Founders Harvest Ale - Founders Brewing Company

vfgccp

New York

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Barcade, founders tap night. Huge thank you to the patron who bought the round.

A - Nice opaque orange wheat. White head had nice retention and poor lace.

S - Outrageous nose. Bright white peach, touch of pine, and orange zest.

T - Awesome bright citrus and stone fruit profile. Orange, pear, peach. Honeydew melon. Touch of cilantro. White sugar. Bay leaf.

M - Great medium-full body. Smooth, with great drinkability.

O - Unbelievably fresh, which is exactly what you want in a wet hop IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 00:45:24 | More by vfgccp

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap and poured into a pint glass.

A: Hazy orange color with a 1/2 finger head. Decent lacing.

S: Pretty strong fresh hop smell. Not overpowering however. Very inviting.

T: Floral hops followed by a little malt flavor. Very well balanced.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

O: I was very pleased with this offering. It's just how I like my IPA's...hoppy with not too much malt. The smell and the flavor match very closely. This was my first beer from Founder's, but I'm excited to try some others.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2012 02:09:16 | More by nUgZ

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Cloverleaf Tavern for their Founders tap takeover event, and served in a tall, thin glass.

Founders Harvest Ale pours surprisingly light. It's goldenrod in color and crystal clear, topped by a finger and a half or so of white foam. Head retention is pretty good, and does a nice job of coating the glass with lacing. The nose is wonderfully floral, with a strong grapefruit aroma supported by a secondary pineapple note. The flavor does allow the malt bill a little room to feature as well. Bready and more caramel flavors are both appreciable. The bitter bite is attention grabbing, but not palate scorching. As with the aroma, the finish features a strong grapefruit presence, offset by a subtle tropical fruit, pineapple flavor. The body isn't quite bone dry, but it's damn close. The carbonation falls just short of being lively enough to make the mouthfeel great. Founders Harvest Ale is a delightful IPA, better than Centennial in my opinion, and it's a shame it only comes around once a year.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 21:27:01 | More by axeman9182

Naters333

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this beer on tap and from the bottle. Love this beer. Has a great golden color with great lacing. Unreal smell with deep grapefruits, and in your face citrus. Taste also has really deep grapefruit, almost bitter. I just keep licking my lips after I take a sip. Overall, I just really enjoy this beer. I'm not the type of person to try and decipher every little flavor in a beer. I just know I enjoy this beer and can keep drinking it...plus it leaves a smile on my palate. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2012 07:28:24 | More by Naters333

kylelenk

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Taproom 10/13/12

A-Golden IPA coloring with an average white head and traditional lacing.

S- Fresh, sticky hop smell with a blend of surprising maltiness.

T- Not as much hops as I was expecting. More of a session IPA taste with a little more fresher feel.

M- Lighter bodied, easier drinking ale.

O- Decent IPA, not the best wet hopped ale I've had but then again not the worst. I would say that Harvest Ale doesn't quite live up to the hype.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2012 19:07:42 | More by kylelenk

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap at the sidecar in philly - review from notes

Pours a lightly hazed golden color with a small tuft of white head resting on top. Layer of cloudy film rests on top with plenty of sticky lacing on the glass.

Sweet, juicy hops in the nose. Citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, apricot, and tangerine. Light biscuit malts as well.

Dry bitterness up front, juicy explosive hop formula. Cocktail of fruit and citrus wraps around the tongue - grapefruit, pineapple, apricot, and tangerine. Biscuit and light bread malt along with a soft touch of sweetness and a hint of honey. Finishes dry, bitter and fruity.

Medium body, somewhat high carbonation, sticky, dry and lingering on the tongue. A fantastic harvest ale that holds up to Founders' standards.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2012 02:03:42 | More by xnicknj

adman08

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours pale, clear golden with a very good amount of fluffy white foam that leaves nice lacing and a fades to a ring on the beer's surface.
S-Slightly grassy and oily hop aroma. A good combination of pine and citrus hop aromas with a slight malt sweetness in the backgroud.
T-A good balance of malt sweetness and hop bite. Flavors of pine, citrus and herbal hops with a slightly grassy vegetable flavor.
M-Medium bodied, slightly oily and slightly sweet with good carbonation.
Overall, an excellent wet hopped beer. Great balance of malt and hops with a great blend of pine and citrus hop flavors. Not always easy to get but well worth it if you find some.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 21:13:12 | More by adman08

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh man, this is a purty beer; kinda thang ah can cozy up to an swallah. Served with an average sized off white, foamy head that slowly settled and a lot of lace. Color is a clear amber with some large bubble trails. Aroma is super fresh and good. Flavor is like nose with big hops on top, then carbonic tang, little sweetness along with some malt earthiness. Body and carbonation are perfect for style. Finish is like flavor, lasts a while, and has a suggestion of alcohol. Killer brew. Could drink a lot of this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 03:38:42 | More by drpimento

divineaudio

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap for founders happy hour @ slows bbq.
from notes.

a -light golden in color with a 2 finger cloud of white foam. head eventually calms to a thin cap and leaves big chunks of lacing in the glass.

s - toasted bread, grapefruit, faint berry notes.

t - amazingly hoppy. citrus, pine resin, notes of honey. light lingering bitterness. strong (enough) toasted malt backbone.

m - firmly medium with the right amount of carbonation.

o - a damn good beer and very drinkable. i don't expect anything less from founders. worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 21:43:24 | More by divineaudio

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I love this season of wet-hopping. This has been the third wet-hopped beer I have been lucky enough to try this year.

I had this on a tap take-over at the local bar. I was a little nervous because this beer followed CBS, and I felt like the CBS might over-whelm the IPA. I was wrong. This strong flavored beer stands well, even following an imperial stout.

It smelled great. I got lots of pine out of the glass. It tasted even better. This hoppy beer was excellent.

I recommend picking this up where you can find it. It probably won't be on the shelf for long, and even if it is; these wet-hopped beers go south too quickly.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 01:29:29 | More by ummswimmin

mltobin

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The appearance of this offering from Founders is a golden tone with a bright white head. It has a nose of lemon, pine and some subdued hops. While the taste has some spices such as sage and cloves. The citrus hops are also present, with more lemon and some grapefruit. MF is medium with a lower carbonation level. All in all, a pretty good beer, but not one of my favorites from these guys out of Michigan.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 01:07:06 | More by mltobin

zoso1967

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Harvest ale is served up a orange tinged medium amber. The head is beige and has great retention. The lacing this beer leaves is amazing, just as one would expected with a wet hopped ale.

The aroma smells like fragrant pine and fresh grapefruit.It is super fresh and zesty with the dank qualities of the fresh hops showing through. It also has some nice caramel notes that blend well with the citrusy "C" hops.

The flavor is bursting with fresh, dank and resiny hops. Pine, grapefruit and orange zest mingle well with a nice carmely sweet malt body and a bit of toasted malt. This brew is a deliciously hoppy treat.

The body is medium in size with a fairly spiky feel to it. It is also a little oily with a very dry finish.

This was the first wet hopped beer I ever tried and is still my favorite. They really do a good job of squeezing every bit of hoppy deliciousness out of the wet hops.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2011 19:32:17 | More by zoso1967

TCgoalie

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A light colored yellow-gold brew with a creamy off white head. I enjoy the wall of lacing that it is creating.

Floral aromas mixed with citrus fruits lead the smell. I feel like I can smell the oily hops.

The flavor is less pungent than the original harvest ale but the overall flavor is great. Floral and full flavored with notes of grapefruit and oranges.

Nothing stands out with the feel. Full and satisfying with some drying...solid.

I love wet hopped beers and this is great. More flavor than and IPA but less bitterness. Yum.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2011 16:34:15 | More by TCgoalie

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Straw gold ale with a clean white head that lingers on top with no lace on top of light but not watery body that a bit bread and biscuit. Hop forward on top of the light body--singular hop spice and light citrus in nose. However, the light body lets the grassy and bitter taste shine. Hop is clearly on display--the lighter but not light mouthfeel is a frame for the picture perfect hops.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2011 03:07:16 | More by FightingEntropy

bnes09

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Light yellow-orange in color. Frothy white head towers over the brew and sticks to the glass.

Beautiful bouquet of citrus fruits in the aroma, namely apricot and tangerine. Robust, almost sensual hop aromas lure me in.

Hops dominate from the start. Bright and lively citrusy, orange, apricot, pine and mango hop flavor. Good malt character with a smooth, bready tone to balance the hops.

Medium bodied brew with lots of bubbles. Satisfying dry finish.

Excellent brew. Very lively and hoppy. Unlike any other fall seasonal I have tried.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 06:02:57 | More by bnes09

mdfb79

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 10/04/11 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in DC. Served in a stange type glass.

a - Pours a transparent orange amber color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pine hops, citrus hops, tropical fruits, oranges, fruity malts, and floral notes. Smells of super fresh hops, really amazing.

t - Tastes of piney hops, tropical fruits, and oranges and citrus hops. Again, a lot of hops and nice, but a slight step down from the nose. Light bitterness.

m - Medium body and low carbonation, very smooth and easy to drink. Light bitterness in the mouthfeel.

o - Overall another awsome beer from Founders; I'm really surprised I've never gotten around to having this one. Tons of hops and has that great fresh wet hop smell, and very easy to drink; could definitely have had a few of them. Would love to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 15:44:38 | More by mdfb79

Seanibus

California

4.03/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours hazy golden with a huge white fluffy head. The aroma is clean, sharp and hoppy, with a delicate citrusy character, some orange and lemon rind. The flavor has a delicate, perfumy orange, with a clean, crisp malt backbone, almost pilsner like, with a tinge of metal and sulfur. The bitterness is mild but steely. The mouthfeel is prickly and there is an ice creamy smoothness to the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2011 20:45:10 | More by Seanibus

jsanford

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Distillery in Savannah, GA on 12/11/10

A - Clear gold with a fluffy white head. Nice sticky lacing and good retention.
S - Crisp grapefruit and pine resin dominate with a minimal malt backbone. Very herbal and fresh.
T - Very resinous with heaps of pineapple and grapefruit. Pretty good, but it's not my favorite hop profile in the world. The pine resin gets to be a bit much for me, as does the sweetness.
M - Medium bodied with medium-low carbonation. Smooth and just a bit sticky.
D - I had no problem drinking the one I ordered, but I wouldn't order another one. I'm glad I tried it, as I enjoy most Founders brews, but if I want a good fresh-hopped beer, I'll look for a Celebration.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2010 04:20:24 | More by jsanford

atsprings

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Flying Saucer served in a standard pint glass a crisp orange with a decent frothy khaki head that lasts as a thin layer and leaves decent lacing on the glass. Aroma is a nice amount of crisp citrus hops in front of sweet malts. The taste is nice smooth crisp citrus hops just in front of sweet caramel malts. The beer is quite light, crisp and refreshing with decent carbonation. This is a great wet hop beer, one I'd certainly have again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2010 22:14:55 | More by atsprings

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at TDR today.

The beer pours an amber gold with good head retention and lacing. The nose is attractive, showcasing some wet earth, light herbaceousness, and orange citrus. The beer is impressively hoppy and bitter on the palate, with a fairly dry and hop driven finish. The flavor profile in this beer is nicely balanced, with the hoppy bitterness dominating. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a long, flavor filled, bitter finish. Drinkability in this beer was quite good, with the alcohol well integrated into the flavor profile.

One of the better wet hop beers every year. Very easy to take and quite delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2010 21:31:10 | More by johnmichaelsen

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Hazed golden, finger thick white head that has decent retention, little lacing.

S - Citrus, mostly grapefruit, and pine hops. I struggle to find more complexity in it.

T - Nice hop flavors again with the grapefruit lingering through the aftertaste. I'd like a little more malt presence to balance it out, though.

M - Medium body, spot on carbonation makes a smooth creamy mouthfeel. Finish is mostly dry, but leaves some hop oils behind.

D - I'd get it again. A fairly tasty hop-forward pale.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 22:26:44 | More by garuda

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy yellow color with orange notes and a white head. In the aroma, a small fresh hop and a mellow malt backing. In the taste, dry, pine like, fresh hops that ride the palate all the way through. A small hop bite and medium to light bodied mouthfeel, with a dry pine hop in the aftertaste. The nose was lacking, but but tastes great.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 11:18:26 | More by OWSLEY069

hooliganlife

Missouri

3.8/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

on tap @ the bridge

pour was a darkish golden yellow with hints of light copper and orange. a bit of brightness through out. light head.

light citrus and pine with more emphasis on the citrus. pale malty body.

lots of pine up front and through out. mild citrus and grapefruit hidden. light malty body. a bit more harsh than the bottle.

moderate carbonation. decent body, fairly full.

i prefer the bottle to this all the way. the bottle seems to have more grapefruit and citrus in general. this was more pine. good, but the bottle is better.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2010 01:09:55 | More by hooliganlife

nickadams2

New York

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Founders.

A_Pours a golden amber with a thin bone white head. Not much lacing.

S_Piney,citrus hop profile.

T_Same as nose. Huge amount of piny hopsGrapefruit and honey. Touch of pale malt.

M_Thin but sticky and syrupy. Will make you lick your lips.

D_Lots of flavor and low ABV. Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 23:45:17 | More by nickadams2

Bubslang

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

on tap at Founders Harvest Ale Fest: Appearance is a hazy golden color with a medium sized off-white head with soe nice lacing. Wonderful fresh hop aroma that's mostly citrus with some floral otes. taste is mostly grapefruit,orange zest, and lemon with a nicely balanced malt sweetness. A very drinkable and refreshing beer

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2008 11:45:42 | More by Bubslang