Harpoon Leviathan - Barleywine Style Ale - Harpoon Brewery

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a 4-pack of 12oz bottles today at the Lebanon Co-Op grocery for $9.99. Code 316 on the bottle. Served cold in a chilled tulip.

Crystal clear strawberry red brew gives 1.5" of bubbly frothy light tan head and exhibits abundant carbonation in the glass. The head leaves some thick creamy webs of lace behind as it settles.

The smell is sweet and candy-like, thick with volatile fruity elements... cherry, strawberry, bubblegum. Some piney hop also comes out to play. A bit solventy/ medicinal, but not offensive.

The taste is very hot and solvent-like. Big bite of pepper and turpentine right up front with some bitter hop to emphasize it. Fairly sweet but not nearly enough to cover all that up. Some fruity esters come through mid-palate but are pretty well swamped by turpentine. Yesh. I'm gonna to set this aside to warm up, a lot.

~~~Intermission~~~~

Nose is spicier, like hot cinnamon, with some smooth tropical things going on, and some pine hop. Taste has a bit of candy sweetness with bits of berries and a hint of vanilla, then a somewhat more rounded and palatable dose of the burning pepperspice-n-hop described above, which is still pretty overwhelming. Like strawberry cotton candy cough syrup.

Finishes with some hop lingering back by the tonsils and raw alcohol fumes lingering everywhere. Feel is moderately thin, especially light for the style, and astringent throughout despite it having a little sweetness.

I liked it a lot better from the growler. I'd really like to see what it's like out of a cask, maybe that would mellow it out a lot.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 07:08:29 | More by BeerNinja007

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-08-2013 00:51:51 | More by cadaugherty

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-27-2013 09:44:10 | More by Kelp

alex_hart

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

04-20-2013 16:15:35 | More by alex_hart

scmoore81

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-19-2013 02:20:03 | More by scmoore81

BGsWo22

New York

1.25/5  rDev -67%

03-20-2013 23:18:41 | More by BGsWo22

SABERG

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011 dated, poured into modified tulip.

A - Deep copper, slow carbonation (maybe to cold) great lacing.

S - Toffee, cinamon, fig, hint of vanilla. warm bread also.

T - Toast, vanilla, some light spice. This has mellowed some, muted alcohol , hints of dried fruit.

M - Soft and luscious, long finish with an even coating.

O - What a nicely done offering from Harpoon. I sincerely hope they continue making this.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:09:39 | More by SABERG

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-10-2013 23:39:57 | More by spycow

nzerbe

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

03-06-2013 02:04:37 | More by nzerbe

Seaba

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.8%

02-28-2013 19:17:58 | More by Seaba

zimm421

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

02-24-2013 23:39:27 | More by zimm421

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

02-21-2013 03:23:32 | More by DrinkSlurm

VALIS666

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-12-2013 23:16:52 | More by VALIS666

BugTownPub

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

02-06-2013 04:03:17 | More by BugTownPub

Beermaine

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

01-27-2013 00:12:18 | More by Beermaine

GrindFatherBob

New York

2.75/5  rDev -27.4%

01-24-2013 13:24:46 | More by GrindFatherBob

aorloski

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-18-2013 18:59:38 | More by aorloski

nafredet1

Vermont

3/5  rDev -20.8%

01-02-2013 17:43:46 | More by nafredet1

DMB

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%

12-29-2012 19:36:18 | More by DMB

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

12-15-2012 15:38:58 | More by skaboom420

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color, with a thin off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains brown sugar, caramelized malts, fruit and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste starts with flavors of fruit, caramel and brown sugar. Then a strong but not over-powering hops presence comes in followed by a hearty malt character to create a good balance. There’s a mild alcohol sting. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, although there are better alternatives in the style, this is a solid stronger beer to drink for a while.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:50:45 | More by TheManiacalOne

MSR129

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

12-07-2012 23:15:03 | More by MSR129

MinnTwins

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

11-26-2012 03:00:41 | More by MinnTwins

ferrettman687

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

11-25-2012 06:20:56 | More by ferrettman687

gnuguy

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

11-10-2012 03:24:41 | More by gnuguy