Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #38 - Dočesná Czech Hop Harvest Ale - Harpoon Brewery

abgba121

Connecticut

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: pours a hazy light reddish color, fairly effervescent, very little off white head about a half cm.

S: somewhat musky, grapes, a little pine note of hops, very thick aroma if that makes sense

T: very malty, little hops, grapes continue through the taste

M: average to a little heavy body, good carbonation

O: not what I was expecting, it kind of misses the mark for a hop harvest ale with so little hop character and a heavy malt side, not a terrible beer though altogether. Not something I would pick again though.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 16:14:58 | More by abgba121

KarateShow

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-05-2013 15:23:12 | More by KarateShow

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. (1 pint 6 fl oz.) bottle, with no apparent bottled on date present. I know this beer is retired, but I found a few of these hanging out in the fridge at my local beer store. I haven't had any of the other beers in the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series, so this will be a first for me.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a dark blood orange / ruby color ('chestnut' as the bottle describes) with two fingers of frothy, bubbly off-white head, with nice retention. Some nice rings of lacing on the way down.

S - Smell is of faint muted fruity pine hops, though still retaining a crispness to it, along with some roasted malty qualities. Not spectacular on the nose.

T - Taste is very sweet, honey & tea leaf like hop profile, balanced well with the malts. The hop bitterness has definitely faded some, but I love what it has become, when the leafy sweetness comes out. Still retains a resinous bitter aftertaste, though.

M - Smooth and creamy, yet the body of the beer is carbonated and bloating which doesn't fit in with the texture of the beer at all.

Overall, this beer definitely surprised me. A fine example of the style, and of the three beers I've had by Harpoon so far, this bottle has probably impressed me the most. A beer I would buy again, although I'd be interested in trying others in this series.

Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #38 Dočesná Czech Hop Harvest Ale ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:40:26 | More by mfnmbvp

st9647v3

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-11-2013 02:03:33 | More by st9647v3

Ego

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

found this lingering around my cellar...

eyes...
almost 2 fingers of micro bubble head rise on the casual pour, slow audible snap and crackle head, light brown with some orange tone, lots of bubbles looking to attend the top of the glass party, nice coverage of lacing as this goes down, a nice looking brew.

nose...
honey bready/malty with herb/hop notes, slight slight slight euro funk tone, some cinnamon lurking underneath, pretty nice.

taste...
medium mouthfeel, smooth delivery with the carbonation, perfect at cellar temp, malty tones softly start out and then fade into some mild bitterness, albeit more bitterness than a typical english bitter it is by no means anywhere near an american bitter/IPA/hop killer etc., this drinks like a nice english bitter with slightly more hops but not quite as smooth as the classics (Like say fullers ESB), something labeled "hop harvest" usually has a bit more punch but the Sladek hops don't punch, I am maybe wishing this to be done with a Czech pils to showcase the hops more.. but alas I can only rate what is on my plate.

verdict?
I probably couldn't drink this all night but definitely could have a few... a non offensive beer, well crafted but nothing worth going gaga over, if you see it and the price is reasonable ? sure, grab it, it is a nice drinking brew, nothing special imo.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 06:15:15 | More by Ego

sendbeer

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

11-03-2012 14:08:22 | More by sendbeer

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

10-14-2012 00:07:07 | More by t0rin0

bluckbeyes

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

08-23-2012 22:46:01 | More by bluckbeyes

mattparsons

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

08-05-2012 03:04:37 | More by mattparsons

andylipp

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

07-26-2012 22:44:11 | More by andylipp

trevorpost

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-27-2012 23:05:43 | More by trevorpost

raszputini

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich amber - almost looks like bourbon, ironically - with a moderate off-white head. The nose is dominated by the bourbon, with a light crispness from the hops. The taste is somewhat thin, expected from a pale ale base, with the bourbon being out in front again. The tones from the barrel are not overwhelming however, as many barrel aged ales are. This is a much more subtle tone. There are also notes of grapes, light caramel and a nice crisp floral hop finish. The mouth feel is thin, but slightly oily. This is a very easy drinking, well-balanced brew. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 20:25:43 | More by raszputini

kirkse

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

04-07-2012 04:17:09 | More by kirkse

raythealeman

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-05-2012 01:18:17 | More by raythealeman

Kornoms

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

03-21-2012 18:16:15 | More by Kornoms

PeteRiz

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -18.5%

03-06-2012 23:27:28 | More by PeteRiz

carrollmel7

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%

03-05-2012 03:31:21 | More by carrollmel7

jmilo64

Maine

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-26-2012 22:10:20 | More by jmilo64

ltdantheman

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-25-2012 22:34:47 | More by ltdantheman

jongullotti

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-19-2012 20:43:25 | More by jongullotti

truthcontortion

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-19-2012 17:59:43 | More by truthcontortion

poopsmitherson

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -32.1%

02-16-2012 14:11:35 | More by poopsmitherson

churchillea

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-16-2012 00:05:01 | More by churchillea

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-09-2012 19:22:42 | More by THECPJ

asafarc2

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-01-2012 19:46:56 | More by asafarc2