Harpoon White IPA - Harpoon Brewery

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Hazy amber color. Lighter like a sunrise or an autumn leaf.

S: Pretty average. Floral. Nothing special for an IPA. On the light side.

T: Big sharp bitterness but also a little more gritty backbone which compliments the brew well. The usual floral notes but also that grassy foresty flavor helps it stand out. Also a little fruit.

M: Carbonation is pretty intense but the flavor development is pretty solid.

Overall what I like about this beer is the backbone of a more foresty pine sort of thing. It goes down smooth and with a lot of flavor. The bitterness is well balanced. Much better than the last 100 barrel series I had.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2012 21:17:18 | More by Jamesthebrit

tdm168

North Carolina

3.94/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - cloudy, hazy orangish yellow with some sediment floating around; huge, soft, foamy, white head that has great retention

S - straw, faint clove; very faint aromas

T - orange peel, citrus, pine, herbal, straw, peppery

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is a nice White IPA. This has an intense citrus character similar to their UFO beers, but this has a nice, herbal, piny hop character that rounds out the flavor nicely. There is good balance and drinkability here. This is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:28:54 | More by tdm168

Eeroomnhoj

Virginia

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

So today is my birthday and we ran by our local Costco to get some beer to bring to a friend's house. Bought a case of Harpoon and tried to share. They were drinking PBR and would not partake. Enjoying my third beer of the evening and really enjoy the white IPA. I can taste the orange described on the front page of the beer but cannot taste the coriander. Come to think of it I don't know what coriander tastes like. The beer is a little "hoppy" but I tend to like that. I will definitely drink this beer again. Inexpensive but good.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 00:58:23 | More by Eeroomnhoj

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Big thanks to Slatetank for gifting me with a bottle of this. Poured into a spiegelau IPA glass, the brew pours a clouded pale golden color with a rich 2+ finger cap that is slightly off-white. The cap fades leaving a webbing of stringy lacework on the glass. A swirl effortlessly revives a finger of yellowish stained cap back to the surface. Perhaps I misunderstood the meaning behind the "white" aspect of this brew as I let the sediment creep into the glass and it is evident with chunks stuck in suspension that come to rest in the bottom of the glass.

The smell of this brew is citrus-like with notes of fruity rinds like lemon moreso than the advertised orange peel. Some herbal hop component leads the way after the citrus and mild fruity tones fade away. Overall the composition of the aromatics is quite nice blending back and forth between fruity and herbal with a mild grainy quality providing a supporting role throughout. As it warms up, the nose on this gets a bit weedy to grassy, not bad.

Tasting this brew provides a bitterness front and center that is mildly rindy and zesty with the flavoring of grapefruit, oranges and lemon that blends into more of an earthen to herbal flavor of hoppy bitterness. Again a mild grain presence is felt faintly suggesting wheaty sweetness to contrast the oily bitterness of this brew. It has a solid balance and plenty of character to take in. The blending of white ale citrus character into this IPA was done very well.

This is a light bodied brew with a moderate amount of carbonation. The feel is lively, uplifting and very easy drinking. The IPA portion of this "blended style" is much more focused than the white aspect. Having never had a "white IPA" before, I was not really sure what to expect. I think this was done pretty well and would not mind trying other examples of this if given the chance. Thanks again Matt!

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:04:05 | More by stakem

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I had this from the IPA Discovery sampler case, poured chilled in a cervoise.

The color is peach nectar with hazed wheat beer look and thick tan cream with fine bead and good retention. The smell is great a mix of orange and tropical fruit with light spice ester from the yeast and mild hint of tangerine zest with a light floral accent. The feel is great smooth resins in the hop texture combine with light peppery spice and smooth wheat adds a light body with moderately high carbonation and moderate bitterness with semi-dry finish.

The flavor is great it has the orange zest and slight tangy citrus from the hops with a mild pine accent and slight tropical taste with yeast adding a light peppery phenolic element and wheat giving a gentle tanginess which adds to the citrus from the hops. Overall I loved this all the best elements of an IPA combined with the belgian Wit style a very nice hybrid from Harpoon!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 14:10:48 | More by Slatetank

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle bought at Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA as part of a mixed 12-pack.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" bright white head over the cloudy golden amber brew. Head deflates rather quickly down to an even skim, with leggy lacing. Aroma is earthy yeast and citrus hops.

Taste starts with sweet pale, citrus in the middle, and sedate pine hops character feathers into the close. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is good. Nice brew, too bad label says it is limited.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 20:54:16 | More by ppoitras

CapH

New York

4.49/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Beautiful, glowing golden orange with tiny bubbles flowing up. White head that leaves sea foam like rings.

S- Citrusy Hops all the way. Refreshing smell like an orchard.

T- A solid, hop forward taste that lingers. Fresh, bright hops.

M- The wit comes through here. Champagne like carbonation with a smooth wheat mouthfeel. It works for this beer.

O- This one surprised me. I'm not a huge wit fan though I enjoy a good Belgian. IPA's? Who doesn't like 'em. This is a perfect melding of the two. I picture my self on a tropical beach, drinking these down all day long.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:38:13 | More by CapH

shand

Florida

4.04/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Harpoon White IPA pours out a hazy orange color with a tiny head that laces well. The aroma is big on citrus hops that are very well rounded by the Belgian yeast. The taste follows with a very nice hop character for the style that actually works with the yeast as opposed to against it, as tends to happen with Belgian IPAs. The mouthfeel is light and crisp, and the drinkability goes. As far as Belgian IPAs go, I actually like this one. It's basically a solid IPA with just a little bit of Belgian character.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 17:38:15 | More by shand

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A-Pours like a cloud set before the rising sun ; its both glowing and foggy. A thick, white dollop of fluffy cream sits atop the brew. It leaves wiggly and spotty scars along the glass-line.

S-A bright combination of citrus, spice, wheat and tropical hops. The citrus mixes with the coriander notes quite well. The cracked wheat hugs the surprisingly vivid tropical hoppiness. Enticing.

T-The flavor delivers too. Hops are citrusy, tropical and even a bit floral. The wheat keeps everything in context. Sprinkles of spice accentuate the more dynamic flavors. Very bright, very vibrant.

M-Drinks incredibly easy. Moderate bitterness. Feels juicy then it dries out. No booze.

O/D-This Harpoon brew is stellar. Quirky and complex. This is one of Harpoon's best hoppy offerings. This one should be a year-rounder.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 02:09:02 | More by VelvetExtract

alexgash

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle. Enjoy by 05/15/13. I am.

Partly hazy. Golden orange body. Lighter edges. Tall, frothy, cobwebby, bright white head. Great lacing. Tropical fruit juice malt base aroma. Plenty of citrusy notes. Grassy strawberry and light banana-yeastiness. Nice.

Toasted grains and herbal bitterness up front. Hops become peppery and spicy as sweetish fruit juice malts fill in. Slightly tropical with a bit of strawberry and banana. Grassy, herbal, slightly citrus hops into the finish. Lingering spiciness and Juicy Fruit. Medium to moderate body. Another nice IPA iteration from the Harpoon mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 22:57:45 | More by alexgash

Goldopelgt

Ohio

4.04/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a 12oz bottle...golden, honey color with a crisp white head...some lacing left on the glass

S: Sort of a yeasty dankness up front with some spicy and citrusy hop notes as well...coriander, pepper, lemon zest...a lot going on here...

T: Citrus (grapefruit?) and yeast up front...mild hoppy bitterness throughout...the two distinct styles are definitely there but neither is overpowering...

M: Crisp, clean with a slight tartness that sorta works...not overly carbonated...smooth

D: Very complex brew, and I have to say its pretty damn good...Both the Wit and IPA styles are so distinct that it almost clashes at times, but is still so interesting that you can't put the glass down... Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 23:16:20 | More by Goldopelgt

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance is a hazy golden color. The head is white but small. Carbonation appears light and gentile.
Aroma is quite pleasent with scents of Beligum wits and thier corrinder and yeasty spiciness.
Hops are in abundance with a peach and apricot aroma.
Taste leans quite a bit to the wit side, spicy yeast pale malts and corrinder come through nicely. On the other side the hops that were so enticing in the aroma are absent in the taste except for a mild bitterness towards the end. Drinks smooth soft and clean.
I think it's a pretty desent beer and easy drinking. Has summer written all over it.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 11:25:04 | More by micromaniac129

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber from Wegman's Dewitt NY for 6.99$

Appearance - Slightly hazy gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some great lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes.

Smell - Hops, malts, caramel, apricots, peach

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste caramel and malts mixed with hops. There is also some grapefruit mixed with some peach/apricot. It ends with a slightly dry yet fruity and hoppy aftertaste.

Overall – Doesn't really taste like a Belgian IPA (as it's listed as on BA) - but regardless it's a great beer. Reminds me more of a APA with some nice fruity notes. I'd buy a 6 pack of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 00:36:53 | More by spinrsx

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.86/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of the IPA Mixed 12-pack
Enjoy By 05/15/13

A: Pours a cloudy and sediment ridden golden color with 1/2 a fingers worth of head

S: Belgian yeast, very fruity with notes of orange zest and lots of citrus rind. Has a little coriander as well, but not much. Light floral hops come through as well, but I suspect some of the citrus is also coming from the hops and not just the yeast

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with bitter, pithy citrus rinds and a tad of the orange zest. Mellows out into some fruitiness and light malty breadiness. Finishes lightly spicy with coriander. Bitterness also lingers

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly chalky from the yeast

O: A nice, refreshing take on the white IPA. Plenty of fruity and citrus goodness with quite a bit of bitterness. Quite easy to drink as well. So far, this is a nice pack of IPAs. Onto the black

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 19:34:24 | More by BEERMILER12

Dools9

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle best before 5/15/13 poured into a Harpoon IPA pint glass. Bottle part of new "IPA Adventure 12 pack."

A: Pours a cloudy golden color with a nice sudsy two finger head. Good sticky lace and solid retention.

S: Definitely get bright floral aromas mixed with some, sweet citrusy fruit. Also getting the yeasty belgian character with subtle spices thrown in there.

T: Sweet citrus fruit, getting a lot of tangerine and sweet grapefruit like flavor, fresh floral hop. Solid bready malt back with light spice undertones. Finishes a bit dry with a very subtle bitterness. Super refreshing brew.

M: I'd say light end of medium body, carbonation is medium as well. Smooth feel with a light prickly feel.

O: One of the better beers I've had from Harpoon and actually pleasantly surprised by this one. Very refreshing beer, prefer it to the regular IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 16:50:27 | More by Dools9

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- pours a hazy golden-yellow color with some wheat particles floating around, small white fizzy head with good retention and just a bit of lace.

S- bright floral and citrus hops, with notes of fresh tropical fruits including papaya and pineapple. Al aromas are pronounced and pleasant, impressive.

T- tangerine flavor from citrus hops, notes of pine, slightly spicy, slightly grassy, slick and malty wheat finish with more citrus hop on the palate at the finish.

M- light body, low carbonation, foamy mouthfeel with a chalky wheat finish on the palate.

O- great pronounced citrus and tropical aromas with a well balanced flavor profile, very refreshing and one of the best I've had from the 100 barrell series.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 23:31:37 | More by Treyliff

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at the Blind Tiger, NYC.

Poured a medium copper hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured full citrus hops but not too many esters. Strange for a white IPA.

The taste consisted of upfront peppery and citric hops with a round caramel malt and trace esters.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style.

Overall a tasty IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2012 20:58:02 | More by plaid75

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Cloudy without a doubt, and a Real light amber with a gold tint. Head is thick in frame which rose to about a finger's length coming off white.

Smell: Has floral scent little light.

Taste: The smell and taste is completely magnified. Bitter and piney feel. Very robust and full of flavor.

Mouth: After taking a sip this is hard to put down, not exactly the smoothest but definitely rich after-taste. Sticks to you like glue.

Overall: This is a pretty good brew. I might be a little biased because of the fact I am a huge IPA fan but maybe it works for me in me telling you that there is no failing when making this beer a purchase. Grab a glass and drink, Salud!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 07:23:49 | More by BlurryVisi0n

Ranz

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: After a vigorous pour in my bowled whiskey snifter, there wasn't much head. It's a nice opaque orange hue with slight clarity.

S: This has an excellent hop profile: lots of citrus--especially orange--and floral notes with hints grass and maybe even bubblegum. The spices give it some lovely tinge.

T: At first, the taste is a bit of a downer after the lovely aroma, but not much of one. It's just much spicier than I had expected with a nice undertone of mandarin orange and grapefruit. However, with some warmth, it improves considerably and gains a slight tinge of booziness along with a more pronounced zest of coriander and orange peel.

M: The hop spice gives it a special kick, but, as the bottle says, it's otherwise a soft mouthfeel. Very unusual combination here.

O: I'm glad I got it for under ten bucks, but I wouldn't go out of my way to have it again. It's the first 100 Barrel Series that hasn't particularly wowed me.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 01:28:35 | More by Ranz

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from growler into a sampler shaker. Poured a slightly hazy golden yellow with a one finger white head that subsided to a half finger slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, coriander, spice, citrus, and citrus hop. The flavor was of sweet malt, wheat, citrus, earth, fruit, and coriander. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. I really like what I found on this brew if I am honest. There was a nice touch of complexity and balance going on in both the aroma and the flavor. The coriander note I got was a really nice touch for the style, but the citrus notes were what made the beer for me. It added just the right amount of sweetness to the brew to keep me smelling and tasting it as long as my sample lasted. Could easily crush a pint of this and maybe a few more while I was at it. I suggest you take a chance on this one as well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2012 12:09:21 | More by thagr81us

abgba121

Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a hazy golden color, thin white head, strong lace down the glass

S: citrus hop bomb, followed by belgian characters, some fruity, tart notes

T: hoppy citrus up front like the nose, following with the fruity yeast notes of a belgian. One of the best White IPAs I have had.

M: slightly more carbonation than expected

O: a great take on a white ipa, they should make this a regular

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 03:09:53 | More by abgba121

oberon

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a small tulip glass a slightly hazed peach tinged lighter golden with a half finger lacey white head atop.The aromas really don't jump out at ya but the citric hops are there,lemony and orange notes over top of a healthy yeast shot.Lemon oil and grapefruit flavors give a bright and sharp flavor some breadiness underneath,the lemony notes linger nicely.The yeast is held in check well and the hops are bright,a solid BIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 22:24:43 | More by oberon

avalon07

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a goblet. Had a yellow color and a cloudy texture. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Pretty good lacing.

S: A surprisingly hoppy aroma, with hints of citrus in it as well.

T: Tasted of hops, orange peel, light malt, and some coriander. Seems much hoppier than the typical Belgian IPA, but this isn't a bad thing. A vibrant, well rounded, and focused flavor.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a sharp, bitter finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Definitely not your typical beer. It's kind of a hybrid of an IPA and a witbier, but it seems to work very well. Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 23:38:42 | More by avalon07

Gavage

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a hazy yellowish orange color with a 2" head that slowly falls. Some light lace develops.

Smell: citrus and some floral bitterness is very pleasant on the nose.

Taste: mild grainy malt profile with some orange, grass, pepper, and a nice floral bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp from start to finish, with a mild dryness arriving late. Aftertaste is long lasting as citrus and bitterness linger in the mouth.

Overall: a very tasty beer that is easy to consume and refreshing. Well worthy of a try if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 20:07:38 | More by Gavage

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by Decemeber 19, 2012:

In a chalice:

A: hazy golden body yields a foamy, one finger white head. No carbonation is seen rising. Some nice light foamy lacing speckles the sides of the chalice.

S: hops, citrus with some light peppery notes, slightly subdued Belgian yeast

T: crisp rye/pepperiness mixed well into the citrusy/hops.

M: medium with a crisp yet somewhat wet feel. I would say this is fairly drinkable.

O: I'm impressed, I'm not sure if this is really a witbier as some say, but stands up to Harpoon's "Belgian IPA" more so as it is labeled under. I would definitely come back to this.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 17:55:07 | More by kangarooAdam59