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

bierschmecktgut

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

beautifully clear, deep amber with tiny carbonation. Off white head that was high and full but fell after a few and left less than typical wheat lacing.

Smell was sweet & an alcohol aroma pops out after a few swirls. Not smelling the maple syrup as the front runner

Sweet malt up front with minimal bitterness and a maple/piney hint on the finish, a good way through the bottle and the alcohol is present on the back of the nose.

pretty balanced considering there is no real hop presence. Carbonation is good after a vigorous pour and has a medium body with a fairly dry finish. No aftertaste, very enjoyable.

Limited Edition Brew - Probably wont see it again, but pleasing to try.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2011 01:14:44 | More by bierschmecktgut

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

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

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

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

MattBrooks

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The head on this new brew is almost non-existent. It dissipates far too quickly with tiny little bubbles dancing on the top. The color is that of a late fall sunset in Vermont. Picture perfect amber hue with hints of orange throughout. For a "Maple Wheat" as it is called; I found it to be lacking slightly in both parts. The words "real Vermont maple syrup" are listed on the label and I thought I'd be getting a big old taste like having flapjacks at the ski lodge. Not the case. It does have some Maple flavor in it, don't get me wrong. Also it seems to be quite hoppy for a wheat beer. Not that I mind, it was just unexpected. All in all, a very refreshing beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 23:54:28 | More by MattBrooks

ThreeDimesDown

Connecticut

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

Pours a clear amber with an off-white head. Heavy pour gave a three-finger thick fluffy head that dissipated to a skin rather quickly but left behind some wide-gapped lacing.

Aromas of caramel, light fruits, spices and a touch of maple syrup.

Taste is weaker than anticipated, but nicely balanced. Doughy malts and caramel give way to bananas and peaches. Clove spiciness starts in the middle and mellows nicely before the finish. A touch of maple syrup sweetness detected throughout. All these flavors built on a wheat cornerstone, that gives the brew good complexity.

Mouthfeel was the biggest surprise: smooth, almost creamy, medium with average carbonation.

I'm a fan of the Barrel Series, and really liked this one. The key to this brew is in the subtleties.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 22:52:16 | More by ThreeDimesDown

ReelBigwigFish

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Bought a bomber at White Horse in Absecon, NJ for a great price ($4.50). Poured into a 22oz Munchen Mug. Appearance dark amber/copper color with creamy head that dissipated quickly, no lacing. Smells malty with a whiff of maple in there. The maple syrup is lost in the taste however, which I was hoping would be a little more pronounced (the idea of vermont maple syrup got me to purchase the beer after all), it is quite bready with a lingering hint of hops on the tongue. I don't find it too sticky, and it is surprisingly crisp and clean for a wheat beer. All in all the beer is somewhere between average and good, not outstanding, very drinkable though; would enjoy this in a sixer or something as a get-home-from-work kind of beer. For the price of the bomber though, I don't regret the purchase, and I would like to try more from this series.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 04:06:05 | More by ReelBigwigFish

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

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

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

gamanley

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

22 ounce bottle poured into a snifter. Nice and clear amber-orange color with plenty of sticky head. Smells of maple, bread, grassy hops, and a bit of apple. I only got a little maple in the initial taste, but plenty of malt sweetness. The finish is pretty dry and a little mouth puckering (not from the hops, but the dryness). Diacetyl comes through a little strong. I'm pretty let down by the taste. The mouthfeel is much lighter than I expected it to me ranking in somewhere between light and medium. The carbonation level is medium. The finish is extremely dry. I don't think I'll be picking this up again, but at the ~$5 for the bomber when I was looking to try something new I don't regret the purchase.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 04:29:18 | More by gamanley

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

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

Liverpool08

Massachusetts

2.85/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice dark orange amber. Unfortunately thats the best part of this beer. Aroma is very weak. Maybe some malt and a slight hint of maple.
Flavor is the same some nice malty sweetness with a somewhat maple hiding somewhere. But thats about it. It might have been a little better but is extremely watery. I can't believe they brewed this a second time and thought this was worth putting out there. Its not bad, but for a limited edition you expect something special. A big disapointment.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 23:10:04 | More by Liverpool08

Kinsman

New Hampshire

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

Dark amber colored body with great clarity (especially for a wheat beer) and a medium sized light tan colored head that thins out just a bit too quickly for my liking.

Aroma is notably bready and biscuity with the maple adding to the sweetness a bit but not as much as expected. Overall nothing in the aroma seems to really stand out.

The first taste puts out a lot more flavor than the aroma suggested with a notable wheat character giving it some bread like qualities mixed in with the sweet maple flavor. Maple however is not overly dominant and sweet like some other maple beers. Finishes with just a tad bit of a grassy hop character.

Mouthfeel is crisp and rather full bodied compared to many other wheat beers I've had. Overall, Catamount Maple Wheat is not the best I've had from the 100 barrel series, but decent enough that I can enjoy it just fine. Some maple flavored beers tend to be overly done and taste more like a maple candy so I appreciate the more balanced flavor of this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 23:07:02 | More by Kinsman

zackmoney

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

True to its name this is a maple heavy beer, from it's look (darkish amber) to smell (yup, maple) to it's taste (again, mild maple syrup). Although this beer is 6.8% abv it is very drinkable brew that goes down easily. If a little maple syrup is your thing then I highly recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 01:26:58 | More by zackmoney

GatheringBrews

Vermont

2.7/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Pour from bottle resulted in a good frothy head that dissipated into a well laced top and sides. Coppery brown color and very clear.

S: Very sharp aroma, slightly unpleasant. Some wheat and sugar.

T: Slightly watery taste with some malt and a sugary angle that doesn't remind me of maple, but I would attribute it to such.

M: Ample carbonation and a slightly slick feel from the sugars.

D: An interesting if unremarkable beer. I don't get much maple characteristics, but it's certainly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 01:23:19 | More by GatheringBrews

aptea110

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

The harpoon maple wheat was true to its name with lots of maple notes in the nose and in the taste, it's a very drinkable brew @ 6.8% and was very pleasent from start to finish! I would say try it if you like maple syrup but its nothing to write home about, i'd say its pleasing but pretty average at best.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 15:47:44 | More by aptea110

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

mendonjoebeer

New York

3.85/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Harpoon 100 Barrel Series glass and also Ommegang Chalice- I had to share with my wife. Has clear deep amber look with nice head and small carbonation bubbles. It looks better in it's own glass.

A malty wheat smell with some alcohol and very subtle maple sweetness.

Tastes like a kicked up wheat beer- more malts than most and more alcohol. Some sweetness, but not overpowering- it is a maple flavored beer.

Nice body and not over carbonated

This was much more drinkable than I expected. I bought it because my wife is a wheat beer fan. Now I wish had it all to myself!

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 23:53:32 | More by mendonjoebeer

jdunk

Vermont

3.85/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the bottle to the glass.

Rich amber color. Aroma of dark maple syrup, a bit sweet. Sips fairly smooth with soft bubbles on the finish. Taste starts with the wheat base and gently rolls to the maple. Not overly sweet and the flavor lingers well. Paired nicely with a French toast muffin. Would love to have this as a brunch beer. Made to drink slowly and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 23:44:58 | More by jdunk

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