Harpoon IPA - Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice light copper color with a thin white head that has some decent lacing qualities. Nice pungent, oily aroma. The hop explosion hit the palate first. And it is good. I would say this beer is more hoppy than it is bitter. There is a bitter element present, but more of the hoppy tones seem to make their way to my taste sensors. Flowery and herbal at the same time. A bit oily. Slightly pungent. After cutting through all of the wonderful hop nuances, you will find a decent malt presence. Nicely done IPA here.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2002 21:48:44 | More by Bighuge

goindownsouth

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

All in all, a decent IPA. After having tried Pyramid and Lost Coast though, the bar may be a bit too high. The color was a nice copper and there was a moderate hoppy aroma intertwined with some fruit and spice tinges. The first sip is slightly disappointing, as one tends to expect more bang for the buck. As you get to the middle of the bottle, and towards the end of it, this IPA tends to grow on you a bit. Not the best, but not terrible, by far.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2002 03:26:47 | More by goindownsouth

mophie

Delaware

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had my first one of these tonight. It's a nice beer, and from what I've read, a pretty consistent one, which is a good thing. Just a few shades lighter than amber in color, with a fluffy white head that fades rather quickly. The aroma has me befuddled -- I can hardly smell anything. Allergies, maybe? Taste is more pronounced, though. Almost English in style, the hops are not over-the-top, but they're there. Nice mild citrus and a touch of pine. Smooth malt character provides a pleasant balance, and leads to a smooth, creamy finish. Not a standout necessarily; this is probably one of those beers that grows on you the more you drink it, so I'm looking forward to trying a few more.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2002 18:56:41 | More by mophie

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big bubbly white head over golden body. Nice lacing. Big hop aromas, lot of citrus. Much more balanced in taste than nose would indicate. More English than American IPA (except for the aroma). Which makes it more of a session beer for hopheads. Some postings/reviews seem to indicate that it has been dumbed-down, but this is still a fine beer. Glad they still send large quanitites to New Jersey.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2002 21:24:52 | More by RonfromJersey

Murph

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear bright golden color with a thick, bubbly, white head. Smell is all hops and hop oil. Some slight citrus and very floral qualities. Floral hops explode onto the tongue but are then followed by some nice balancing malt. Brew gets maltier as it warms. Crisp and dry mouthfeel and extremely drinkable. This is definitely one of my major fallback brews when I am home in MA. Recently it has become very easy to get down here in VA, no complaints from me. One of my all time favorite session brews.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2002 15:18:32 | More by Murph

Thrasher

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Slightly sour aroma, pours to tempting head, golden color (light for ipa). Good hop character: floral, bitter, stringy. Hops are what make the beer. Light fruity malts are understated, pretty mild character overall despite hop presence. Absolutely fresh, it can be quite good but if its more than a couple weeks old it'll be closer to average.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2002 15:14:20 | More by Thrasher

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is the local hopmeister. A deep rich amber color with a medium body and lasting thick head give this beer a good look, nice heavy hop aroma and powerful, yet mellow hop flavor profile. Nice balance of malts with this one create an easy drinking libation.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2002 04:10:35 | More by beernut7

packetknife

Idaho

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It certainly does assault you on first whiff and taste. Had it last night for the first time and ended up carrying out the box this morning. Not that I was responsible for the whole thing. Hoppy as sin, kinda bready and skanky on the nose. Didn't hold a held but plenty of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2002 09:08:27 | More by packetknife

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The color is a medium-copper, w/ a small head which dissipates very quickly. Nice floral hoppiness w/ bite on the mouth, excellent finish. I enjoyed this very much, a true English styled IPA!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2002 16:31:24 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Medium-golden color, with a small, short-lasting head. Medium body, and medium on the tongue. Nice floral hoppiness in both the nose and in its flavor. Not as pronounced as some, but still tasty.

overall: 4
appearance: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

56

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2002 17:37:01 | More by Bierman9

bcm119

California

4.08/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Good American IPA, although its not the hoppiest thing on earth. Gently bitter, clean and dry; floral and a little minerally, with a tasty raw grain flavor that lingers in the finish.

Updated to increase taste and drinkability, after a trip to Boston where I had this fresh at the brewery. This is much better when fresh and overall one of my favorite east coast session IPA's. Very well balanced, bright flavors and really quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2001 21:02:35 | More by bcm119

pbrian

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very pale for an American IPA but very tasty. Hops everywhere but not overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2001 08:43:01 | More by pbrian

xXTequila

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +35%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This has to be one of my favorite ipa's.
You can smell the hops while you pour.
Golden Orange with a big thick head. Great lace.
At first a salty green rind flavour followed by a rush of citrus and sweet malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2001 16:41:10 | More by xXTequila

John

New York

3/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer was really something at the onset of the craft brew movement and it's likely converted many a yellow beer drinker. It's still very good beer. However, with the evolution of American IPAs, this one comes up a little short. Maybe that's an unfair comparison since this probably is closer to an English style IPA. Even so, it's a little weak.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2001 13:35:24 | More by John

Todd

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A pretty decent, all around good IPA. Plenty of hops and malt to match, with a nice alcohol kick. Unfortunately it's seems to be changing year after year, getting dumbed down for the masses and is nothing like the original Tod Mott recipe. Still, a solid favourite of mine and a nice backup beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2000 22:29:18 | More by Todd