Harpoon Leviathan - Imperial IPA - Harpoon Brewery

Danny1217

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at ROK:BRGR in South Miami. $4 for all beers on Mondays, so I tried the most expensive one there. Served in a pint glass.

A - Somewhat translucent amber orange with a one finger off white head. Pretty decent retention, and lots of nice lacing on the sides of the glass

S - Extremely hoppy smell. Grapefruit, lemon zest, and pine are present. Some caramel malt aroma too. The alcohol is somewhat present on the nose, which is not surprising at 10% ABV.

T/M - Fairly thick feel. Extreme hop bitterness at the front. Some thick, bready malt, grapefruit, and pine. Hops dominate. You can taste the 120 IBU that this beer supposedly has. The hop head in me likes it. Medium carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 01:40:56 | More by Danny1217

RichardMNixon

Delaware

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. draft in a pilsner glass

A: Thin white head with a clear, copper body. Clings to the glass in a wavy sheet

S: Very fruity for an ipa. Its not citrus hops, there's apricot in there, moreso than hops. Not what I was expecting but nice.

T: Hoppy ipa taste up front, sweet in the middle, leading back to the stone fruits on the back end. Aftertaste is all resiny hops.

M: Dry and light, the hops bubble around my tastebuds before settling down.

O: My first homogeneous review. It's an odd beer in the fruitiness of the nose, but it's all around solid.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2012 01:12:30 | More by RichardMNixon

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on-tap at Big City, allston MA (10/23)
review from notes.

pours a golden / orange tone while yielding a finger or so of off-white head. decent retention and lacing. nose is not as potent as i remember from numerous previous samples (bottle - 1st time having it on draft), but then again lots of heavy odors are present in the bar, picking out elements in the aroma not ideal. primarily citrus / floral hops with the suggestion of a malt backbone.

taste is good. pine, citrus hops with that balancing maltiness. a bit boozy, but tasty and flavorful. resin-y mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall i really enjoy this DIPA. one of the really good locals i too often take for granted. holds its own, no question. highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2012 01:36:11 | More by BostonHops

JohnnysBarIsIt

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had the pleasure of trying Harpoons Leaviathan Imperial IPA at the brewery up in Vermont(witch is the only place they brew it they don't brew it in boston at least not since my last visit) Anyone looking for a good tasteing, looking Imperial IPA look no further. For the 10% ABV it doesn't have as bitter or harsh a taste as others do. Strongly recommend for the IPA lover.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2011 02:06:15 | More by JohnnysBarIsIt

KarlosT

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've had this beer twice at a local upscale bar. It's very strong (~ 10% ABV), and both times it snuck up on me (my wife had to drive me home ... :o} And I only had one each time.

To be honest, the alcohol content was its strongest asset. The 2nd time I really tried to assess it on its taste, flavor, smell, etc. It has a strong hoppy bitter flavor that I really didn't find pleasant. A slight after taste that I found a bit different ... really couldn't place the taste/smell.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 01:17:36 | More by KarlosT

homebrew311

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: appears a bright clear gold, thin head, minimal retention

S: smell features sweet malty notes, larges doses of pine and earthiness along with apricot. Bicuity malt notes are present in the background.

T: starts off sweet and fruity, apricot shows up again with notes of grapefruit. Pine and earthy bitterness shine through the middle. The end is also pretty sweet. Layers of bready malts are present as well.

MF: mellow carbonation, body borders on syrupy

O: this is a unique DIPA, definitely on the malty side as far as the style goes.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2011 23:20:31 | More by homebrew311

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on-tap at Big City, allston MA (10/23)
review from notes.

pours a golden / orange tone while yielding a finger or so of off-white head. decent retention and lacing.

nose is not as potent as i remember from numerous previous tries in the bottle, but lot of heavy odors in the bar, picking out elements in the aroma not ideal. primarily citrus / floral hops with the suggestion of a malt backbone.

taste is good. pine, citrus hops with that balancing maltiness. a bit boozy, but tasty and flavorful. resin-y mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall i really enjoy this DIPA. one of the really good locals i too often take for granted. holds its own, no question.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 01:13:22 | More by perrymarcus

jealousmonk

California

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewery, also had many times in bottles and a few times on tap elsewhere. One of the beers I really miss since moving to the West Coast, and a standby when I'm back on the East.

A - Light, orangey IPA. Decent head that dissipates fairly quickly.

S - Extremely strong citrus hopes with noticeable booziness and piney notes as well. Very aromatic and enticing.

T - One of the better imperial IPAs available. Strong hops balanced by nice malts and heavy alcohol. The taste is less citrusy and more floral/piney than the aroma, and the caramel maltiness makes it more interesting than some of its competition. Far more robust than the Harpoon IPA, so if you're doing a tasting at the brewery, drink the IPA first.

M - Mild carbonation, and very dry despite the malts.

O - It is difficult for me to walk past a four pack of these in the store, and trying it fresh at the brewery was a lot of fun. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2011 02:31:55 | More by jealousmonk

DAllspaw

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

on tap at burger bar in Chicago, served in New Belgium globe, and a healthy serving at that.

Nice citrus in the nose, but really notice a floral quality that don't quite recall in other doubles.

Malty sweetness is typical of double, perhaps a slight bit sweeter than others, but not too much. Good substantial presence like all good doubles. Alcohol is not noticable.

Good carbonation and lacing throughout, will definitely seek this out, just a very solid beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2011 13:47:39 | More by DAllspaw

ryanonline

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Golden amber hues with some creamy and rocky white head. Also very clear leaving some seriously sheety lacing.

Very light scent, a little citrussy hop scent a little caramel malt. Not much yeast character, though pretty heavy alcohol scent.

The taste is mostly dominated by alcohol. There is a fairly potent grainy flavor with some grape-ish fruit notes. Light hoppy bitterness.

Mouthfeel is fairly light to medium bodied with somtging between a viscous and watery character. The finish is very dry with prickly carbination.

Moderate drinkability. Im just not a fan.

Overall, i'm not all that impressed. Halfway through and I feel I am done.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2011 02:45:26 | More by ryanonline

Durge

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Found this on tap at My Place in Newtown, CT, this DIPA has a golden amber color, clear and radiant with a fair white cover that gets wispy quick. Lacing is quite impressive. The aroma has lemony pine hops and sweet biscuit. Very pleasant. The taste buds enjoy a bit thicker pine citrus hops with a bubblegum touch. It has some evergreen and alcohol is somewhat evident but not overly dominant. A bit syrupy in feel, low carbonation and fair drinkability. A good brew worth a try for the hop lover.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 17:10:31 | More by Durge

Bobheed

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Exactly what an imperial IPA should look like, very golden, with a slight orange hue

S: Very floral, I'd say oranges and roses, kinda piny

T: Again, very floral. Tasted like drinking flowers almost.

M: This may be the biggest thing this one has going for it. Very tingly and thick for an IPA, got a lot of warmth from the alcohol in there as well.

This is such a good beer, and very close to being the perfect IPA. Very aggressive in the combination of the hops and presence of alcohol. Would love to drink more often if it was distributed to my market

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 06:28:24 | More by Bobheed

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amber orangish color with a two finger frothy head which leaves a little lace on the glass. The aroma is of sweet malts along with some piney hops and a hint of tropical fruits. The taste follows suit with a sweet malt backbone and a breadiness to it. There is a piney and citrus hop bite that starts in the middle and goes to the end. The mouthfeel is moderately carbonated. Overall it is an above average double. The flavor has more balance than some of the bigger bites in the glass. Well rounded and easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 19:33:43 | More by goblue3509

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color with a light tan head. In the aroma, gingerbread like malt and a small pine hop. In the taste, mellow pine hops and a sweet gingerbread like malt. A small hop bite and medium to light bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry alcohol and pine hop in the aftertaste. A bit boozy, a bit thin, and lacking in hops, eh!

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 19:44:35 | More by OWSLEY069

imagese

California

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Avenue Pub in New Orleans

A- hazy copper with a one finger head that faded fast. Nice lacing

S- citrus citrus citrus. Pulling the faintest nickel smell, but not unappealing at all

T- very hop forward. Citrus up front, and pine on the back. Slight alcohol taste, but very solid. Minor caramel sweetness

M- very nice. Slight stickiness, and pretty full. Bitterness hangs out for a long time

D- for 10% abv, pretty smooth. I prefer west coast IPA's, but I'd get this when I can

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2010 22:57:06 | More by imagese

OhYesILoveBeer

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Harpoon Leviathan on tap @ The Brick Store during the Hop Harvest festival served into a 11oz glass for only $4. Looks pretty good here, slightly hazy golden color, with a nice off white thin cap on top. Smells very floral, pineapple, grapefruits, and like a medicinal bubble gum scent if that makes any sense LOL! First sip smacks with the hops, possibly an extract used here. Then follows with a strong sweet pale malt presence, almost like an alcohol soaked plum taste, and an odd metallic taste on the swallow. I though this was a great deal for the ticket paid, as im usually never let down by Harpoon. Overall I'd buy this beer again no doubt, but wouldn't make a special order for it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2010 20:08:36 | More by OhYesILoveBeer

megahurts4

Louisiana

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA
On tap at The Avenue Pub (New Orleans, LA)

Appearance: Clear yellow-orange, medium head, and some good lacing.

Smell: Hops and banana.

Taste: Banana, hops, and some malts.

Mouthfeel: Medium and smooth.

Overall:
The bananas make this brew stand out. It is an unexpected ingredient for an IPA. The flavors balance well and finishes smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2010 06:56:35 | More by megahurts4

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Harpoon in VT. The chalkboard says there is 120 IBU's with a 10% ABV.

A: Pours a nice orangish yellow color with a one plus finger white foam head.

S: There is a significant amount of pine and floral hops with just a light hint of bready malt character in the background. The malt is more noticeable towards the end of the drink as the beer has warmed slightly.

T: Plenty of hop flavoring up front and throughout the tasting. Mostly pine and floral hops. The hop bitterness is mellowed a tad by the bready malt character that develops on the back end.

M: Leaves a bitter taste on the palate.

D: A higher alcohol content limits the amount of these I have in a sitting, but it a nicely balanced beer that you should try!

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2010 11:23:04 | More by IronCitySteve

afksports

New York

3.63/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was a beer I had on-tap early in my BeerQuest. 8/12/2010... so on the 2nd or 3rd day. I'm submitting this review from notes I took while drinking. Long before I learned a taste for hops balanced with maltiness. There's also some citrus in this one somewhere, and some type of other sweetness, but when I had it I gave it a B- right off, simply based on it being an IIPA.

Appearance: Copper, amber, translucent.

Smell: Hoppy like a well done IPA should.

Taste: Hops, a little malt, something sweet. But mostly hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium body.

Drinkability: I have a feeling I'd come back to this in the future because although I had an initial dislike, that would probably be tempered by the softening of my anti-IPA bias. Still, with such a high abv it can't be a repeater.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 22:24:26 | More by afksports

Stigs

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz pour at Sunset Grill, served in a tulip

A - pours with a solid finger of tight and creamy just off-white colored foam. the beer is generally clear, dark gold in color with slow creeping bubbles. thin layer of foam coats every available speck on the side of the glass. very pretty.

S - tropical fruit heavy hops...pineapple, mango, melon rinds. a bit of cinnamon and allspice sits atop a pugent caramel malt bed.

T - incredibly heavy on the fruits...melons, pineapple, apples, grapes and peaches...finishes with a taste very much resembling Juicy Fruit gum. substantial sweet malts underneath, light toffee and spice, and a tiny bit of herbal thyme or basil. interesting to say the least.

M - very thick, almost clumsy body. carbonation is moderate, but tight and lively. finishes oily and coats the mouth, with lingering fruity bitterness.

D - its charm is in its uniqueness. having not been a fan of Harpoon's regular IPA, this one has more to offer. though the flavor isnt exactly my cup of tea, its a nice representation of what hop varieties and malts are capable of. very unique, and overall a quality beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2010 21:22:46 | More by Stigs

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Bright amber in color. Quite transparent. Off-white head forms and retains very well. Leaves bits of lacing as well. The bubbles are pretty mellow as they rise to the head.

S-Candied citric frutiness. Fragrant floral hops and a dense malty base. A bit perfumey.

T-A big, fresh burst of citrusy fruits. A bunch of tropical fruit too. Decently bitter. This one tastes fresh, and thanks to thei 'Best Before' date, I can tell it is quite fresh. The bitterness lingers. Malt is there but not the highlight of the flavor. An assertive flavor. Brash on the palate.

M- Heavier body. Well carbonated but still pretty dry. Slight resinous quality.

D-I could polish off a couple of these and be a happy guy. A four pack is perfect. I am impressed by Harpoon's desire to go big on their Imperial IPA. Better than expected, and can hold its own with the other readily available bottled New England DIPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2010 05:22:26 | More by VelvetExtract

BeerisfoodLLC

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap into a pint glass:

A - Deep amber color, light head but laces nicely.

S - Floral and fruity notes.

T - Well balanced. Solid malt backbone blends well with the hoppiness. Tastes like it smells.

M - Heavy bodied, good carbonation.

D - Really enjoyed this. Smooth for the style, alcohol was not overwhelming.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2010 21:24:36 | More by BeerisfoodLLC

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this was great! Best Harpoon I've had so far. It was served with good off white head and lace. Color was a clear medium copper amber. Aroma was big malt hop caramel toffee bread dough. Flavor was all of that but writ large. Great body and carbonation. Finish was like flavor and medium in length. Even with its strength, I reordered several. Went very well with grilled sausage, sauerkraut, and soft pretzels & mustard.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2010 18:51:45 | More by drpimento

jtrem14

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A hazy bright golden amber color is topped off with a fluffy thick head. The retention is great.

It smells of alchohol very strong on the front, and then finishes to nice citrus notes that you would expect from an IPA. the floral smell of hops is present throughout as well.

Very sweet, but still retains the citrus and hoppy flavors one would expect from an IPA. The hops even cut through the sweetness that you get up front, and emphasizes the nice crisp flavor.

It feels silky and smooth in the mouth, almost syrup-like. But it still has a good amount of crispness.

The alcohol content may be high, but with the good balance of sweetness and hop flavors, it is almost completely masked and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 12:40:00 | More by jtrem14

sae249833

West Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The high alcohol content made this an excellent beer to start off with. Not as much flowery aroma as other IPAs but that is one thing I liked about it.

Coming from a person who generally doesn't appreciate IPAs as much as other styles this was a particularly pleasing beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2010 17:59:08 | More by sae249833