Harpoon Leviathan - Baltic Porter - Harpoon Brewery

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pour is a deep black with hints of ruby and purple. 1/2 finger of brown head fading quickly.

Nose is ripe with dried fruit, plum, raisin. Lots of gummy sweetness.

Taste starts with similar dark, dry fruit flavors, largely dried fig and raisin. Follows by a rich, roasty maltiness, with some hints of coffee and dark chocolate.

Feel is medium thick, perfect for the style.

Really good and robust flavors, they try to complement each other but end up clashing a bit. Still delightful to drink though.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 23:59:03 | More by dheacck11

schwemjw

Ohio

4.04/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: dark, amber around the edges. A finger of soft white head.
S: funky. Almost like a Belgian with dark plum and raise. Big yeast and biscuit quality. Small amount of roast and a milk chocolate.
T: wonderful dark fruit, plum and fig. Some chocolate in the middle with a little coffee bitterness on the end. Brown sugar undertones with a little biscuit quality.
M:Smooth! Not much carbination but it definitely feels light on the palate.
O: a nice Baltic porter. Fruity, funky, yeasty and flavorful. Not quite as much coffee as I'd like but I will definitely pick this up again!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:52:05 | More by schwemjw

linnymtu

Michigan

3.86/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- dark amber brown with a thin tan head. Much lighter than other porters.
S- nothing to report here. Couldn't really pick up anything destinct.
T- I've never had a Baltic porter before, and expected a "porter" and this was anything but. However, that is not a bad thing. Tastes like a strong ale and goes down smooth. Has a sweet touch to start and it lasts the whole way, also a good thing.
M- about an average carb level, the flavor definitely fills your mouth

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 00:53:55 | More by linnymtu

JStans12

New York

3.84/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours a deep dark brown/black with a small head that dissipates quickly.

S - The nose is full of dark plum fruit with some roasty malt notes in the background.

T - Rich chocolate and dark fruit are most prominent. Some boozy notes and a burnt and slightly hoppy bitterness in the finish.

M - Full bodied and very lightly carbonated. Plenty of alcohol warmth.

O - Very different than most porters I have experienced. Fruitier and richer. The richness of this beer can not be overstated. Overall enjoyable, but not mind blowing.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 02:16:09 | More by JStans12

rlee1390

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Clear amber when pouring , black in the glass, one finger off white head.

S-Roasted malt, slight coffee, burnt notes, leather, oak and smoke.

T-Very roasty, burnt, some with leathery notes. Like a smoked porter almost. Alcohol is not noticeable. Chocolate. As it warms alcohol heat becomes more present

M-Lighter than I was expecting, slight carbonation and creamy.

O-A vast improvement over other beers in the series. The high alcohol isn't entirely noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 01:34:11 | More by rlee1390

shand

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I pulled this guy out of my cellar because I noticed the cap was crimped oddly - probably meant nothing, but to be on the safe side, better drink it ASAP. Harpoon Baltic Porter pours black with a tiny, bone-white head. The aroma is robust, with roasted malts and dark fruits taking the forefront. The roasted malts border on burnt. The first sip is smoother than expected, with a very nicely rounded body. The dark fruits come though stronger, along with a smooth chocolate flavor that tempers the roast. The mouthfeel is thick and velvety, and the drinkability is very good. Overall, this is a very good Baltic Porter, especially for how cheap the Leviathan series is. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:54:09 | More by shand

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a velvety black color with a half inch light tan head. Light lacing on glass as you drink it down.

S: Slightly ashy with robust burnt and deeply roasted barley aroma. A touch of bitter chocolate, licorice, and dried fruit esters. Small earthy, piney hops for balance.

T: Rich, dark roasted and burnt malt flavors rule this beer and you get a noticeable licorice flavor that suits this beer well. Spme very dark chocolate and the hop additions add to the bitterness that is in the finish of this beer. Some ripe plum notes and dark fruity esters come through too.

M: Medium to full body this beer is and a noticeable alcohol warmth comes through as well.

O: A very warming beer with a rich flavor and ample strength to warm the soul and please the palate at the same time. One of the nicest, well produced beers in the Leviathan series I have tasted so far. It really can call for a second or third round and still be interesting and fulfilling!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 22:33:07 | More by scottbrew4u

kangarooAdam59

Maine

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

Into a nonic:

A: dark brown/black body, a one finger white head appeared and lasted for about a half minute before dieing to a film on top of the body. Some spider web lacing lasted for about several seconds before sliding into the body.

S: roasted malts and dark fruits up front and combined nicely. Some dark chocolate enters in as the beer warms.

T: sweet and smoky in a rich sort of feel, perhaps due to the chocolate that comes out more so in the taste.

M: medium and leads to a decent sipper due to the ABV level, so not exactly drinkable

O: this is a good beer. Hey this time of the year, what does one expect, every beer this time of year should be warming and a good sipper. Good job, Harpoon, you hit the nail on the head for this one!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 02:47:00 | More by kangarooAdam59

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

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

Poured from 12oz bottle into crooked stave tulip. Pours a deep brown with a slight deep amber hue. Slightly off white thin head.
Slightly sweet licorice and scotch aromas. Taste is slight sweet sugar and roasted malts, some scotch flavor, chocolate, slightly bitter...Easy to drink, nice flavor, robust yet crisp...nice all around brew. Worth it...get one, especially for the price.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 01:25:06 | More by DrinkSlurm

GallowsThief

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of a 12 oz bottle into my tulip.

A – Poured out a nice coca-cola brown with half finger of light tan head that settled quickly with not much retention. No real lacing to speak of.

S – Fairly light aroma with hints of roasted malts, dark chocolate and dark fruit.

T – Rolls out with a light smoky flavor. Very tasty rich chocolate and malt flavors follow. Touch of coffee, molasses and toffee. Creamy like taste as well, reminds me of the fluff you put on sandwiches. Finishes with a bite of alcohol and a bit of burnt woodiness.

M – Creamy all the way. Nice solid carbonation. Very good on the palate.

O – After a light aroma I was worried about this however the flavor profiles is fantastic. It’s a ton of flavors packed into this beer. All mix together well. Extremely tasty brew here and I am looking forward to more. Would love to get this on tap.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 00:40:52 | More by GallowsThief

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Shocked by this beer's color. When held up to a light source, you can see right through it without much strain. I would expect a double-digit ABV Porter to be pretty damn black. This isn't black at all; its brown. Well, the head is khaki colored and thin. Frothed milkshake consistency. Very light lacing.

S-Smoky and burnt. Burnt coffee grounds. Bitter baker's chocolate. Well-fruited. Dark fruit, but also even some red fruit too. I'm kinda getting some raspberries dipped in chocolate on the nose here. A bit of anise/black licorice too. Mostly burnt and roasted, but when I strain my senses, I can definitely detect some ripe red fruitiness in there too.

T-Ashy and burnt at first. Raisin, fig, dates and even prune. A tiny push of red berry. Roasted overall flavor. Who burnt the brownies? Charred chocolate. I love how this brew expresses fruit and shuns that 'chalky' taste that I often come across when reviewing this beer style. Also a bit spicy…any peppers involved here?

M-Great Porter feel. Smooth and creamy. Fuller on the body. Carbonation is very soft. Bubbles are plush and round; no sharpness. Almost no sting from the booze.

O/D-Really cool. Harpoon's Leviathan series has been incredibly erratic for me. This beer and their DIPA are awesome. The other handful of Leviathans I have tried were, for the most part, pretty gross. This one's a gem. On the opposite side of the spectrum as a 'Victory At Sea' from Ballast Point in terms of Imperial Porters. Sometimes I can really get sidetracked so: this beer is pretty awesome.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 22:11:22 | More by VelvetExtract

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, poured into my Brooklyn Brewery tulip.

Harpoon's Baltic Porter pours jet black, with two fingers of foam that manage to rise up enough to spill out of my glass. Head retention is good, and the lacing left behind coats the glass so thoroughly that at first glance I couldn't tell if it was lacing or if the head just hadn't receded. The nose features roasty dark chocolate heavily, with a little bit of a biscuit character also appreciable. The flavor adds in a bit of raisin sweetness at the open, which plays nicely off the bittersweet chocolate that comes in for the second half of each sip. The body is a little more chewy than I usually find in a Baltic Porter, but it's not bad, especially given that it's matched with a carbonation that has just a bit more kick to it as well. Overall, Harpoon Balic Porter is a solid entry in the Leviathan Series. It's not a beer I'd actively seek out, but I wouldn't mind finding it in my glass again either.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:54:37 | More by axeman9182

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage

A: Pours a deep mahogany color with 2 fingers worth of tan head

S: Get some definite lager yeast, along with toasty and roasty malts, dark fruits, molasses, and a hint of earthy hops

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the yeast going along with the malts, which are chocolatey and lightly roasted. Goes into some dark fruits and molasses. All the while, it is quite earthy, most likely due to the hops and toastiness of the malts

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Fairly smooth

O: A solid baltic porter with a nice bit of complexity and warmth. A good sipper for the cold winter nights ahead

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 05:43:23 | More by BEERMILER12

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, late 2012 Vintage. Served at around 50F.

Pours thin dark brown with red highlights and a two finger light brown head that leaves a little lacing and recedes to a wispy, foamy cap.

Aroma is grainy, earthy, dusty, underlying notes of cocoa powder and hints of dark fruit. Good to very good strength (but not that enjoyable).

Flavor is dark fruits, cherries, figs, dates, raisins, molasses, some chocolate, a tinge tart, pretty sweet, some alcohol but not bad for 9.5%. Much bigger and better flavor than aroma.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, very sticky, moderate carbonation.

Well, I love Baltic Porters and I’ve been looking for this one for years. Very excited to see it come in my store last month. Pretty good, but still a little disappointing, particularly the odd grainy aroma that doesn’t match the flavor at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 06:15:06 | More by elgiacomo

lovindahops

New York

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at j ryans. Harpoon leviathan series are really some great brews so I figured this is worth the try

A- a dark molasses body that begins completely foamy and recides giving lacing scrambled on the edges. A very opaque cola body that's so dark you can't tell what's going on

S- cocoa nibs and black coffee lead way to a sweet molasses scent with even some dark fruit chiming in. While its not overpowering, it's certainly there

T- A strong brown sugar presence covers the cocoa nib flavor as the backbone of the brew. The coffee scent now couples with a sugar and theme content exhibiting a good solid taste profile. Very bitter on the exit which really rounds off the brew as complex and enjoyable. It's got some alcohol on it

M- creamy and carbonated

O- while Baltic porter did not come out swinging, but the tasting, I found I stumbled on an awesome brew! Excellent properties between the sweet flavors and bitter finish made for an excellent treat. Highly recommended and I'll be looking for a four pack of this! Great job harpoon!

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 22:46:56 | More by lovindahops

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A great shade of pitch black with a 1/2 inch of sticky opaque colored head. The head doesn't seem to want to break to just a rim.

S - Cocoa and roasted malts. I am even getting some bakers chocolate. Doesn't smell very chalky or any notable abv, so awesome.

T - Well there is the respectable porter chalkiness and a touch of roast. I like the sweetness in this it keeps it from getting too chalky or roasty. The chocolate gives it a great flavor.

M - Medium bodied and chewy. It drinks better than most Baltic porters and is very creamy.

Overall it was worth the 4 dollar price tag. These beers always impress me and I would recommend this to any stout or porter lover

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 02:54:44 | More by DrDemento456

Dope

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Fresh batch from 2012.

A: Pours a dark brown with a slight reddish tinge. Big fluffy light brown head. Fades super slowly, leaving an almost solid wall of lacing behind. Excellent retention.

S: Creamy roasted malt. Some smoke in there. Just a touch of chocolate.

T: Lots of chocolate, char and smoke up front with just a hint of dark fruits. Some mild molasses in the middle with more smoke. Bitter chocolate in the middle and in the finish. Smoky lingering aftertaste with a touch of burnt toast.

M: Medium bodied, creamy and smooth.

O: Decent baltic porter. Nice and creamy with decent roasted malt aspects. Smoky for the style which I am not a huge fan of but it's not overpowering at least. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 06:32:27 | More by Dope

Papabear55

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Very dark brown. Nice khaki colored head with decent lacing stuck around for a good amount of time.

S- Notes of coffee, raisin, burnt malt and a little bit of pine on the end maybe? It's hard to tell.

T- Black coffee with a hint of chocolate at the beginning. Dark fruit and malts throughout the middle of the palate with a bit of a bitterness on the back end.

M- Not boozy for the abv of this beer. its a bit oily and coats your tongue nicely. Medium mouthfeel I would say.

O- Nice beer coming from Harpoon.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 03:59:58 | More by Papabear55

Thickfreakness

New York

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours the darkest shade of brown I've ever seen! Just little hints cola color shine thru when held to the light. Nice thick kahki head that really hangs on and lingers. Nice sticky lacing that clings and hangs on tightly.

S- Cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, dense notes of coffee, dried fruits (fig/cherries/raisin), charred wood and malt. Nice bitter citrus fruits really come thru at the end.

T- Chocolate covered orange slices. Nice rich black coffee, hints of pine, roasted nuts, charred wood, raisins and various dried fruit. I like how the chocolate goes from syrup to dry cocoa powder when it rolls down your tongue.

M- Kinda slick and oily without being over done. It glides down your throat and wraps the tongue nicely. No real sence of the alcohol. I like how dry it is.

O- This is a great Baltic Porter! Dry, citrusy, cocoa, raisins, charred malt. I can't wait to have this again!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 22:59:14 | More by Thickfreakness

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The 2012 four pack edition, poured into a Harpoon 100 Barrel stemmed glass. Nice surge of carbonation on the side of the glass forms a nice brown head atop a dark brown body. Moderate lacing noticed. Smell was metallic; very reminiscent of the oyster stout they made a while back. Taste was good. I liked the flavors of rum, molasses, raisins, and chocolate. It had a pretty good mouthfeel, but could have been a real winner if it was a bit thicker. Not bad, but not an all star. I have another 4 pack in the basement to age, to see what 6 months or 1 year does to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 15:50:56 | More by morebeergood

avalon07

South Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a dark brown color and a cloudy consistency. There was an inch and a half of creamy, off white, fairly long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: Not a huge aroma, but some hints of chocolate, malt, and dark fruit.

T: Tasted of dark chocolate, a little hops, roasted malt, raisins, and a slight burnt quality. Oddly, all these ingredients don't add up to much. It simply tasted like a halfway constructed beer.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: I'm kind of surprised by the high ratings for this beer. It seems like one of those beers that could have better than it was.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 12:08:11 | More by avalon07

metter98

New York

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is close to jet black in color. It poured with a thin tan head that quickly died down, leaving some lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of dark malts and licorice in the nose.
T: The taste isn’t that complex and has flavors of dark malts and notes of chocolate with hints of licorice.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and a bit thin for the style with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather easy to drink compared to other beers in the style because it’s a little lighter in body and you can’t taste any of the alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 23:35:49 | More by metter98

womencantsail

California

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown in color with a short lived off-white head. Nice nose on this. Dark chocolate and fruit give a pleasant balanced sweetness. A bit of roasted malt and a touch of spice. The flavor offers a nice chocolate character and a touch of roast. Dark fruits, especially raisins and plums, and a touch of spice. Just a touch of roast to give some bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 20:54:48 | More by womencantsail

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a nice deep brown color with a thin tan head on top. The smell of roasted malts and hints of chocolate on the nose. The taste of the beer was also full of rich roasted flavors and a good bitter dark finish. The mouthfeel wasn't too bad but it could have been just a little thicker I think. Overall this wasn't a bad Baltic but there are better out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 03:07:53 | More by Knapp85

mostpoetsdo

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

'09 vintage, 12/11.

A: Dark brown, close to black, but little transparency. A quarter inch tan head, a couple blotches of lacing.

S: Toasty oatmeal, vibrant grains, smoke, bacon, pepper.

T: A lot of roasted malt, good barley taste, bittersweet chocolate, charred animal flesh of the pork variety; pretty robust flavors: tobacco, cracked black pepper; but subtle sweetness: molasses, brown sugar, sugar cane.

M: Medium body and carbonation on the lower end. ABV well masked.

O/D: While the alcohol has mellowed, it's gained more smokey/roasty characteristics. It's a fairly different beer, and hard to judge if better or not. In it's current stage, I only wish I could have more.


A: Awesomely opaque brown. Great big tan head that stays for a while. Great lacing. (4.5)

S: Nice and dark, malty, little chocolaty. (3.5)

T: Very good. A lot more flavorful than the smell would lead you on. Nice malt and little chocolate flavor. The alcohol is definitely prevalent. Masked okay, but nice and warm going down. (4.5)

M: Lightly carbonated, good medium to full body. (4)

D: Pretty high for a boozy beer. But, at $10 a 4 pack, something you'll want to savor more. (4)

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 00:49:45 | More by mostpoetsdo