Founders Harvest Ale - Founders Brewing Company

cfrances33

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler poured into a Teku glass.

Pour: Clear pale orange with two fingers of white head that diminishes to a film and leaves pretty nice lacing.

Smell: Nice burst of dank, resinous hops, augmented by citrusy grapefruit. A light caramel in the back provides some backbone.

Taste: Dank piney hops up front. A mango and grapefruit aspect picks up from there, but this wet hop is as dank as it gets. Really nice.

Mouthfeel: Super easy drinking, with just the right bitterness. Leaves a sticky citrusy fruit on the back of the palate.

Overall: A fantastic wet hop ale. Not sure if I can choose between Wet, Broo Doo, and this. Delicious.

Serving type: growler

10-17-2012 22:10:52 | More by cfrances33

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

This review taken from notes, thanks to tenderbranson69 for sharing this growler. Enjoyed from a willybecker.

An amber shade in the color with golden general hue with lots of fast moving bubbles inside. There is a thick creamy cap of white that retains very well. Tight bead and streamers of lace adorn this. A full on hop aroma with lots of orange and floral notes with mild pine accents the aroma has subtle hints of pineapple in the lush hop nose with clementine and hints of light pepper in the background -totally hop dominated. The feel is juicy with highly carbonated acidic quality and slightly oily body with a moderate acidity level overall. Gentle malt in the backing with a spicy dry finish and hardly any alcohol in the feel.

This harvest beer is wonderfully juicy with bitter flavor up front setting you up for a strong peppery orange rind combo and some tea-like herbal taste riding along. The flavor has a subtle tinge of mango and pine pokes through in places with a mild toastiness from the malt that only emerges momentarily til a light apricot mellow earhty flavor and fruit accent comes in. There is a slight touch of lemon oil with citrus juiciness, but the vegetal element of the hops is minor as it finishes. Overall -the best Harvest or wet hop whatever the style. the hop taste is so refreshing and only a mild amount of vegetal is introduced with very vibrant hops and enough balance to satisfy fans of the style without going toward 'hop assault'. This has that resiny hop tangy flavor after the swallow telling you it is a seriously hop forward beer.

Serving type: growler

12-13-2011 14:55:17 | More by Slatetank

finewinemike

Maryland

4.58/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler from Arenbeer- thanks buddy!
Pours a very deep gold for an IPA, and reminds me of Belgian strong pale ales I've had in the past in color. Nose is crazy citrus, with a nice yeasty malty background. Flavor follows suit, with some sweet citrus and toffee and malt flavor. I could literally drink this beer all day if it came to Maryland. Great example of a wet hop IPA.

Serving type: growler

11-01-2011 09:29:32 | More by finewinemike

jorg2619

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to jorg2619 for getting me this beer

I poured this wet hop ale into a Troegs pint glass.

This is a clean pale beer with a thin lacy head that lingers nicely. This Harvest ale is as Aromatic as I expected. I did pick up lots of onion and some grapefruit hints. My first taste was awesome bitter that opened up on my tongue an assault of onion and grapefruit flavors of varying intensity. I like the soft dry finish, and I just had the necessary hop burp for this to be a good hoppy beer. This beer is smooth and very drinkable which is good for I have a liter growler of it to finish.

Serving type: growler

10-29-2010 20:58:53 | More by jorg2619

womencantsail

California

4.45/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Growler courtesy of Steve. Very generous, as always.

A: The pour is dark orange-amber with a couple of fingers worth of white foam. Quite a bit of lacing forms as I drink my glass down.

S: A big fresh citrus aroma to start things off. Lots of grapefruit followed by wet floral notes. The malts fill in the back end of the nose, giving the beer a nice breadiness.

T: Intense grapefruit flavor starts things off and is followed by more grapefruit, this time in the form of the peel. The floral character is still present as well, and the bready malt provides a bit of a balance against a fairly strong bitterness (for a pale ale, anyway).

M: The body is medium with a very crisp and lively carbonation to the beer.

D: A solid pale ale here, and a great beer to have a growler of. I thoroughly enjoyed my several pours.

Serving type: growler

10-28-2010 00:25:46 | More by womencantsail

largadeer

California

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

Growler thanks to womencantsail.

Glowing orange with a dense white cap. The head settles slowly, receding to a collar with tons of sticky lacing.

Nice dank citrusy hop nose. Very fresh, grapefruity and floral; not much of the grassiness I get in a lot of wet hop beers. Light bready malts reside in the background.

The palate is citrusy, grapefruity, quite floral and a bit lemony. Light in body, very crisp and dry with a nice punchy finish. This is a stellar fresh hop ale.

Serving type: growler

10-26-2010 04:56:52 | More by largadeer

martymoat

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

S- Large citrus hop aroma in the nose and also a good amount of piny aroma's and malt sweetness

A-Hazy golden hue with good head on the pour that dies away quickly to a dusting.

T-Sweet malt notes upfront leading into a burst of hop flavor, not as bitter as i would think it to be actually very tame , but a huge hop presence in the middle and throught the finish

This beer is the reason that their is a hop shortage. Yet it is balanced very well with the malt

Serving type: growler

11-18-2007 00:45:08 | More by martymoat

paultierney1

Ohio

4.59/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle served in a Thomas Creek pint glass. Michigan meets South Carolina.

Not a bad looking ale. This beer pours just fine.

The head is durable and the glass ends up nicely decorated with sticky lacing.

The aroma is strongly hoppy, with fruity, floral, spruce and herbal hop elements. (The previous reviewer really nailed this part.)

The flavor is a complex mix of fantastic hoppy elements. The malt is there to back up the bitterness. One of my favorites. I will buy this one anytime I find it.

The flavor is better than the aroma. Or vice versa. Another solid IPA from Founders. Thank you vely much.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 02:04:59 | More by paultierney1

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.09/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served in a pint, bottled dated 10/04/2012.

Appearance: A slight hazy gold color with heavy bubbles on the body. Head is somewhat thick considering after two sips it still holds up with an initial settling of maybe a finger's length coming off white.

Smell: Light floral scent, comes and goes...I honestly don't feel much on this beer when it comes to what i am smelling. Not bad but I want just a little more.

Taste: Bitter for most, to me it's an almost perfect blend of what IPA's should be. It is light but then again it's not supposed to be an Imperial. You feel floral, and bitterness coming off very fresh which I absolutely lust. You have a piney-ness to this brew that is very unique and honestly it feels like an honor alone just to have it. Hop lovers will lust.

Mouth: Medium and awfully tasty, it feels almost like a thirst quencher and for that alone it's at minimum a four. You feel almost like a tree bark type of feel when you gulp it but don't be scared it's true hops that you are indulging in.
Overall: For what it is, I definitely wouldnt take it for granted, it delivers! It's robust not too much and offers a little bit of everything.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 05:31:59 | More by BlurryVisi0n

katan

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz into a pint

A - Pours a very clear light golden color. Strong white head formation, lots of lacing. Formidable head.

S - Strong resinous piney hop nose. Very dry, floral.

T - Starts off lightly citrus, almost all hops from the beginning. Malts just are hidden. Mid-stream is very bitter, more of the dry hopping. Finishes with a hefty resinous flavor.

M - Moderate creamy body, very well balanced carbonation profile. Very sticky oily texture on the tongue.

O/D - A very good wet hopped beer. Really takes a hold of the oils. ABV is managable. A little bit hefty, but good all around.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 06:31:24 | More by katan

chinchill

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle served in a Corsendonk chalice on Xmas Eve.

Not a great looking ale, this beer pours with rather small head, despite a vigorous pour, and looks a bit thin. The head is durable, however, and the glass ends up nicely decorated with sticky lacing.
The aroma is strongly hoppy, with fruity, floral, spruce and herbal hop elements. Likewise the flavor is a complex mix of hoppy elements with only a faint malt base. The malt is certainly in here, however, because the flavor is only moderately bitter, even in the finish. The flavor is better, and less piney, than the aroma. A sessionable yet strong IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 00:43:07 | More by chinchill

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Consumed 12/22/12

Appearance: Pours a lightly hazy golden orange - small, off-white head, leaves some hints of a cap and some spots of lacing

Smell: Citrusy and wet - orange, tangerine, and grapefruit flesh - some soggy pine needles - spearmint gum - damp and leafy, as a wet-hopped beer should be - floral, and lightly earthy - some pale malts, grainy sweetness, undercooked biscuits in the background

Taste: Mmm... hop cones... loads of citrusy and leafy hops - orange and grapefruit flesh, with some citrus zest - lightly juicy, but mostly just wet tasting - leafy, very floral - lightly earthy, but mostly clean - some mint - moderately bitter - nice malt backbone, with some pale malts and a light, bready sweetness

Mouthfeel: Medium body, very smooth, could use more carbonation (but maybe I got a weird bottle), wet

Overall: Yeah, it's wet

This is a solid wet-hopped beer. It screams "wet-hopped" so loudly that I wish, for the first time, that this could be its own style on BA. As an American IPA, it's very good, but not spectacular. I will need to review this slightly fresher next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 07:11:47 | More by angrybabboon

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Clear golden hue with a one finger white head that sticks around. With a nice large finish gulp, it leaves nice lacing.

S - slight pine, wet cascade hops, slight citrus, slight lemon peel. Small amounts of grapefruit.

T - Big, centennial hop pine up front, small amounts of orange, lemeon zest, wheat bread.

M -Medium bodies with medium to heavy carbonation. Fits the beer well and the beer leaves a spicy juicyness as it sits.

O - Overall, this was a solid IPA, though nothing spectacular. I'd have it again though.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 06:35:40 | More by SometimesIfart

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Slightly hazy and golden orange in color with a an even, soapy sticky layer on top.

S - Biscuity light caramel malt, pine, spicy orange rind and lemons with delicate pineapple aroma. Overall, the aroma is a little faded.

T - Sweet, light biscuity malt up front, light fruit rinds: pineapple, orange, lemon peel, and sweet grapefruit. The hops dominate this beer from start to end and finishes with a lingering coating of bitter fruit rind that's a little peppery. Eventually, there's a floral character that surfaces.

M - Medium body with enough carbonation to prickle the tongue before turning to a creamy finish.

O - Very enjoyable, still drinking well, and I'm kicking myself for being lazy and not pursuing this beer closer to its release.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 22:50:16 | More by jzeilinger

albertjr21

New York

4.78/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 10/4/12 and poured into a snifter on 12/16/12, brew pours a clear and pale washed out yellow gold under a white head. An alluring nectar sweet hop forward aroma gently lifts into the nose with hints of lemon rind and pine. Lush hops glide through in the mouth feel with nonabrasive but dominating bitterness. Smooth flowing, incredibly well balanced IPA packed with all that hop goodness. An instant classic in my book. Can't help but think how great this would go with spicy Tex-Mex fajita tacos...

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 20:43:27 | More by albertjr21

LilBilly666

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Perfect blend of wet hops. Excellent aromas. I have had this one sitting for a few months and it is just as good as when fresh. Love the light mouth feel on this. Nice bite of wet hops with a wonderful aftertaste. You know what I'm talking about. When you rub your tongue over the roof of your mouth because you want more of that flavor!

I like it because it's a nice change of pace from the typical "pale ale" I get in Georgia.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 05:12:39 | More by LilBilly666

GameFreac

Georgia

4.63/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Couldn't find a 4-pack of this anywhere but found a bottle at the Cigar Bar in Cartersville, GA for $2.50 during happy hour. It's almost 2 months old but I'll give it a shot.

Appearance: Pours a golden yellow color and looks filtered. You can definitely see throughout it. A finger of a white head.

Smell: Smells amazing. Sweet hops and tropical fruits. Mango, pineapple. Awesome.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose with more tropical fruits and some pine. So good.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouthfeel.

Overall: In my top 3 IPAs ever now. Amazing. Definitely going to buy a case next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 03:11:02 | More by GameFreac

DovaliHops

California

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

Bottled 10/04/12. Pours an almost-clear golden color with an orange hue. Medium white head that disappears quickly. Scent is quite citrusy with very mellow malt profile. Lovely, piney aroma with some nice orange and pineapple scents. Taste is just as it smells. I love how this one lacks in the malt department. Great for not being from the west side. Delicious, well-balanced bitterness with great pine and citrus flavors. Citrus rules here, but there is a hint of tropical hops. Great bitter finish with a bit of grapefruit. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with a crisp, refreshing finish. Drinkability is very high. Overall, this is a great IPA that I wish I had readily available over here in California (I know it's greedy of me).

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 08:37:45 | More by DovaliHops

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear medium yellow in color with some golden yellow highlights and light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall white head that slowly reduces to medium sized thick patch, a thin film covering the rest of the surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass - showing some very nice retention properties. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit hops that is very pleasant and enjoyable.

T: Light amounts of maltiness upfront but the majority of the flavors in this beer come from the hops - first there are moderate to strong flavors of citrus/grapefruit but then there is a light to moderate amount of pine/resin hop flavors in the finish. Light amounts of bitterness which linger.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very crisp with a light amount of lingering slickness in the finish.

O: Very enjoyable with really nice hop aromas and flavors but still well balanced between the malts and hops so it is not overly bitter. The smell is very enticing and this beer does not disappoint. Definitely one of my favorite of the fresh hop IPAs available in the fall. Easy to drink and just about sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 01:36:04 | More by dbrauneis

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle from Party Source Syracuse NY for 2.50$

Appearance - Clear gold/copper colour with an above average size fizzy white coloured head. There is a lot of carbonation showing and there is some decent lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, oranges

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste caramel and malts mixed with hops. There is also some grapefruit/oranges mixed with some herbal/grassy notes. It ends with a malty sweet aftertaste with some lingering herbal/hoppy bitter notes.

Overall – Another winner from founders. While I prefer some of their other IPA's, this is still a delicious and well crafted brew. The herbal/grassy notes work well for the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 00:53:46 | More by spinrsx

C20Percent

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy pale gold with a .25 finger's worth of bubbly white head. There is some super tiny sediment in the body. Little bit of bubble action. Looks refreshing. Pretty good presentation.

S: Beer really shines here -- lots of citrus. Think Sculpin, Perpetual -- maybe Headwaters. Sweetness. Some floral notes. But, a very, strong, clean aroma. Also, getting some sweet malts here. Very good.

T: Getting some citrus and sweet malts in the taste. Doesn't quite rise to the level of the aroma. Kind of a letdown. But, it taste clean, it taste refreshing. Good summertime beer. Or, good session beer. Nice bitter finish.

M: Great carbonation. Smooth and creamy. Not strong bite -- easy on the mouth. Medium feel with nice chewiness that brings out the bitterness. Good stuff.

O: Good beer -- the thing is Troegs is doing this with Perpetual IPA at a lower price beer that's available all year long. And, I'd even take a six pack of Sculpin for $17 over a four pack or Harvest for $11. Good beer -- if you haven't tried then do so, but there's similar beer out there with a better value. I'd rather see Founders do an Ocktoberfest or Pumpkin Ale for there Fall seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 18:35:49 | More by C20Percent

tobelerone

New Jersey

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

Clearly one of the better examples of the fresh hop style. That being said, for me, this beer suffers from the same overly aggressive and super resinous quality that many have; the hops and accompanying oils are so fresh and assertive that they almost outshine the actual flavors and bury them a bit in bitterness.

The look is a lightly hazed dark gold; sizeable white head with strong retention and lace, all around excellent appearance. Awesome aroma as expected; tons of citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, orange and lemon. Mild malt detected beneath, but you have to dig in to get at it. This is all about the hops.

The flavor as mentioned above is quite nice but somewhat usurped by the potent resiny quality of the hops, and that’s coming from a certifiable hophead. I taste less of the fruity citrus flavors observed in the aroma, and while there are nice notes of pineapple, grapefruit, and orange, the tongue is lashed somewhat, obscuring them, and keeping the gentle caramel malt backbone well-hidden. The finish is dry and the aftertaste is long and fairly bitter.

Medium body and carbonation, right on the money for an IPA. The best of the fresh hop beers of the year, I think, but maybe I’m not as crazy about this sub-style anymore as many others seem to be these days.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:41:03 | More by tobelerone

Auracom

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. single purchased from MSCM. 6 oz. served in a C&B tulip on November 9th, 2012.

A - Very clear,straw-golden color. Thin, one finger white head with quick reduction. Moderate lacing.

S - This gets close to the target. Sticky hop resin. Dank. Herbal. Slight fruit juices. Touch of caramel malts. Quite inviting.

T - Mellow. Boring even. Wet hop bitterness, fresh grass, and bready carbonation. The back half of the palate is severely underwhelming in overall flavor.

M - Light medium body, low carbonation, lightly dry finish.

D - Smells better than it tastes. It's just too... polite. It's reasonably accessible, but I'm not sure it shows me anything I haven't seen before. Disappointment here.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 22:23:17 | More by Auracom

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Purchased in Wakefield, Rhode Island:

A- Pours a every-so-slightly hazy golden yellow body with a very small white head that reduces quickly and leaves little lacing. Looks adjunct.

S- Freshly cut grass, fresh herbs, citrus, resin. Smells absolutely delicious. A rare 5 for aromas.

T- Fantastic. Grapefruit and citrus notes upfront, ends with a tasty resinous pine flavor.

M- Medium carbonation, slightly thin body. Refreshing.

Another great from Founders. Overall, a tasty and complex harvest ale. One of the best, if not the best autumn beer this year. Scoop some off the shelf if you still can. Can't wait till next year!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 16:46:29 | More by gcamparone

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 10/04/12. Wish I would've landed one of these sooners. It's always been one of my favorite IPAs. Not the freshest example, but we'll see what we're holding here.

Light tangerine-amber in color with a stay-put inch of white head. Bubbles seen rising up from the bottom of the glass. A few swoop marks of foam stuck to the glass.

Still getting some sick hop aromatics here. Lime, grapefruit, cucumber, melon, and a lot of pine. Not the usual super-dry malt that I was expecting from past experiences with this gem. A little sweeter with that hint of Maillard effect.

Follows the nose, but with juicy tropical fruit notes abound in the forms of papaya and starfruit. More pine and bitter citrus. Lime, green mango, grapefruit, and some floral character. Such an excellent IPA. Light biscuity malts play around with a light toast note.

These under-7% IPAs drink so easy, especially when they're constructed this well. Medium body and spicy carbonation keep the hop oils on the tongue where they should be. Great feel. My glass is nearly empty already.

My favorite Founders IPA. One of six or seven beers that I look forward to when the fall approaches, and high on that particular list.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 03:59:04 | More by thecheapies