also, the taste is a wheat backbone with a tart raspberry taste. The taste is like a real raspberry not artificial and super sweet. The carbonation is moderate and creamy. Overall on a hot day on your porch you could make this a great session beer. A great aroma and a smooth taste make this a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2010 01:00:23 | More by goblue3509

confer

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Amber and hazy. Looks like a mix of raspberry and hefeweisse,surprise. Large soap like bubbles.

S- As soon as the cap is popped the raspberry aroma fills the area. The aroma fades as the beer is poured.

T- The flavor is all raspberry, no banana, no clove. A small wheat taste in the finish.

MD- A little thin but very drinkable. If you like fruit beers you will love this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 02:48:23 | More by confer

aquaphiliac

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into one of my weizen glasses.

Appearance: cloudy reddish hue with some yellow swirls in it. Not a whole lot of head. I was expecting more from a hefeweizen. Definitely a good looking beer though.

Smell: Raspberries. I couldn't really detect much else.

Taste: I couldn't put my tongue on the sensation that I got until 3/4 of the way through the beer but this beer sort of tastes like cheap wine. Tart fruit flavors maybe give way to a yeast aftertaste but the overwhelming taste is tart raspberry. Doesn't taste like your "conventional" beer.

Mouthfeel: Kind of watery to be honest. I wasn't really thrilled with the body but it is a wheat beer.

Drinkability: Definitely the opposite of harsh. Very tasty and on the lighter side so easy to drink.

Overall I don't think I would get this again; I liked it but my buddies were not impressed and I like regular hefeweizens better.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 04:50:16 | More by aquaphiliac

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

pours a hazy pinkish brown with little head that laces ok.

smells of raspberry, candy sugar, bubble gum, yeast, wheat, and banana.

taste is a bit of raspberry, but with plenty of wheat and yeast. not quite sour, not quite sweet. would like it more if it went one way or the other. raspberry and wheat struggle for dominance with the raspberry barely winning. finishes sweet, dry and tart.

mouthfeel is plenty prickly with an overall light feel which is par for the style.

goes down pretty smoothly. does not offer much to make me want another, or to even finish this one. I just think they were in between a few ideas. it definitely fits some tastes, however.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 04:31:03 | More by silentjay

ianjsullivan

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

ST: 12 oz bottle poured into a Blanche De Chambly glass

A: Cloudy grapefruity pink with a nice white head with lacing of pink. When held to the light small bubbles can be seen, though the carbonation is not steady. Still the head has good retention.

S: Raspberry, no denying it, it is in the name and in the smell. Raspberry turns to yeasty wheat with a hint of clove and sweet banana.

T: Bright raspberry switches to wheat and clove and finishes with the tart bitterness of the raspberry in a decently clean finish.

M: Light, despite its lack of carbonation and the normally medium-bodied fate of hefeweizens, this one is very light in body.

D: Plenty of drinkability here, the beer is light and refreshing. It delivers flavor yet does not overtax the palate.

Overall: I like hefeweizens and I like fruit beers, if they are not sweet, especially in the summer. I saw this come in and since I enjoyed the Abita Purple Haze enough, I did some reading up on the UFO. I am glad I decided to get it, without a doubt a perfect summer quencher. It is light, yet, has flavor. Oftentimes summer beers mean light dreary wheat that lacks zing. That is not the case with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2010 17:45:37 | More by ianjsullivan

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a Harpoon pilsner glass.

A: Standard pour yields a coarse, fluffy, 3.5 finger white head with moderate retention. Gets coarser as it fades. Beer is a cloudy ruby red. Lacing is spotty and with near no clean. Very superficial.

S: Big and bold tart raspberry fruit mixed with a slight red tea scent.

T: Tart raspberry punch in the beginning. I feel like I'm drinking sour kool-aid. Very spicy and abrasive. Sour fruit never really lets up and lasts until the finish. Faint wheaty, malt finish that dries the palate. Near no aftertaste.

M: Light bodied, incredibly coarse and carbonated. Tart at the start and throughout, it makes my lips smack! Bit watery and ends dry. Finish is clean and quick, leaving nothing.

D: A summer beer for sure, this one is very easy drinking. Raspberry flavor almost makes it a sour with none of the complexity. Watery in the mouth and a real thirst quencher. However, I'm looking for a little more than just quenching in my beers so I'll pass unless this is the only around.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 23:09:15 | More by SpeedwayJim

Lacesoutcody

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A: Dark tan, with a pink hue.

S: Strong hints of raspberry, and malt. Pleasant, if a little non-committal.

T: Raspberry, and a twang of bitter.

M: Pretty light, but leaves a sort of bitter film on the back of the tongue once swallowed.

D: Not a huge fan of "fruit" beers, but this one was certainly drinkable. Worth a try, but maybe not something you would want more than a few of.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 02:27:47 | More by Lacesoutcody

bishopdc0

Maine

3.2/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer has a slight reddish hue the white head dissipated very quickly, almost like soda. The smell is of raspberry booth sweet and tart. This beer starts sweet and finishes refreshingly tart. The tart finish separates this from most typical soda beers, it makes it refreshing and nice.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2010 17:42:25 | More by bishopdc0

jwc215

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into weizen glass:

Pours clouded pink grapefruit with a sizeable foamy white head that slowly thins and stays. Vanishing lace sticks.

The smell is of sweettart raspberry, banana, hint of clove.

The taste is of raspberry - tart - not "artificial" as is too often found in American fruit wheat beers. Raspberry prominent but not overwhelming. Not too sweet - A touch of sweetness blends with tartness leading to a dry (hint of clove), tangy, slightly bready, finish.

Refreshingly light-bodied, well-carbonated, effervescent. Could be creamier, but not complaining.

A nicely done fruit beer - raspberries add to a beer that is American pale wheat with a HW influence. Not too sweet - a very refreshing brew. Raspberry doesn't overwhelm. This is how American fruit beers should be!

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 16:20:50 | More by jwc215

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Though I am neither a huge fruit beer fan, nor a big wheat ale drinker, I am very excited to try this. I do relish both aforementioned styles, when done right.

G - .3 liter mug.

A – Cloudy orange-pink-copper hue with a big head and a bit of lacing too.

S – Raspberry and faint grain.

T – Fresh raspberry flavor punctuates crisp wheat ale. The grainy, sparkling body is dry, so the fruit never becomes inordinately sweet. The raspberry and the hop meld on the finish. It tastes

M – Lighter bodied ale with a sharp, cidery carbonation. It works well for this one.

D – A fantastic beer, regardless of style. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 06:12:53 | More by ktrillionaire

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.93/5  rDev +37.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a pint glass at the local 'Flying Saucer'

A: Cloudy ruby red/rose color. Good solid off white head with a thin but sticky lace.

S: Smell of fresh raspberries. Some mild spice.

T&M: Smooth and Crisp! Mild tart shot of raspberry flavor, faint spices and hops are barely noticeable.

If you like raspberry or berry flavors, this is the best I have had and I've tried many fruit flavored beers. This is the best raspberry hands down. Probably better on tap than in the bottle, but the fresher the better nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2010 22:36:40 | More by cdizinno

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Started my night off with a light pint of this one tonight at Barleys. Served in a pint glass, this one was consumed on 09/12/2009.

The pour was decent, nothing more though. Light amber in color, very light color with a small head of white on top. Faded quickly and left behind only a touch of side glass lace. Light fruit aroma, I was hoping for more to be honest. Lots of wheat and light grassy notes. A bit more fruit as it warms. Clean and crisp flavor reveals a decent touch of raspberry fruit flavors. Again with tons of wheat and light flavors coming in. Everything is very quick and fleating though and the overall feel was light as well. Very drinkable and very quick to go down, this one took no time at all.

Overall while not the greatest fruit beer in the world it works. Light and clean, very easy to drink. I would not mind trying it again,

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 01:22:31 | More by mikesgroove

jwarren2388

New York

3.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a beautiful somewhat hazy amber color with a finger and a half length head that dissipates over time and leaves no lacing or legs. The head didn't have a pinking hue like the first time I had it on tap and there was some sediment this time around from the bottle.

Smell: There is more citrus in the aroma than expected its like a intertwined raspberry and lemon zest scent with a bready undertone.

Taste: Way more raspberries than the scent let on to, and a major amount of sweetness to cover up the buttery dry wheat. A hint of citrus and hops lingers in the backdrop.

Mouth feel: Crisp the whole way through and doesn't leave a 'memory' of it ever being there with its aftertaste.

Drinkability: Highly drinkable, if you like fruit beers youll be able to session with no problem.

Overall: I prefer the original but this one was worth a try. As mentioned in the drink-ability its easy to session thats for sure and if i'm ever in the mood to have some raspberries in my swill this will be a go-to.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2009 04:31:59 | More by jwarren2388

mikel52588

New York

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark amber, faint pink; about a finger and a half head, cloudy

Smell: A sweet raspberry malt that just invites you right in to drink it.

Taste: All I can say is mmm, this beer really hits the spot on the fruit beer spectrum. It has a delicious raspberry taste that I cant seem to get enough of. Very sweet and has a hint of citrus in the background. Almost doesn't taste like beer, but its too good to complain about.

Mouthfeel: smooth and silky on the tongue, has a nice tingle to it, the hops make a nice subtle appearance to the surface

Drinkability: Just an all around great beer. Any friend I introduce it to proceeds to tell me that they are going to go pick some up...right then. Probably best on a hot summer day, but I think I could drink this beer anytime, all the time. Its that delicious and sweet.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2009 04:20:24 | More by mikel52588

Kallessin

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It has full pinkish foamy/fizzy head. It's fairly cloudy with a reddish/deep amber honey color. Looks a lot like a sparkling cider. This beer really catches your eye.

Raspberry is the strongest smell, as expected, with some other sweet citrus aromas in there. Nothing earth shattering.

Very strong raspberry tartness up front, a little acidic. It has a tart candy kind of taste. This fades fairly quickly to more sweet flavors. It finishes with a wheat bread/flour aftertaste with a little tartness lingering.

Perfect fizzy carbonation up front to go with the tartness. Finishes smooth and lingers in your mouth a little. It didn't have the bite you'd think it would at the end, which is nice.

Overall a very good beer, refreshing and easily drinkable. Just the right mix of tart/sweet to keep you interested.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 21:29:37 | More by Kallessin

a4tuurbo

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A- I poured this into a standard pint glass and got a one finger head with almost zero retention. It is a nice cloudy amber color with a definite pink tint. I had quite a bit of sediment on the bottom of my bottle but that is to be expected from an unfiltered beer.

S- Raspberries. Almost purely raspberries.

T- The raspberry taste is slightly artificial as stated by some other reviewers, however not overpowering. Pouring this in a glass really allows the raspberry flavor to bloom as opposed to having it in the bottle. Almost not bitterness at all. Actually, it has a slightly sour taste.

M- Very smooth. Perfect amount of carbonation for this type of beverage. Very refreshing on a hot day.

D- Its something I would like to have every now and then but its definitely not my go to beer for kicking back on the deck in the summer. I cant really have more than 1 or 2 without getting sick of the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 06:38:53 | More by a4tuurbo