Harp Lager - Guinness Ltd.

timn

Kentucky

3.18/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A: Pours a very clear, light yellow with a small amount of white head, and loads of carbonation. Color is pretty, but the bubbles rather detract from the appearance.

S: Very light aroma of yeast and some hops, and a bit of skunkiness.

T: Pretty much what you'd expact from a mass-produced lager. This is a bit more flavorful than a typical American lager, but not hugely so. Has a typical very light, crisp taste of grain and yeast. The skunkiness that comes through in the smell is thankfully not noticeable in the taste.

M: Thin, as you'd expect from the style. Carbonation is a bit overdone.

O: Not bad, not great. This is a beer I could see myself grabbing after mowing the lawn or with a cookout in the summer, but no more so than any other mass-produced lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 02:04:28 | More by timn

kvnstfrd

Missouri

2.15/5  rDev -34%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a pale yellow with a fluffy head. Bubbles rising constantly from the bottom of the glass tells me this is probably going to be far too carbonated. The aroma is somewhat that of a typical American lager, but Harp has a bready, yeasty note that tells me there’s something more there. There is also a floral aroma from the hops. The taste is slightly sweet with a faint bitter in the finish. Mouthfeel is definitely overcarbonated, yet creamy with more body and less dryness than most beers of this style. You’d expect a beer so lacking in flavor would be thin and watery, but not so with Harp Lager. Overall, this isn’t a bad beer, there’s just not enough flavor to satisfy my palate. I should note that the flavor has become a little stronger since it’s warmed, but only a little. Personally, I’m not one to choose beer when I’m hot and thirsty, (there's water for that) but I suppose Harp could hit the spot on a Summer day. Certainly, there are hundreds of worse choices.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 12:31:40 | More by kvnstfrd

vkv822

Oregon

2.99/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

12oz : Teku

Clear medium yellow with a foamy white head, decent lacing.

Lightly sweet, grainy cereal/bread.

More grainy lightly sweet malts. Not much hop presence. Perhaps some grassy notes.

Medium body, fizzy carbonation.

A fairly plain, generic beer. Very similar to an American Adjunct Lager, with just a bit more of a flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 08:21:24 | More by vkv822

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – Pours a crystal clear golden color with tons of tiny carbonation bubbles seen streaming up through the brew. Upon pouring there is a one finger pure white head that fades relatively quickly to leave a light level of lace on the sides of the glass

Smell – The aroma is mainly of a grainy and bready smell mixed with some lighter notes of caramel. With these aromas are a moderate presence of a grassy and herbal hop smells.

Taste – The taste begins with a lighter bready and grainy taste. There is the lightest hint of caramel sweetness upfront that then fades more toward the middle and the end. As the caramel fades, some of the grassy hops detected in the nose hits the taste buds. This light grassy hop is soon accompanied by a herbal flavor which develops more strength as the taste gets to the end. At it’s finish with all the flavors mingling together a crisp and fairly clean taste is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The body of the beer is on the thinner to average side with a carbonation that is on the higher side. The thinner body and higher carbonation compliment the grainy and lighter flavors of the brew quite nicely and make for a crisp and quite refreshing brew.

Overall – While not a flavor powerhouse the brew is rather refreshing. It is crisp and clean and very easy and enjoyable to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 00:36:16 | More by Darkmagus82

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

3.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass.

A - Crystal clear pale yellow. Thin, fizzy one-finger white head. Leaves surprisingly stout rings of lacing.

S - Faint aroma of lager yeast, bohemian hop, and white flour.

T - Mild and inoffensive blend of slightly sweet cereal grains and mildly spicy pilsner hops. Balanced, and thankfully free of dextrin/corn sweetness common to so many pale lagers, but ultimately very boring. The kind of clean, crisp, finish that you would expect.

M - Light bodied and aggressive, stinging carbonation. But....it does compliment the style. Very grainy.

O - Cant say that pale Euro lagers are my thing by any means, but this one appears to be done well enough for the style. That said, it's nothing that moves me in any way, just a bland boring "beery" lager. A BMC without the corn and rice. But, any time a pale lager is free of adjunct "off" flavors, it's a bonus.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:13:08 | More by TempeBeerMan

mnrider

Connecticut

2.98/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. Brown bottle. Green Label, Brewed in Canada.

A: Clear golden color with an initially nice looking head. This quickly
turns to basically nothing. Watery lacing. Little carbonation.

S: Mostly clean with some sweet malts and a light hint of floral hops.

T/M: Crisp, medium bodied, malt sweetness, plenty of grains, some
hop bitterness. Dry with a light tingling on the tongue. The finish is
a mixture of both bitter and grainy.

O: This lager from Guinness is easy to drink but the taste is somewhat
plain and has an overall unflattering dryness. Not too bad for a session
beer if you can get past the taste. Just not that enjoyable for me to get
again.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 20:56:23 | More by mnrider

UCLABrewN84

California

2.29/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2

Pours a clear light yellow with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, and some plastic-like aromas. Taste is much the same with a weird plastic-like, chemical flavor on the finish. There is a very mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty poor beer with aromas and flavors that make it hard to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 04:52:56 | More by UCLABrewN84

TheSixthRing

California

3.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a clear, golden yellow with a white, finger width head. Fair retention. Lacing is spotty with decent stick.

Smell - Aroma consists almost exclusively of clean, sweet grain malt.

Taste - Just like it smells. Clean, crisp and sweet grain malt flavor, with a touch of honey. Finishes much in the way it starts. Very, very subtle grass bitterness near the finish after the beer warms.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body, with good carbonation. Silky on the swallow. Very drinkable.

Overall - This is a classic, simple lager done right. Very sessionable. While it presents very little to think about, it's something I could drink all night while watching tv or hanging out with friends.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 23:00:26 | More by TheSixthRing

beergoot

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Crystal-clear, pale yellow body with a fat, thick and chunky, creamy, white head sitting atop; carbonation galore in the body; sticky, clinging lacing on the glass. Average aroma for a lager; no rich hop aroma for the style, more like a light malt character overall, comparable to American adjunct lagers. Taste comes across as bland and uninspiring; primarily very light malt character with a shade of bitterness in the finish. Decent mouthfeel; clean and dry finish.

Another disappointing mass-produced beer that doesn't live up to what you'd hope for. It has a really nice appearance but falls flat with any distinctive malt or hop character. Certainly drinkable; certainly mundane...

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 00:05:41 | More by beergoot

Fatehunter

Oregon

1.68/5  rDev -48.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Clear, pale straw color with almost a finger of head. Short lasting head though.
Smells like green apples and mildly grainy, faint overall.
The taste is an assault on the senses. A brutally bitter (not the good kind) and metallic mess from beginning to end.
Light and crisp body.
The taste was unexpectedly bad, much worse than I thought it would be.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 21:41:13 | More by Fatehunter

oldirtycaffrey

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of my favorite beers when I was first "going outside the Bud Light/Heineken" box when I began drinking beer as a youngin', Harp kind of fell off my radar these last five years or so. Picked up a six pack not too long ago and was pleasantly surprised of how good this beer is.

Its appearance is far from impressive, pouring a thin, medium golden with a slight, thin head that stays throughout, but never leaving much lacing along the side of the glass. Aside from malt and a slight hint of bread, there's not a whole lot to the smell. However, the taste is smooth with just the right amount of carbonation. Perfect balance of hops and malt. Refreshing and easy to like.

Glad I "re-discovered" this beer. It's a solid fall/winter session beer and looking forward to drinking more of it throughout the fall/winter.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 15:44:49 | More by oldirtycaffrey

BakerMoore

4/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Upon pouring correctly, it leaves a one finger white fluffy head. The head dissipated within 30 seconds. It laces nicely and the lace remains. The body is a bronze orange color. The bubbles are everywhere with constant streams going up to the top.

The aroma is relatively strong but is present enough to be pleasant. The smell is of maybe noble hops, with malt and maybe grain. It has some water to it but not so much as the adjuncts do. The smell is real pleasant and invites the taste.

The taste is definitely of hops with some malts coming in as an aftertaste. The taste is kind of bitter but quite crisp. It is pleasing to the palate. An enjoyable beer to taste.

The mouthfeel is just as much carbonation as necessary. Its dry enough to be enjoyable and makes you want to take another drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 05:14:45 | More by BakerMoore

bnes09

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pale color of white-grape juice and completely transparent. Weak head but some lacing.

Clean aroma of dry malts and rice. Hints of skunk.

Mild malty flavor with a white bread and honey character. Herbal grassy hop in descent balance. Clean in the end.

Light body. Over carbonated. Smooth in the middle with a crisp finish.

Just average. Not much else to say.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 01:11:04 | More by bnes09

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

3.2/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Very light amber color. Little white head dissipates quickly.

S: Light. Dryness comes through a bit. A little sweetness...

T: Pretty good here. A little yeasty but there are some good hints of malt and dryness. Also a little hops as well. There is something there even though it is pretty light.

M: sits alright. Bubbly.

Overall a pretty average beer. Certainly better than any macro lager but certainly nothing to go crazy over. Perfect for after a long day when you want to take it easy.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 20:26:27 | More by Jamesthebrit

TheBrewWhisperer

1.9/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: clear golden lager with some foam rising til the very end being a small amount nothing too surprising for a euro pale lager.

Smell: Predominant skunk which is odd for a brown bottle, but lingering hop and a hint of bitterness.

Taste: A Stella Artois type lager (not a green bottle taste surprising) very pale in hop and barley very watery at the same time mediocre in the most sense.

Mouth-feel: Terrible beer just terrible very very crisp but at the same time very dry mouth feel I thought this was an Irish pale lager!.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 21:58:56 | More by TheBrewWhisperer

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Harp Premium Lager into a pint glass.

Pale straw color with a finger of off-white head. Lots of rising carbonation. 3.0

Musty smells of Euro hops, pale malts, and probably too much time travelling across seas and exchanging hands. Grassy with a tiny hint of green apple. 3.5

Grassy hops with stalwart bitterness and rough herbal notes. Lagered pretty clean with a crisp, cidery finish. Faint pear juice and spearmint. Husky grains that are very cereal. Not bad, at all. 3.5

Medium carbonation that starts off slow and peaks at the end. The body is light and flashing. A decent feel. 3.5

A nice lager that seems to fluctuate from bottle-to-bottle, keg-to-keg. This was a very pleasing experience. Definitely a harshly rough bittering hop character, but there are a few other nuances to pull out from the taste. Commendable. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 03:21:08 | More by thecheapies

bubseymour

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance - The pale yellow, clear beer looks decent. the problem I have is with the head. It was 1 finger thick but looked like soap suds and quickly disappears.

Smell - Some malt and perhaps a touch of noble hops.

Taste - If people are going to complain about BMC's lacking flavor they should be consistent and complain about this as well. With that said (avoidance of flavor) its an easy drinker with slight crispness in finish.

Mouthfeel - a little watery.

Overall - Definitely not worth paying import costs for. You can get similar beers in US for 33%-50% less cost.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 23:46:14 | More by bubseymour

CMUbrew

Michigan

2.83/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Imported...from Canada

A: Poured with less than half a finger of white dish soap foam. Pale straw color. Crazy amount of carbonation rising from the bottom.

S: Faint grains. Smells like a BMC but only slightly better.

T: Tastes like a slighlty better BMC too. Light grains, very faint hops. Not much flavor. Adjunct aftertaste.

M: Actually not bad. Light and crisp. That works for this beer.

O: A below average lager from a boring style. To be honest I'd take some Miller High Life over this any day.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 03:51:55 | More by CMUbrew

blakelive784

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a generic pint glass, reviewed live:

A - Pours a transparent straw golden color with a finger of thin white head and lively carbonation. Retention is bad. Standard fare.

S - Cereal grains, sweet malt and very light floral hops. Simple and clean. Mild strength and seemingly balanced.

T - Unrefined cereal grains comprise the majority of the body, with some light sweetness contributed by light pale malt. The hops are one note; floral and lightly bitter. It's definitely simple and well balanced.

M - Crisp, coarse and a little thick, probably thicker than it should be.

D - Highly drinkable, decently built and affordable. One of my standbys for session beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 20:57:26 | More by blakelive784

jera1350

Minnesota

2.55/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Fizzy yellow beer best describes this.

Corn sweetness with some other light grain.

Clean and crisp up front with a light grainy sweetness, but the middle and back end drop off completely and leave little trace of any flavor.

The carbonation is actually decent. The body is lighter and the finish dry.

No need to have this one again personally.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 01:15:11 | More by jera1350

roblowther

Texas

3.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours pale gold with little evidence of carbonation. Smell has both hops and malt, very light, kind of pear-like. Taste is very, very light. Very drinkable. Very refreshing and as I've just finished a bike ride, just what I wanted. Very balanced, not as "macro light" tasting as I anticipated. I'm not sure what that taste is but then again I am. Mouthfeel is a touch watery, slightly carbonated and generally not noticeable unless I'm reviewing. Overall, not bad. Refreshing when its cold and you're hot, I feel it probably goes downhill from there.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 18:02:58 | More by roblowther

mikeg67

New Jersey

1.93/5  rDev -40.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

12 oz bottle. Pours clear straw color with a white head and soda-like carbonation. Nose is of grassy hops and hey. Body is medium and slightly crisp. Taste is barely noticeable - of light hops and some grain. Finish is very short. This brew is on par with other macros.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 14:22:54 | More by mikeg67

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had some of this left over from St. Patrick's Day, too. Thought I'd give it a review.

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at fridge temperature.

L - Straw-to-pale gold color with a 1 finger white bubbly head. Tons of carbonation bubbles, OK retention, surprisingly great lacing. Looks nice.

S - Malty aroma, a grainy, cereal smell to it. Maybe some wisp of earthy, slightly citrusy hop aroma but this one's mostly bready, grainy malt.

T - Surprisingly citrusy sweet up front, followed by a malty cereal, bready taste, ending with a slightly bitter finish.

F - Light-to-medium bodied, lots of tongue-tickling carbonation, definitely a crisp and dry finish. A malty mouth-coating feel for sure and the bready and citrusy sweetness lingers on the tongue for a bit.

O - I was definitely surprised by this one. More sweetness than I expected, not really any of that adjunct flavor, and a crisp refreshing finish to it. Probably wouldn't seek it out, but if it's around, it's a nice light session lager.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 18:42:32 | More by BlackBelt5112203

hdf561

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had two of these in a bottle on St Pattys

Notice a citrusy smell right off the bat...but not over powering

Can taste hints of citrus, but not overwhelming.

Very smooth drinkable beer not what I expected.

really liked this beer and will definetly get some again. Good gateway beer for stepping into imports if you have never tried any.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 00:51:05 | More by hdf561

MattyG85

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a bright and clear golden yellow with lots of fast rising bubbles. Huge five fingers of white head that almost overflows. Good retention and leaves lots of lacing around the glass.

Smell: Sweet pale malts with cereal wheat grains. Pretty bready and cracker like. Light hints of some earthy, floral hops in the background. Decent smell for the style as it doesn't have a noticeable adjunct aroma.

Taste: Bready cracker like taste of pale malts and cereal wheat grains. Light hints of citrus and lemon zest. Some light hints of earthy hops towards the finish. Light but has a decent taste.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Crisp and creamy. A pretty easy drinker.

Overall: A pretty decent beer for the style. A step above the other mass produced Euro lagers.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 22:19:08 | More by MattyG85