Harpoon Bohemian Pilsner - Harpoon Brewery

AWS2111

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -16.9%

03-23-2012 15:33:25 | More by AWS2111

HinghamRick

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -10%

05-10-2013 16:33:45 | More by HinghamRick

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +17.7%

05-10-2013 16:23:09 | More by pcsnyder

rmarsch

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +24.7%

03-01-2013 03:48:50 | More by rmarsch

ShippinUpToBoston

3.25/5  rDev -10%

01-30-2013 00:01:32 | More by ShippinUpToBoston

999biotch

Florida

1.83/5  rDev -49.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Uh, is it me or do most U.S. "craft" breweries completely miss the mark when churning out Czech or German inspired pilsners? I keep giving them chances to outshine or least compete w/ their European counterparts, but the end result is usually the same. Now that ales and their brethren have reserved a certain revered status as the pinnacle of brewing science, (something that most of the craft breweries are laughing all the way to the bank b/c of), lagers are somehow recently relegated for lesser palates as "beginner beer." I think those Rhineland breweries are still scratching their head on how it came to be. Anyway.... on with the beer.

German pils are one of my favorites and so I consider myself a decent judge at identifying what to look for. The smell is the first indicator that this is really not a representation of a Czech pilsner.. I haven't had that many different Czech pilsners outside of the more commonly available ones, but I have never detected the smell of Cascade hops, grapefruit laden,citrusy, somewhat floral. One look at the bottle confirmed Tettnanger hops, actually a.k.a. fuggles since it was probably grown in the States. Since the same varieties grown on U.S. soil do not resemble their European counterparts as far as the makeup of their compounds; the resulting overall flavor is a far cry from where it should be. The hop profile totally missed the mark, more suited for an average APA or IPA, definitely West coast flavor here, which I find to be a ubiquitous fault in U. S. "craft" beer. The taste confirmed this. Little malt body presence, not the grassy hay like profile of some pilsners that transport one to the fields and retain the organic simplicity and taste of the barley and hops. Instead, I get something that tastes like typical processed bagged malts and hops. Hops are very forward in their overbearing grapefruit citrusy flavor, overwhelming the thin malts. The lack of balance b/tw hops and malt seems to allude most American brewers. Simplicity is key and less is more when it comes to pilsners. They should have you searching- more elusive in flavor composition, not plowing you down with a cascade hop presence that you get when ingesting too much grapefruit zest. I won't go on about the water not being soft enough to be Czech like. In the end you are getting a so-so APA or maybe a starter IPA here. This isn't the real deal. Try a real Czech beer instead of this impostor.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 15:40:14 | More by 999biotch

Hopheadjeffery

Illinois

3/5  rDev -16.9%

12-22-2012 16:41:02 | More by Hopheadjeffery

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3/5  rDev -16.9%

12-07-2012 23:40:40 | More by Damian74Shensky

MNBeerNE

4/5  rDev +10.8%

11-10-2012 15:33:11 | More by MNBeerNE

Mojo

Alabama

3.55/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a pale straw with a small white head. Lots of elaborate lacing is left on the side of the glass. The nose is mainly honeysuckle and flower, quite subtle and quite pleasant. Mouthfeel is a little thin and watery. Taste is not bad at all. I expected weak, but after the initial mild metallic taste a bold hop presence asserts itself. Certainly not the best beer ever made, but very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 02:59:36 | More by Mojo

mnrider

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12. oz brown bottle. Freshness date on bottle.

A: Pours clear yellow with a nice large forming fluffy head. Leaves excellent
lacing and Plenty of carbonation can be seen shooting to the top.

S: Light floral hops and a hint of malts. An overall clean aroma.

T/M: Crisp and slightly bitter. Spicy, floral hops go nice with a touch of chewy
malts. The finish is clean with only a hint of dry hops.

D: A really nice beer and an above average representation of a Pilnser.
Great drinkability with tasty hops. Could benefit from a stronger malt
presence.

Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 23:10:51 | More by mnrider

BamfBacon

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -3%

10-14-2012 01:21:37 | More by BamfBacon

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a straw color. A bright white head sits on top. It's well carbonated but a bit hazy.

Aroma has a strong malt bill and a lightly spiced hop bouquet.

Taste is malty and only sutle hints of spicy saaz hops come through. It drinks clean and crisp and semi dry. Its refreshing to drink and pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 11:23:49 | More by micromaniac129

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a shaker pint glass, Best Before 9/15/12, so a bit late on this one.

A: Yellowish gold color, finger of sudsy white head retains moderately.

S: I'm getting an herbal minty smell, some toasty bread crust, kind of a stale smell.

T: Bready malt, some grassy slightly bitter hops, a bit floral and some sweetness.

M: Medium, crisp, medium carbonation.

O: This bottle is a bit past its prime. Overall, not very good and not t something I would purchase again. Maybe if I find it fresh next year I'll give it another go.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:11:23 | More by Dools9

Molnar

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%

09-29-2012 02:11:14 | More by Molnar

Zach136

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -3%

09-24-2012 15:39:24 | More by Zach136

Keith_R

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -10%

09-23-2012 23:58:37 | More by Keith_R

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass, the beer is a slightly hazed, pale, honey-gold coloring with a thin strip of white film around the edge of the surface. Aromas of toasted oats, lemongrass, and subtle, grassy hops. Flavors are sharp and hoppy, with a resiny and peppered hops backbone supporting a light, herbal spiced and slightly citrus sweet highlighting character. More dynamic than I was expecting. Sweet and bitter aftertaste, with a drying, clean, bitter finish. Tasty beer, and very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:03:16 | More by GarthDanielson

nquigley16

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -10%

09-21-2012 17:33:33 | More by nquigley16

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Wow, never drank a featured pilsner by a craft beer brewer, but I assume its a good beer.

A: Pours a light straw color with a very thin head that leaves some lacing. Pours much like an adjunct lager.

S: Strong hop citrus up front with some lemon zest following in the initial flavor. Some strong grassy notes consisting of some clove throughout the smell, with an underlyning of sweet peppery spice.

T: I get that peppery spice and clove up front, followed by honey , lemon zest and citrus through the middle. The aftertaste of this beer has some honey and bready yeast type flavor.

M: Very earthy tasting beer with a lot of combining flavors from clove to cinnamon to yeast and honey. No carbonation, but very medium bodied beer.

O: A very good pilsner, I was expecting an adjunct lager type of character of this beer, but Harpoon gave it flavor, body and quality. Very well done Boston!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 03:33:43 | More by SouljaSaia17

Rekrule

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -16.9%

09-15-2012 01:08:44 | More by Rekrule

Mortarforker

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -10%

09-08-2012 20:54:24 | More by Mortarforker

KSather

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%

09-07-2012 22:17:37 | More by KSather

jurbanik

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -3%

09-07-2012 13:31:43 | More by jurbanik

DavidS88

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very tasty summer brew with floral and pine smell and taste. As far as the pilsener style goes, this one is light yet still very flavorful. I got this one in a summer multi pack (I believe they call it the Summer Vacation Pack). Already looking forward to next summer when I can get more of these!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 21:26:25 | More by DavidS88