Harp Lager - Guinness Ltd.

mrcarterxxl

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +53.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Harp lager

A=poured into a tulip this beer pours a golden transparent color
with a white head.
S= smells a bit sweeter than a basic lager

T= has a savory, slightly sweet hop and wheat taste

MF= loose feeling in the mouth light carbonation very drinkable,
not to be hammered but enjoyed. A fine crafted recipe.

this is the second time i've had this beer and i still love it never had anything that tasted like this

cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 17:20:07 | More by mrcarterxxl

kdawg105

Georgia

4.65/5  rDev +42.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I love this beer. It has a golden color that has quite a bit of carbonation. It also leaves a nice lace on the glass as it is being drank. The smell is good with a hint of skunk and a followed by grain with a light hops hint. The tast is great it finishes with a crisp bite of hops. The mouthfeel is good kind of slick on the palate. The drinkablility is superb goes down smoothly!!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 00:44:47 | More by kdawg105

billybob

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +38%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

pours a slightly darker golden color for a lager nice two finger white head that hangs around for awhile with a light sheeting of lace down the glaas. smells of malt grains with some spice and hops. slightly sweet malt and grain husk balanced with a clean hop taste. medium body with a smooth crisp carbonation. good any time you need a cold beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2008 20:27:57 | More by billybob

metallaw

Alabama

4.43/5  rDev +35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I'm biased on the whole irish thing, but I'll try to give a useful review. Got this in a world market beers of the world package.

Appearance - Poured a beautiful pale, straw color.

Smell - Smells of sweet barley and hops.

Taste - This is where it is. Slightly sweet, almost minty taste, not too overbalanced with alcohol and hops.

Mouthfeel - I find this beer highly carbonated. It reminds me of the same feel as a monster nitro energy drink. That being said, I enjoy that, so all in all thumbs up.

Drinkability - Could easily down a few on a hot summer day. Want to try on tap.

Worth your money, definitely a different beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 18:17:43 | More by metallaw

K9AleingPiss

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +34.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very nice bold golden color,producing a respectable top,even with a bad pour. Continued to bubble and come alive as it sat waiting to be drunk. Surprising me again with a malty robust odor for such a clear golden beer,and the taste was even better. Loved the malts dominating the hops in this beer. No after taste,smooth thirst quinching experience and even better with a barbeque sandwich!

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 01:41:29 | More by K9AleingPiss

jimmybryght

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +33.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I suppose that most Euro-type lagers are greeted with a bit of imbiguity these days but for those of us who prefer blondes, this brew is among the better ones I've had. It has a light-golden color to go along with a crisp, malty taste. It has a typical Euro bitter finish but it carries well because of the barley. Harp isn't as watery as some other commercialized Euro lagers and has a pretty damn good mouthfeel with a splendid finish. Guinness did a good job with this blonde and I intend on making her a regular every weekend.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 20:14:14 | More by jimmybryght

manofmanners

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +32.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I like Harp in the bring time, it is that come out from the cold beer, everything spring is, Harp is. I drink it form the bottle, which is rare for me. It has sure a smooth refreshing feel to it, you don't want to spoil it by drinking to many, i would say 2 to 3 max. Once you get drunk Harps appeal is lost on you. The great thing is it is not to filling. It goes great with a meal too, chicken, steak or seafood, goes good with almost anything.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2007 15:08:04 | More by manofmanners

Lauthaha

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +32.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A heavy pour at a 45-degree angle yields a head with minimal foaminess; about 3/4 a finger tall. Heavy carbonation is visible through the glass as the lager is a bronze/sunlight yellow color. Head never completely recedes, which is nice because each sip retains just a touch of the creaminess. Does just what it's supposed to in my book.

Smell: Very interesting! The first thing I notice is a bright, citrus-type smell. Perhaps lemon zest or orange peel. Very low yeastiness, tasty hop scent. Above average for a pale lager.

Taste: Does not disappoint. The citrus flavor is still the most outstanding one, followed closely by the near-perfectly balanced hops. Perhaps just a *touch* of cinnamon or nutmeg thrown in for good measure. A much better tasting beer than its partner-in-crime, Guinness.

Mouthfeel: Just as it claims to be, it is crisp and refreshing. Light on the tongue, the flavor sits gently and leaves a mildly bitter aftertaste. Rinses clean with a sip of water or a bite of chicken, turkey or pork.

Drinkability: I would pair this beer up with just about any medium-flavor entreé. It goes down smooth and is easily followed by another of its six-pack-mates. Doesn't get rough as some lagers do after a few sips, this one is (as Teddy Roosevelt said) "Good to the last drop!"

Guinness isn't a bad brew, but Harp is more commercially accessible. It's not an overwhelming smack-you-in-the-face hopped-up brewski, but at the same time it is definitely not your average run-of-the-mill mass-produced swill-water. For what it's supposed to be, it's nearly dead-on. I like it and would recommend it to a friend.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 02:36:38 | More by Lauthaha

Toddv29424

District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is totally being judged on what it is--trying hard not to be subjective. Lagers have been given a bad name because of the large mass-produced ones, but this is a shining beacon to them all. Pours a golden yellow color with little to no head. Smell is uninspired and is like most other lagers that you will find. The taste is great... instead of being water heavy like other Lagers it has a full body taste. Wheat is really the only decipherable taste that you can point out, otherwise it is too well rounded to pick out. Great overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2005 00:34:03 | More by Toddv29424

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pretty decent bright yellow color. Some nice lacing, but not much foam. Not much apparent carbonation.

Smell: Flowery and peppery. Pretty hoppy and citrusy as well, like fresh lemongrass. There's not much malt here in my opinion. Kind of peppery as well.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Lemon and hops with a clear flowery presence. Similar to something like Pilsner Urquell with the floral taste to it. Perfect carbonation makes this nice and smooth.

Drinkability: Great drinkability. Perfect balance of taste and feel.

Overall: I actually appreciate this beer. I've only had it once, but it works as a nice changeup to your stereotypical Irish stouts.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2010 23:48:02 | More by tjsdomer2

Unwind06

Quebec (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very nice beer overall. Like it a lot. Even if it's a smooth clear bear, I do like a lot. Much better than Quebec beers like molson n stuff... One of my favourite. I don't know what more I can say... Why do we have to fill 250 characters !?!?!?!?!?

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2007 04:06:46 | More by Unwind06

theozag

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Definately one of the better imported lagers I have ever sampled. Pours a gentle yellow-gold that produces a thin, white head over a clear, golden beer. Smell is attractively sweet without much of a definable character. Taste is quite above average for a lager, with a clear and medium body, a malty smooth start, and a pleasantly hoppy finish. Mouthfeel is overall good, but nothing to scream about. Drinkability is quite high as this beer leaves a limited aftertaste, sits light in the stomach, and packs only a meager alcoholic punch.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2003 19:35:09 | More by theozag

JoLight

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Golden body with a ever-so-slightly off-white frothy head, leaving lots of nice lacing.

The aroma consists of toasted barley malt and some herbal, floral hops.

As for the taste, the hop bitterness comes in at the first of the sip, with a slight floral-ness, then leaving you to a nice mouthful of toasted barley malts, with some sweetness, and an almost undetectable bitterness.

The drinkability is extremely high. It's smooth, and the mouthfeel is on the light side of medium; and the carbonation is high in the mouthfeel as well as the palate.

This is a damn good beer. Best lager I've ever had. Screw the critics. This is gold, lager or not.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 03:21:18 | More by JoLight

goindownsouth

South Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of my favorite beers. This is one of the best lagers, in my opinion. The color is a bit darker than most, while the aroma offers a little something extra like a sweet-hoppiness. From the first sip, to the very last, it is smooth with a little sweetness on the palate. A fantastic brew. A classic.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2002 15:28:20 | More by goindownsouth

mrfosters

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear golden with nice white head that leaves rather quickly but lingers on with above average lacing.Smooth and well balanced. I really wish we could get what is actually brewed in Ireland , ala Guiness Stout, but we must settle for the Canadian brewed.Still, my idea of a great session beer. For the sake of this review I did drink it at the proper temp, but usually I drink it from frosted mugs , yeah ,yeah, I know,but as I said this is my session beer.Slainte!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2004 00:05:27 | More by mrfosters

mgdeth

Montana

4.22/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - This beer is a pale golden color, and clear. The beer forms a good thick head which recedes, laving some lace. This beer looks highly carbonated. The color is probably a bit deeper than most American mass produced beer.

Smell - I perceive a relatively strong, clean malty aroma. No hop aroma is present. I do not detect any adjunct grains. The smell is inviting.

Taste - This beer is very smooth, with a clean, crisp taste. Sound like macro swill? It isn't, in my opinion. The beer is very flavorful for a pale lager. I do not detect hop flavor, which seems appropriate for the style.

Mouthfeel - The beer is very smooth and light feeling, but I still would not call it watery. It is more substantial than a typical macro brew.

Drinkability - This beer is very drinkable due to the taste and easy drinkin' mouthfeel.

Comments - Although I am not a big fan of this style, I think that this is a very good beer. Big beer drinkers looking for a change of pace should like this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2004 03:38:15 | More by mgdeth

JamesS

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured an excellent clear straw color with decend head, although very little lacing. Very nice scent, a nice clean and crisp matliness with a little hint of spice. Great taste for a macro-Euro-lager, excellent balance with great maltiness and a slight hoppy aftertaste. Very smooth.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2008 17:59:23 | More by JamesS

canolte42

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance-Pale Golden color, clear with no cloudiness, moderate head retention with average carbonation

Smell Aroma-Hints of malt and slight floral scent

Taste-Sharp hop bitterness, not too much. not too dry or sweet

Mouthfeel-light to medium flavor with a crisp finish and no lingering aftertastes

Drinkabilty-classic example of a European Pale Lager, easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2009 20:10:50 | More by canolte42

Shiloh

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very fine lager, full bodied and semi sweet taste, reverting to a very mild bitterness as a delicate non lingering aftertaste.
Frothy when poured and a nice light golden colour. Impressive brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2002 15:55:51 | More by Shiloh

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have had this often enough before, but not since I started rating. This is definitely not an American type lager, its color is noticeably darker than that, and will already mark you as someone who knows the difference between horse-p--- and beer. Good taste is there, pleasing beery aroma and even some hop flavor. Above average. I had this served at a bar in the Midway Airport terminal; pleased to find some decent beers at such a place, even better that it seemed to be proprtly served in a pint glass.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2003 19:06:05 | More by DrunkMcDermott

scottchesterhall

California

4.15/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a rich golden color...very nice body for a lager, with a quarter-inch of head and strong lacing.

Smell...I'm actually impressed by the smell. There's a sweet estery presence of yeast and mild hops...nuanced by dry and nice. I don't expect fireworks on a lager but this is inviting.

Taste is sweet and dry with a nice lingering roasted malt. Clean, but substantial.

Mouthfeel is thinnish but nicely effervescent.

Drinkability is solid, especially when cool.

In my humble (and apparently rare, based on other reviews) opinion, this is a top-notch lager. I'm mostly an ale fan, but Harp is in my top 5 of lagers when I'm going that way.

Remember, beer-people...this is a LAGER. It's a narrow flavor profile, so judge it accordingly!

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 22:39:11 | More by scottchesterhall

Frozensoul327

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A classic. Pours out to a nice medium golden color with a big white head of foam. Great head retention. Lots of lacing. Medium level of carbonation. Aromas of dry hops and some citrus notes over malt fills the nose. Taste is medium bodied; flavors of grass, malts, bitter hops, some cereal grain. Good taste for the style. Mouthfeel is good; solid carbonation keeps things moving and adds to the higher level of drinkability. Slighty slick as well, but not oily. Good drinkability. I should have this more often, I can't believe i've never reviewed it. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2006 23:24:36 | More by Frozensoul327

Noxious26

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured in a pilsner glass. Date on back label states 05-09-17. I believe these bottles actually come from Ireland as it states "brewed in Dundalk, Ireland" whereas some "imports" actually say they're brewed somewhere in N.A.

Clear, and a nice pure gold colour. Bright white head is 1/2 inch on the pour, but reduces to a 1/8 inch cap. Lots of carbonation streams. Sporadic globs of lacing.

Aroma has a solid malt backbone with a light sweetness and hints of herbal (maybe noble) hops.

Lightly sweet at the start with a good malt backbone. After the mild carbonation rush there are hints of herbal hops in the middle and this nice malt/hop balance flows smoothly into a mildly acidic light dry finish. Aftertaste is dry with a wisp of rememberance of malt sweetness.

Medium bodied with light carbonation. Smooth but crisp.

As far as a lager goes, this is one of the best I've had in some while. It didn't knock my socks off, but I'm pretty impressed as it's head and shoulders above any other lager I've had in the past couple of years. Well balanced, smooth, crisp, good malt spine yet with a bit of a hop presence and bite. I'll be buying more of this soon.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 02:33:57 | More by Noxious26

generallee

New York

4.13/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: The body has great clarity and a bright yellow straw color. Its head is thick with big pillowy stiff peaks. It has great retention and leaves behind lots of cool lacing.

Smell: The aroma has pleasant aromatic hops and light malt.

Taste/Mouth feel: Its flavor has a good balance of sweet, light malts with mellow leafy and floral hops. Bitterness is mild and fades to a clean finish. Its texture is smooth and wet with average carbonation and a light to medium body that is very drinkable.

Notes: For me this was a very enjoyable beer with a beautiful look and pleasing aroma. The flavor is clean, refreshing and highly drinkable. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2008 04:40:55 | More by generallee

Kwak

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice thick cakey head white lace around the glass.Nice refreshing bitter flavor almost creemy decent look and no real aftertaste.Nice
parnter with big brother Guiness,Anice bitter to the Guiness smooth
taste!

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2002 22:03:24 | More by Kwak