Harpoon Crystal Wheat - Harpoon Brewery

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz standard brown Harpoon bottle from the "Vacation" 12 pack. Pours out a light yellow with a small head that doesn't really last. Lots of small bubbles make their way to the top but can't hold. The smell reminds me of Lemon Alka Seltzer. Lemon rind, a bit of wheat and some dish soap notes.
In the taste the wheat starts to take over. The lemon is there but mixed well with the tart/sour wheat. The ending is more of the same with a slight bitterness that rounds this out. The lemon seems a bit "fake". If this was more natural, this beer would be a knock out!

A solid summer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2009 20:17:39 | More by CharlesRiver

cnwillis31

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +39.3%

04-23-2013 21:43:11 | More by cnwillis31

Davepoolesque

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev +0.6%

08-26-2012 19:25:22 | More by Davepoolesque

Chou

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

04-17-2012 04:54:12 | More by Chou

guezarka

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -22.6%

03-24-2012 04:14:02 | More by guezarka

brandonasplundh

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

03-03-2012 21:21:38 | More by brandonasplundh

HamGlade10

Oklahoma

3/5  rDev -7.1%

02-27-2012 15:28:00 | More by HamGlade10

rusty3335

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -22.6%

02-08-2012 00:30:16 | More by rusty3335

mbs11

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -7.1%

01-14-2012 00:51:09 | More by mbs11

BigCheese

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

01-06-2012 18:34:38 | More by BigCheese

dowen44

Georgia

4/5  rDev +23.8%

12-05-2011 21:53:26 | More by dowen44

tclapper

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +23.8%

12-05-2011 02:18:13 | More by tclapper

tzieser

Arizona

3/5  rDev -7.1%

11-19-2011 19:20:38 | More by tzieser

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +23.8%

11-18-2011 20:28:42 | More by waiting4lunch

mafeeker

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Nice clear golden with a white head that fades quickly

S: light lemony malty with grass

T: lemon flavor stays throughout, finishes very smooth, very slight hop flavor

D: Very drinkable beer, nice lemon flavor that makes it very refreshing. A great summer/lawnmower beer without a doubt.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 00:10:38 | More by mafeeker

Arenbeer

Connecticut

2.68/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Real light, clear as day yellow body with a seriously fluffy 2 finger bright white head.

S- Smells like lemon dish soap. Not to much wheat, just citrus and corny malts.

T- Pale corny malts with a strong citrus lemon flavor. This beer tastes like someone put lemon juice in Budweiser.

M- Light body with moderate carbonation and a wet finish.

Overall pretty dissapointed. Normally Harpoon is worth raving about but this brew should have never been made IMO.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 22:35:22 | More by Arenbeer

generallee

New York

2.9/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a pint glass. The bottle has a "Best By" date of 09/15/10 printed on the bottle and a very short description on the neck label. There is no noticeable ABV%.

Appearance: It has an uber effervescent pale yellow body. It has great clarity and the aggressive carbonation supports a tall bright white head of smooth creamy foam. Lacing is thick and splotchy.

Smell: The aroma has loads of citrus and wheat popping right out of the bottle as I popped the cap. The citrus is a mix of lemon grass, lemon oil, lemon candy and lemon scented dish soap.

Taste/Palate: There is a light wheat and cereal grain base with loads of lemony citrus character. This citrusy character matches its aroma. There is a brief hint of sweetness before it all goes dry and slightly sour. I am also just picking up the very slightest hint of hops in the finish. Its body has a light feel with lots of lively carbonation that made me burp like I was drinking soda pop.

Notes: I really was not expecting this beer. The flavor was just off to me and I didn't really care for it.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 04:00:43 | More by generallee

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

3.35/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Got a sixer of this from the Windsor brewery. Cold 12oz bottle poured heavily into a weizen glass.

This bright yellow brew is crystal clear with abundant carbonation and generated about 1" of foamy eggshell head with decent retention. Smell is of lemon, ginger, semi-sweet... like a cross between ginger ale and lemonade. The carbonation is quite rigorous and a bit abrasive, but this gives it a crisp clean feel. Taste is very similar to the smell. Overall I think it's a decent beer, suitable as a chuggable summertime brew. The semi-sweet body should appeal to a wide audience (ex. beer noobs). Especially a good choice for sharing with anyone who doesn't like hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 22:56:43 | More by BeerNinja007

CHickman

New York

3.7/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours hazy gold in color with a 1 finger white head that faded quickly; lame lacing that slides down the glass pretty fast.

Smells of yeast, lemon, spices, coriander, light grains and grass or hay; nice summer aroma that has an overall citrus aroma.

Tastes of lemon (very zesty lemon), faint orange peel, wheat, funky yeast, spices like light pepper, coriander, light grains, grass, hay and some malt, which leaves a tart and almost bitter finish. Middle of the road taste.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp and refreshing, with very high carbonation like champagne, and an almost watery feel that is very light and airy.

Very refreshing and easy to drink, this is a great summer beer that went down like iced tea!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 03:45:01 | More by CHickman

jal30

Massachusetts

2.35/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I was excited to try this beer since it is only available on tap and in their summer seasonal mixed 12-pack. Needless to say (from looking at the scores I gave it) I was very disappointed. I probably should have had lower expectations, which is my own fault--I like big cloudy hefes and wits, not filtered American pale wheats. But even as that genre goes, this was really not much of a beer. The one thing I can say for it is I wouldn't mind getting drunk on the beach with a bunch of these--although you can't even do that because they don't sell sixers of them, but they should probably keep it that way. Tasted like Rolling Rock with the slightest hint of wheatiness. Really nothing to the nose or the palate. I keep trying to love Harpoon, being from the Boston area, but it just won't click for me. They make a solid IPA which is of course their bread and butter, and I quite liked their belgian pale ale, but that's about it for me...I've had their hefe, wit, summer beer, etc. and all of have been sort of whatever. Bland and not interesting. This one is definitely the worst of the bunch.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 17:37:38 | More by jal30

Brad007

Vermont

3.63/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light golden color with a white one-finger head into my glass. Good color and presentation here.

Aroma is full of a strong dose of clove upfront with just a hint of citrus present.

Taste is much of the same but with a crisp feel to it. Wheat and citrus mingle. Easy to drink.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering wheat and citrus notes. Finishes quite clean.

A tasty, simple ale for the summer. No-frills and very quenchable. I'd take it over a simple lager for a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 01:10:43 | More by Brad007

mikesgroove

South Carolina

2.78/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another new one for me, we brought a bunch over to the fourth of July cookout. Served cold and poured
into a nice tasting glass, this one was consumed on 07/04/2010.

Found this one in the fridge when I went in for a soda, lol. Really light pour almost clear with loads
of carbonation coming up through the glass that tops off into a head of pure white. Settling down it
leaves a broken crown that quickly leaves itself bare.

Aroma is light, almost sprite like with tones of lime and lemon grass coming through the air. As I
take the first sip I am really taken back with the lack of flavor and depth. Not that I was expecting
a ton, but there was a serious lack of it on here. Lemon grass,, light wheat and not much else. Very,
very light and completely session able though.

Overall a rather odd, and uninteresting beer. It was not terrible, it was as drinkable as water, just
was not looking for that level of lightness at the time. Oh well, still decent.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2010 23:25:55 | More by mikesgroove

DrewKid4

New Hampshire

3.3/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Served: bottle to 16 oz tall glass. Happened to eat an orange before hand.

A: Clear golden straw color with initial half finger white head that fizzles out quickly. Small amount of carbonation.

S: Wheat and citrus. Smells rather sweet.

T: Lemon and bubblegum. Does not taste bad at all.

M: The initial decent tastes dissipates quickly to reveal more of a soda/seltzer taste. Hardly tastes like a beer after a few seconds and definitely not a wheat from a respected brewery.

D: One and done.

A good beer for hot weather, as it is marketed in the Harpoon summer seasonal pack. Not good for wheat lovers or most beer lovers.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 01:14:20 | More by DrewKid4

Spineypanda

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden color with a nice little head that last about 5 minutes. Not much lacing.
Smell is lemony. Complete lemon with a tad bit of beer smell.
I would almost wonder if the lemon is added to cover a mistake. A Crystal Wheat is something that seems difficult to retain the good flavor from the wheat.
Nonetheless the lemony flavor and aroma is not a bad thing, and this beer would be great for a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 00:43:48 | More by Spineypanda

Swalden28

Texas

3/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear gold with white fizzy head. Aroma of lemon peel, lemon grass, faint wheat, faint bubble gum. Flavor is very much the same. Mouth feel is light and watery with very high fizzy carbonation. Overall, it's a decent, refreshing summer beer. Has more then just a hint of lemon.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2010 22:39:55 | More by Swalden28