Harpoon Leviathan - Barleywine Style Ale - Harpoon Brewery

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Harpoon's Leviathan series take on an English-style Barleywine begins with just about as sugary a nose as you could expect from this style, filled with berries (especially strawberry), banana, pear, and effervescent white grape. Brown sugar and a biscuit malt backing provide a counters, and hops supply a fresh citrus grapefruit spritzer backing.

On the tongue, the beer begins immediately sweet, the strawberry, banana, and pear notes translating perfectly to the tongue, almost bubble gum sweet in their fruit esters, and dominate the flavor profile for most of the mouthful. These are joined in lesser amounts by vanilla and pepper. Towards the end of the mouthful, as the sugars die off, the malts come into stronger play, bringing toasted grain and nut flavors, joined strongly by the 65 IBUs and their grapefruit/pine goodness, which have so far been mostly subsumed beneath the massive sugars (which tells you a lot about the sugar levels). The aftertaste is mainly hops, and lasts for a while. Mouthfeel is a thick medium to medium-heavy, and carbonation is also medium to medium-heavy.

Overall, this is a good Barleywine, though I feel that the carbonation is a bit excessive, the sugars are slightly heavy, and the hops overly dominate the end of the mouthful. The beer doesn't--at least for me--match up to the excellent levels of Harpoon's other Leviathan beers. Don't get me wrong: this is still a good beer, but of the Leviathan beers that I've tried (which is all but one of them), this is towards the bottom of the rankings.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 02:22:14 | More by jondeelee

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

04-27-2013 09:44:10 | More by Kelp

alex_hart

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

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

scmoore81

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

BGsWo22

New York

1.25/5  rDev -67.1%

03-20-2013 23:18:41 | More by BGsWo22

SABERG

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
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 +5.3%

03-10-2013 23:39:57 | More by spycow

nzerbe

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

03-06-2013 02:04:37 | More by nzerbe

Seaba

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -21.1%

02-28-2013 19:17:58 | More by Seaba

zimm421

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

02-24-2013 23:39:27 | More by zimm421

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

VALIS666

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.3%

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

BugTownPub

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

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

Beermaine

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

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

GrindFatherBob

New York

2.75/5  rDev -27.6%

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

aorloski

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

nafredet1

Vermont

3/5  rDev -21.1%

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

DMB

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%

12-29-2012 19:36:18 | More by DMB

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

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

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
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 +18.4%

12-07-2012 23:15:03 | More by MSR129

MinnTwins

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

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

ferrettman687

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

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

gnuguy

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

11-10-2012 03:24:41 | More by gnuguy