Harpoon Summer Beer - Harpoon Brewery

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoy By 07/15/13

A: Pours a clear golden yellow color with 2 fingers of head that quickly dies down to a very thin cap

S: Bready malt, a light fruitiness, and a hint of wheat. Not much, but what's there is decent

T: Lightly fruity to start and then goes into the maltiness which is bready and wheaty. Again, not a lot going on here but it's still good

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: An easy drinking summer brew with just enough aroma and flavor to entice the taste buds on a hot summer day. Simplicity aside, it's still a good brew

Serving type: can

06-17-2013 07:33:41 | More by BEERMILER12

socon67

New York

3.54/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - Golden pour with active foam and carbonation. Foam retention is solid.

S - Some smells of fresh biscuits, and hearty grains. Slight musky scent comes from the beer.

T - Dry finish, mild hop profile, and some earthy spice notes.

M - Dry feel, light body, and easily drinkable. Some carbonation.

O - Not my preference for a summer seasonal, but it is a pretty good representation of the style.

Serving type: can

04-21-2013 21:27:46 | More by socon67

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.03/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. can served in a standard pint. Pours a bright, straw gold with a translucent clarity and a one inch, bright white head that slowly recedes into a solid, soapy slick. Some thin clusters of lacing are evident during the tasting. Nose is very clean - just the merest suggestion of wheat and citrus. Taste reveals light toasted wheat, mild citrus notes and a slight buttery quality that nicely intermingles before culminating in a fairly clean finish. Mouthfeel is light in body with a an even carbonation that adds just a little additional depth to the consistency. Overall, I know this may not be the best, most style consistent Kolsch out there, but I love this beer in the summer and really think the canned version is far superior to the bottle. This is one of my summer staples.

Serving type: can

07-04-2012 18:12:47 | More by Jwale73

BigPlay1824

New York

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed in a pilsner glass

A: pours a very clear light hay color with a nice amount of carbonation bubbles working their way through the brew, pours with ample head which is pure white and very fizzy with small bubbles, lingers nicely before dissipating and leaving a small amount of lacing
S: nice light lemon zest scent but not much else, pretty typical given the style
T: nice lemon notes hit in the middle along with a bit of a flowery taste which lingers on the palate nicely afterwards, the beginning is a little hard to place but id put it as possibly earthy water, idk
M: fizzy carbonation up front, leaves the mouth feeling like there are tiny little bubbles all over the palate and also slightly dry
O: one of my absolute favorite summer brews especially out of the can, it really just screams summer to me, infinitely sessionable and delicious

Serving type: can

06-27-2012 02:02:17 | More by BigPlay1824

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a standard pint glass, color is straw, head is bright white with some nice lacing. A little too clear, maybe.

Smell is grains, light wheat hint of hop bitterness.

Taste is pretty clean, neutral, pils and wheat malts but not sweet, hops are more present in the taste with a solid crisp flavor and hints of lemon.

Mouthfeel is crisp, nice carbonation, very easy drinking.

Overall, very solid brew, perfect summer ale - glad we had it for tailgating.

Serving type: can

06-19-2012 00:12:51 | More by mvanaskie13

gabedivision

New York

3.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a can to a pint glass.

Pours thin pale yellow with a small bubbly head that slimes on the glass, looks very Kolsch-y. Grainy, floral, nice malt characters, lemony with a nice touch of spice on the nose. Nice rich buttery malt taste with citrus blend and a grainy finish. Light and sticky on the feel, bitter, crisp, refreshing. Overall this was a decent beer that would be worth buying for a long day in the sun.

Serving type: can

07-29-2011 22:44:13 | More by gabedivision

RomaniIteDomum

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours light yellow with a very nice cloud-like head. Looks slightly reminiscent of BMC brews, but this has a bit of lacing to it and can maintain a head.

The nose is full of fresh grain, straw, and pear.

The taste starts with Granny Smith apples and follows into sweet malt and finishes with a light floral quality.

The feel is light, yet not watery.

This is a very refreshing brew. I love how it can be light and refreshing while maintaining character and depth of flavor. This is canned sunshine.

Serving type: can

07-15-2011 05:19:04 | More by RomaniIteDomum

SunDevilBeer

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another offering on my summer tour de beers.

Ever since this beer first came out from Harpoon, I thought of it as "just another beer". Good in a pinch, good for a keg party/BBQ at my house several years ago, OK if that's all the bar has on tap, but not really worth seeking out.

That all changed last summer when they started canning it.

I bought a 12 pack of cans since it was reasonably priced, cold, was one of the few craft offerings at a bad package store, and I could drink it at my swim club. Happened to be a 90+ degree steamy New England day, and this beer really hit the spot - even directly out of the can.

Clean, balanced, drinkable, just enough taste to keep things interesting to quench your thirst. Don't sip it to detect nuances - just drink it. When I'm dying of thirst the last thing I need are subtle hop nuances or a heavy malt profile.

This has become a summer regular for me.

Serving type: can

07-12-2011 00:38:49 | More by SunDevilBeer

nrbw23

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- PourS a crystal clear golden color with a pretty nice white head. Head becomes turns into a cap of bubbles and leaves some nice layered lacing.

S- Smells pretty grainy with a faint aromas of corn and tangy lemon zest. The hopping is light, and barely noticeable.

T- Taste is big grainy flavour followed by a nice kick of lemon zest. Not really anything else going on here.

M- Light in body and very high in carbonation.

D- Easy to drink for sure just there's not anything really going on here.

Serving type: can

11-19-2010 11:50:25 | More by nrbw23

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to woodychandler for the trade.Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts and hops, slightly sweet. Taste is crisp, a bit of hops and grains. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this makes for a good quality beer.

Serving type: can

07-14-2010 22:04:55 | More by tone77

Ezone024

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from the nice yellow can into a sampler glass (to get color and aroma)...pours a really nice crystal clear golden color with a spongy head that gives a spiced hop aroma.

taste is clean with a nice euro hoppiness to it, has a good spicey bite that tickles the nose..

super drinkable and refreshing, especially out of the can it's a great beer to take with ya on all your outdoor summer adventures!

Serving type: can

06-24-2010 23:05:09 | More by Ezone024

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +34.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The CANQuest is quickly approaching 300! CAN you believe it?!?

From the CAN: "Harpoon Summer Beer is a refreshing example of the German Kolsch style: golden, light-bodied, crisp. Perfect for summer." "Love Beer. Love Life. Harpoon." "Pack it in, pack it out. Please recycle."

My initial pour garnered me a finger of bone-white head with excellent retention. Color was like liquid sunshine - a bright golden yellow with NE-plus quality clarity. Man, if you are going to make a lager-style beer, which Kolsch is, it had better have this kind of clarity. Nose had a grassy hoppiness, just right for the style. Mouthfeel was medium with a very grassy taste on the tongue. Finish was bone-dry, just the way I like my Kolschs. Phew! Gad, but this was extra dry, like ginger ale or antiperspirant. Now, I'm starting to sweat, in an odd turn of events. More? Dang right! Cooler? Heck, yes! This was really, really good in a way that the bottled version CANnot match. I love this beer.

Serving type: can

06-24-2010 19:18:55 | More by woodychandler

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour - light golden, straw colored almost with a decent sized light and airy white head. Looks a lot like a golden or blonde ale.

Aroma - slight hints of citrus and hops actually along with some grainy and straw notes. Very light aroma but pleasing nonetheless.

Taste - super smooth going down with a nice tangy citrusy aftertaste. Nice malty flavor for such a light-colored beer. I really like the slight bit of citrus that Harpoon's Summer Beer provides, its very refreshing. This medium to light-bodied ale would certainly be a great candidate for a day at the lake or beach.

Overall - This beer was a bit of a surprise as I wasn't expecting it to be quite so good! Its not another hum-drum boring summer brew, this is a solid flavorful beer with some real character. Another beer that won't be left in the cooler at the end of the day/night.

Would I buy more of it? - yes, I definitely will be getting a 12-pack for this weekend's camping trip up in Vermont.

Serving type: can

06-23-2010 02:22:10 | More by indiapaleale

jeffthecheff

Germany

3.9/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light yellow color with great clarity. The foam is white and tight with two fingers of volume, and a good stream of bubbles.

There is a fresh, leafy, German hop aroma, a delicate grain sweetness and a touch of ale fruitiness. The palate is light and gentle, with a good balance between malt and hop. Towards the back, there is a decent amount of bitterness, as well as a leafy, floral flavor from the hops. The body is medium, maybe on the high side for the style, and has a good level of carbonation.

Harpoon Summer does a great job for the season, especially now that they are in cans. The 12 pack didn't last long in the fridge, and I'll probably pick up another one sometime this summer.

Serving type: can

06-07-2010 22:49:41 | More by jeffthecheff

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Poured a light golden color with two fingers worth of sticky looking head, which retained well and left a very light lacing throughout.

S - German Kolsch all the way. Not sure how to define the smell, but it is very typical of my limited experience with the style. Not a huge fan of it, but it was mild in this instance.

T - Surprisingly good! Again, my limited experience with the style has usually led to a skunky type flavor, but this was crisp and highly enjoyable. There was no long lasting finish, which I think was a nice feature.

M - Very nearly medium-bodied. I was expecting something far more watery. A pleasant surprise.

O - It was over 90 out when I got home from work and popped this one open. I was pleasantly surprised. The flavor, feel, and even appearance, which remained nicely carbonated all the way down were exactly what I needed. I only wish I had another one. Highly recommend!

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 01:43:51 | More by Andrew041180

Groomsy

Kentucky

3.51/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams glass. "Enjoy by" date of 07/15/13.

This Kolsch pours a familiar but welcoming straw golden and is topped by a 2-finger head of tight white bubbles. Leaving some admirable lace down the bottom of the glass, a steady stream of bubbles from the bottom of the glass keeps this summer seasonal looking alive. A classic appearance on this beer.

Harpoon Summer Beer has an aroma that will remind many of German and Czech pilsners (which, stylistically, isn't too far off from a kolsch - classic ale vs. lager debate). With a malty foundation of fresh grain aromas and some bready/biscuit notes, this beer is rather mild but also has a nice grassy/floral hop presence - smells like Saaz or maybe some other Noble hops. Also a slight lemon presence to this one. Well-balanced and, well, summery.

The taste starts out with a smooth grainy malt presence, leading into some lemon on the middle and a dry, slightly bitter finish with grassy/floral hop flavors. There is also a bread/biscuit flavor that emerges in the aftertaste as the finish dries out. A simple, balanced summer beer. Quaffable and enjoyable.

Summer Beer has a dry finish with lingering flavors from both the hops and the malt. Its light body and crisp carbonation contribute to its enjoyability.

While not my favorite summer seasonal, this is most definitely enjoyable and drinkable. If you're generally a pilsner drinker during the summer months and need a more "ale-ly" counterpart, check out Harpoon Summer Beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 00:36:54 | More by Groomsy

kshizzle101

Washington

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle to a pint glass

A - clear yellow-gold in color. 2 inch white head with good retention for this style.

S - grains, lemon, sweet malts, grassy

T - sweet malts, a grassy flavor, slight lemon hint, but not as much as the smell

M - light bodied, good carb. as it should be

Overall - lacks the taste that I would prefer from a beer like this. the notes are good, but need some punch behind them. I know that this beer should not be oozing with flavor, but you can do better than this. Still, not a bad beer, worth a go.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:23:21 | More by kshizzle101

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Tasted at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston. I like that it was served in a traditional Kölsch glass.

Pretty yellow gold. The head is modest and settles quickly. It leaves ample string lace on the glass.

The smell is more hoppy than I expected. Very dry.

The taste mirrors the smell. Less soft and more astringent than a traditional Kölsch. Higher hop bitterness. Good body and carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2013 15:29:43 | More by smcolw

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 8/19/2012. Pours a lightly cloudy golden straw color with a nice 1-2 finger fluffy white head with nice retention, that reduces to a good cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of pear, bread, lemon, cracker, herbal, grass, floral, light pepper, and earthy spiciness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance, but they are quite muted. Taste of lemon zest, pear, bread, cracker, herbal, floral, grass, light pepper, and earthy spiciness. Light spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pear, lemon, bread, herbal, grass, and pepper on the finish for a short bit. Nice balance of flavors, with a good malt/hop balance; a touch watered down; zero cloying flavors after the finish as expected. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a nice kolsch. Nice flavor balance and very smooth to drink. A pleasantly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 05:54:42 | More by superspak

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.03/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured chilled in ale glass

A: amazing carbonation; frantic head; beautiful dark yellow color--clear
S: almost nothing except a faint benign malt aroma
T: Very average-tasting kolsch; flavor is subdued, but a good balance between malt and hops; little bit of angry bite at the end of the swig

Overall a nondescript, benign beer

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 01:10:41 | More by Arithmeticus

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

When i poured this beer, it has a golden color body with a small head that quickly dissapeared. The smell of lemon with some malt to it, not very strong though. The taste has a faint lemon taste upfront followed by a nice peppery flavor on the back of the tongue. The mouthfeel is very nice and smooth, not to overly carbonated, over all this is a average Kolsch, but a nice and easy drinking one.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 02:20:31 | More by chefhatt

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for the tick, Chris.

A crystal clear light yellow with a dense, white head that falls off rather quickly. The nose is rather nondescript but entirely serviceable. Light doughy malt, mild lemony hops, maybe a touch of fruity yeast character? While all the right flavor notes are present, this just doesn't have the right combination. This is mirrored on the palate, where the same flavors but the same lack of definition is present, along with a faint buttery note. Light in body, crisply carbonated and dry and refreshing on the finish, this beer is nice, worthy even, but not all that it could be. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 02:28:45 | More by DefenCorps

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This beer pours a light, golden color with a 1/2 inch foamy white head. The appearance looks like an adjunct lager to me.

S: Smell gives off some lemon grass type notes on the top with a hint of honey and coriander on the back end.

T: Taste is a lot like the smell with lemon-grass at the front, with honey and coriander that follows.

M: Very light German Kolsch style beer, with lots of carbonation.

O: An enjoyable beer that is a make up of the German style Kolsch. More flavorful than a lot of summer beers I have had. Harpoon is something special out of Boston and comes out with a quality beer every time!

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 04:20:07 | More by SouljaSaia17

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Golden yellow, produced a finger of white head that receded after a few minutes to a skim, left some patchy lacing. Lots of visible carbonation.

S: Light lemon and grassy aromas mixed with some mild sweet crackey malt.

T: Bisciuty grainy pale malts, mild hop bitterness, a bit grassy and there's some light floral notes.

M: Light to medium bodied, crisp and refreshing. Goes down nicely in the sun.

O: Not a bad summer seasonal, very easy drinking and makes for a good beer to pair with hot weather and bbq.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 03:01:17 | More by Dools9

divineaudio

Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz into a stange.

a - pours a transparent golden shade with a finger's worth of coarse, off white foam. head dies down fast and leaves a thin film and a few small spots of lacing.

s - crackers, lemon, grass, faint sour apple.

t - crackery or lightly toasted malt with strong, lighter fruity notes, mainly lemon. has a peppery spiciness in the middle with a pronounced herbal bitterness at the end. finishes very dry.

m - lighter side of medium with medium carbonation. coarser co2 profile.

o - goes down easy, but i have definitely had more enjoyable examples of the style. will pass on this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 21:38:28 | More by divineaudio