Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #35 - Catamount Maple Wheat - Harpoon Brewery

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear dark yellowish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high beige head that died down and left a thick ring of bubbles on the surface around the edge of the glass.
S: The smell isn’t very strong and has aromas of sweet maple syrup and wheat.
T: The overall taste has notes of maple syrup in the flavors, which are slightly stronger compared to those in the smell, but still not very prominent. The maple syrup is most noticeable in the finish and contributes some hints of sweetness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish is somewhat sticky.
O: The beer is an interesting take on the style due to the subtle hints of maple syrup in the aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 04:50:37 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap 2/22/2011 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a Harpoon 100 BBL Series large tulip glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, wheat, maple, some fruit and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out bready with flavors of wheat and a hearty malt character. Then some mildly sweet flavors of caramel, maple and some fruit come in. The hops presence is mild and complementary bringing a little bit of balance.

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

D: A little tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style while adding a slightly odd but well-done twist, solid beer to drink for the style if you're looking for a something just a bit different in a wheat beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 18:37:53 | More by TheManiacalOne

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

New shiny neck label for their 100 barrel series this is the first one I've seen around in my area for awhile. I got excited when I saw this and Long Trail coffee stout side by side for reasonable prices. This one a clear amber body with a fine off white tan cream head with fine speckled lacing. Aroma has light pale wheat with hints of caramel, and an air of fresh maple syrup...look this is a smell taste texture I'm all too familiar with. Real maple syrupy takes like 52 gallons of sap to boil down to one gallon of syrup. I used to work with a retired doctor in Northern West Virginia where I collected sap everyday after school. This stuff we boil down at his sugar shack and would package up in mason jars was simply amazing, it would go well over ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or any untraditional use of maple syrup you can find. This flavor hits me with a touch of true maple syrup amongst the the pale wheat malts used but nothing comes close to the actual maple syrup flavor I'm familiar with. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied heaviliy cabonated nothing cloying just I wish there were true hints of maple syrup. Overall drinkability was solid something I couldn't picture myself drinking on a regular basis but it was a decent big beer for Harpoon's 100 barrel series.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 22:09:56 | More by WVbeergeek

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a three finger cream head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Crystal clear amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Hint of a maple nose. Flavor maple syrup is up front, no cloying, minimal wheat, slightly better than 100 barrel series #26. $5.99 for a 22oz bottle from Market Basket Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 23:24:47 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz brown bomber with a best by freshness date on the bottle.

Clear brass colored brew, impressive head stacks high with a decent retention as well. Hint of maple, faint butter, toasted grain and an even more faint grassiness in the nose. Big on smoothness with a creamy medium body. Maple flavor goes up against the buttery tone of the yeast and maltiness to make for a pretty sweet beer. Modest hopping alcohol warming alcohol don't do much to balance. Some apple and pear fruitiness in the back, sweet lingers for a while.

A half decent beer to pair with sweets and definitely to share as one bomber if too much to be had.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 02:18:08 | More by Jason

mdfb79

New York

3.38/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From 03/25/11 notes. Thanks to nmann 08 for sharing this one.

a - Pours an amber color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of light maple, grain, bready malts, and light spice. Smells kind of light on all fronts and not very strong; not bad, but average.

t - Tastes of maple syrup, bready malts, grains, spices, and wheat. More maple and wheat here, a definite step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and low carbonation.

d - Overall a nice, average wheat ale. The smell wasn't very strong, but the maple came out a lot more in the taste. Wouldn't purchase it again but glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 17:25:22 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased as a single at Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" beige head over the crystal clear burnished copper brew. Head Recedes gradually, with lasting sticky lace. Aroma is sweet, lightly spiced.

Taste begins malty, then shows some spiced banana/clove character in the middle, and closes lightly bitter. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth, and drinkability is pretty good. Name indicates maybe the maple should be a bit more upfront, but a pretty good brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 22:08:21 | More by ppoitras

Brad007

Vermont

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a copper color with a two-finger head into my glass. Nice presentation for the style.

A good dollop of maple greets the nose. It's somewhat sweet like maple candy though. I'm intrigued.

Lots of maple notes to greet the palate. Subtle with a good hint of clove in addition.

Mouthfeel is chock full of lingering maple and clove flavors. I didn't expect much less.

I can't really think of a better way to describe this beer. It's a maple wheat ale and while it's not flashy, it has it's own merits. Check it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 05:16:20 | More by Brad007

avalon07

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a weizen glass. Had a medium brown color and a completely clear consistency. There was an inch of foamy, fairly long-lasting head. No lacing at all.

S: There was a sharp aroma of wheat, malt, and some sugar.

T: Tasted of malt (more than anything else, wheat, and a sugary quality. Not the most dynamic flavor, but serviceable. Actually gets better as it goes along.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a smooth, sharp finish. Medium-bodied.

D: This is a mixed bag of a beer, but that's to be expected of a style that's not terribly interesting. Still, a basically drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 14:18:40 | More by avalon07

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

i had this on tap at the Local Pub in Saratoga Springs NY. I was happy to see it, as I've come close to buying a bottle a couple times but always shied off.

It's a medium orange shade, not very dark, good clarity, with a very thin ring of foam. I could definitely get the maple in the aroma, plenty of esters and some phenols too. Above all it didn't smell aggresive, just approachable.

You can taste the maple but it isn't very strong, more of a complementary flavor to what is otherwise a sort of unremarkable wheat ale. Somewhat sweet upfront, with esters and maple leading the way, with a little bitterness in the middle and a clean aftertaste in the end. As an apertif it served well, not what I chose with the meal though.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 10:08:09 | More by TurdFurgison

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle at D's six packs for 6.50.

A - Poured a light amber color with read hues. Not sure what I did special but mine got a solid half inch of head with both bottle pours. Mild lacing throughout.

S - Smells pretty sweet mostly of sweet caramel like maple suryp and strong wheat base. Little to no hop presence.

T - Simplistic in a way that the wheat is there as a base and the sweet taste of caramel coated suryp makes itself know. Wish the taste of the suryp was stronger but it worked for the ABV. In a way it tasted nice and sweet.

M - Light to medium. Found it very easy to drink

Overall it was a very solid offering from harpoon. Not very lackluster but it was pretty timid. Still it was worth the cost. Solid offering from harpoon.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 21:44:56 | More by DrDemento456

ngeunit1

California

3.88/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a fairly clear red-brown color wit ha finger of off-white head. The head fades fairly quickly to a ring around the glass leaving behind touches of lace.

S - Aroma is a blend of some wheat, some breadiness, and some sweet maple. Overall, rather subtle and not too exciting.

T - Starts off with a hit of sweet maple flavor with background wheat and bread flavors. There is even a bit of spice in the background. Through the middle, the pure sweetness fades and becomes a bit more well rounded. There is also a bit more wheat coming through. The finish is a lingering maple sweetness with just a hint of bready flavor.

M - Feels medium bodied with moderate lively carbonation. Even with the strong sweetness, it is still crisp and feels rather refreshing. The maple is nice in the finish.

D - Very drinkable. Even though the nose is a bit weak and empty, the rest of the beer has a nice blend of the maple flavors mixed in with the more traditional wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 02:23:40 | More by ngeunit1

oline73

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Max's in a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a very clear amber color with a small amount of white head that goes away almost completely.

Smell: The smell of this beer is very mild. There is some wheat malt and a very faint maple sweetness.

Taste: The first thing I notice is how crisp this beer is. There is some bitterness, but it's not hoppy. You can taste the malt and there is a very mild maple sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a decent amount of carbonation that seems to fit well. The finish is quite dry.

Drinkability: This is an easy drinking and pretty good beer. I would have this again given the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 03:12:01 | More by oline73

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.75/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Session #35, this bomber was served in a weisse vase. The beer poured a deep, vibrant, amber-copper color, more indicative of a red/amber or even some IPA/DIPAs. There was a slight foaming of head, no more than half an inch, but quickly settling into a thin film of white, chunky, sparse bubbled foam. Aroma is minimal, and there is a slight sweetness to it, but only a hint of malt and sugar. Nothing leaping out at you when you pour this beer. In mouth, the flavors are sweet and boozey, which is shocking with such a moderate ABV. Flavors are sugary sweet, with only a hint of maple throughout, and a weak malt backbone that leaves the initial flavorings out to dry. Some dark fruit characteristics (plum, prune) are highlighted throughout, but only minimally. The beer has a hollow, malty, and again slightly boozey aftertasste, with a high note of sugary sweet at the very end to give the brew a little "pick-me-up". The finish is sweet, and a little cloying, leaving a sugary feel on the tip of the tongue and the entire palate. Not the best brew I've had from Harpoon, and a little off for the style. Unique, all the same, but I don't think I'll be seeking this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 02:10:46 | More by GarthDanielson

Redrover

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This one was on one of the rotating taps at the Ginger Man in Austin. As with most regular beers at this bar, the beer is served in standard pint glass. The beer is dark copper with an off-white head. It had decent lacing.

It has a very faint nose some fresh malt and something floral.

The taste is grainy, slightly sweet with a bit of bite at the finish. Slight maple at mid-glass, but it needs to be turned up a notch.

The mouth is medium thick with a touch of slickness. It is not bad, just not as advertised.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 18:36:35 | More by Redrover

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

According to the Harpoon's website this is based off the last Catamount Maple 100 Barrel but was tweaked a bit.

Clear, dark amber with a 1" white cap. Good retention and lace. Harpoon always has great clarity in their beers.

Maple comes across as a lightly smoky wood character in the aroma. Taste-wise a more obvious but not overwhelming maple. Bright and fruity bubble gum sweetness doesn't mesh well with a 6.8% malty sweetness.

Not one of my 100 Barrel favorites. Kicker is that Harpoon put it out twice.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 23:05:11 | More by donkeyrunner

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From batch #35. Sampled on March 27, 2011. The pour is a nice looking amber-copper with great clarity. The aroma is a pleasant array of sweet malts and maple syrup but more subtle on the wheat. The taste is also on the sweet malty side with a thin layer of wheat on the edges and an adequate bitter hopped ending. Not a bad brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 19:14:40 | More by puboflyons

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap at Plan B in West Hartford, Conn.

A: Clean, clear copper amber color with a thin, creamy head of white foam which left a bit of sticky lace. Carbonation looks good and clarity is nice.

S: Toasted grains and a bit of maple butter aroma. Hops seem light and floral at best.

T: Sweet caramel malt flavor up front with some buttery, maple syrup flavors in the mix. Dextrose is a bit much, but it's balanced somewhat by dry wheat malts that lend a bit of fruitiness. Finishes relatively clean with a little residual sweetness and little in the hops department.

M: Medium bodied ale with some sticky sweetness from the grain and maple used. Fairly clean overall though.

D: It's a sweet brew, so the near 7% ABV doesn't surprise me. It's a tough beer to pair unless you're having some pralines or a maple cookie or something. Could make for a decent apertif but I'm not going back for more anytime soon.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 22:53:29 | More by Gambrinus1184

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 500ml bottle into a pint glass.

Pours reddish amber with a touch of white foam. Sweet caramel malty smell. Definitely a maple syrup nose. Taste is smooth sweet with an overriding maple flavor backed with a light hop. Tasty. Real nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2011 01:57:55 | More by KTCamm

david18

New York

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Harpoon is one of the breweries that makes very interested "special series" beers. Where I think many go with extreme beers, high in alcohol, hops or everything, Harpoon chooses some very interesting styes that are unique but not crazy. This is another good example of that. I wasn't crazy about the beer myself but i've seen it to be very popular and enjoyed by people with very limited tastes in beer.

Color was darker than a pale wheat would be, maybe more of a pale ale color. Carbonation was good but, again, not as a wheat might be.

Aroma had some citrus, a lot of wheat esthers and a very present maple. It was what really set this beer aprart.

Flavor was quite good with an excellent balance of the wheat, yeast and just enough maple to make it interesting.

Everyone should try this beer at least once.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 17:05:14 | More by david18

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | drink: 3.5

Fair wheat take with an accented sweet side.

Presentation: 22 oz brown capped bottle. (First bottle of the 100 barrel series that leaves the foiled top and replaces it with a neck label, which works just as well.) Simple front label design with a loose attempt at a limited release image with signature of the brewer. Includes a small paragraph noting the name of the ale and intent. Shows best by date (03/15/11) Notes IBUs (30), OG (15.2), and Alc. by Vol. (5.7%) Served into a snifter.

A - Clear deep amber pour, rich frothy head, fair retention, and some splashes of lacing with a bit of a letdown in the surface memory..

S - Very soft, lightly fruity and sweet.

T - Malty with a sugar coated bitterness, almost an strange touch of lager in the back with a soft maple sweetness.

M - Medium to medium/light body and carbonation, a bit bumpy in the finish.

D - Quaffable but a bit short.

Notes: Fair, and not one of the best 100 Barrel Series... Still decent if one is curious enough to try.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 00:06:26 | More by Daniellobo

JayS2629

Alabama

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A reddish rusty brown with a thin white head and nice lace. The smell is of bananas, light maple, sweet bready malts, hints of spice, and a subtle hint of earthy hops. The taste follows. Sweet but not cloying. I was hoping for more prounounced maple, but the subtle sweet is nice on the wheat backbone. Very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 23:02:29 | More by JayS2629

jampics2

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased from the Winking Lizard. This was the "beer for two" of the month and was served with a couple tulip glasses.

Right away, I'm not digging things. Even with a very, very vigorous pour, this is pin flat. Syrupy. This is beer, not pancake syrup, right? No head or lace atop the light brown body, but there (luckily) was some carbonation in the brew. Not a great start, though.

Cantamount smells of maple & wheat, that's no surprise. There's a sweet beginning to the nose, then some earthy grain and a touch of grassy hops. The maple rises to the top as the wheat notes emerge. The maple note is distinct and pleasant.

The taste is also pretty enjoyable. The wheat dominates a bit more than the maple, becoming the focused-upon element in the taste. Some caramel and fruit notes are also present, saving this from being too boring. But the maple could be dialed-in a bit more IMO. Nothing but good flavors, but nothing exceptional as well.

So, after the poor appearance, I was fearful that this beer would be really syrupy, but there is some light carbonation. That doesn't make it exceptional, but at least saves a worse score. The finish could be sharper to avoid lingering wheat and maple that becomes a bit cloying. Overall, this was decent but is probably not something I'll be trying again soon.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 14:31:44 | More by jampics2

Bendurgin

Maine

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. THis one pours a deep caramel color wth a thin layer of off white head. It settles almost right away.

This smells like bannana Laffy Taffy. Nothing more and nothing less. Grainy flavor with a touch of sweetness. Must be the maple, but the maple isn't distiguishable in of itself. I could reall only pick it out probably because of the name.

The feel is good. It's nice and light with good carbonation. Overall, this seems like a novelty beer to me. It's enoyable, but only once.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 16:53:15 | More by Bendurgin

n2185

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a dark orange/copper with a finger of light tan head that quickly recedes into almost nothing with very little lacing.

S: Bubblegum, bananas, and hearty bread with maybe a touch of maple.

T: Similar to the aroma, there is some banana/bugglegum up front. Then comes a thick, bitter bread flavor with a little bit of maple. The finish is clean and bready.

M: Medium-light body with medium carbonation, this beer goes down pretty smoothly without too much sweet or bitterness.

Overall, not a bad beer, but not good either. The maple is hardly there and the flavor is a bit bland.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 05:43:23 | More by n2185