Harpoon IPA - Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

Poured a medium gold color with a small white head and decent carbonation. Nose is floral, lightly hopped. Taste is grainy, light bodied with floral hints and not much malt. Mouthfeel is light, astringent at times and floral. Do not recommend at all.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 15:11:41 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

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

To start, I must admit having a soft spot for this beer. When it was first introduced, it was the best IPA I had up to that point. Throughout New England, this is my favorite regularly available beer. That said, it is not my favorite IPA any longer, but it is worthy of this review.

A-color is honey to light amber. Has a two-finger head that leaves clumpy lace on the glass.

S-Floral hop bouquet, although this muted from some of the "big" IPA's now available. This bottle had a slight refridgerator smell.

T/M-Nice bitter flavors with a moderate body and an above average carbonation. Fairly smooth in terms of mouthfeel. The aftertaste is largely bittering hop.

D-I find this to be the quintessential drinking IPA. It's not too pronounced in any of the areas that some IPA's are prone to. A consistent performer.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2005 20:50:56 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to jaxon53 for this brew.

Best by 10/10/07

Pours a clean/clear golden yellow color, I don't see too many IPAs look like this, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy white head, which then leaves some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty/hoppy, not much citrus or pines in this one, and some caramel tones. The taste is a nice balance of hops/malts, nice little touch of bitterness/sweetness. Medium body. Drinkable, a different IPA in my book, tasty. This is also my first brew from Harpoon.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2007 20:45:12 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.25/5  rDev -38%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A good IPA but not my style, serious hops from start to finish. Clear, good head, heavy hop aroma. Medium body and fairly dry. Strong bitter finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2002 19:06:59 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown long neck with an ink jet printed bottled on date above the label.

Appearance: Vibrant deep golden hue with a fine clarity, densely frothed head sticks just about everywhere.

Smell: Earthy and citric hop in the nose with a mild maltiness in the back, hops are a mix of Cascade and Cluster.

Taste: Soft citric hop throughout, bitterness is just above the malt flavours. Some alcohol is there with a warming factor towards the end. Toasted and biscuity flavours from the grain show a stable base of malt. Hop flavour in its softness lingers for a while.

Mouthfeel: Moderate body, lined crispness with a smooth backing.

Drinkability & Notes: A highly drinkable bottled ale, seems faintly withdrawn over the years but is still a reliable American IPA.

One of my favourites especially when I can get it with a month old or less "bottled on date". Nothing like fresh Harpoon IPA! Oddly I like this brew better in the bottle than on tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2003 13:03:54 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This AIPA pours dark golden amber, with a slight haze. non descript white head, and just a smattering of lacing. laid back grainy hops in the nose. Can't say I'm overwhelmed by this IPA, hop crunch is quite subdued. Sort of a mushy feel to the center and body of this brew. Finish is equally mundane. C'mon Harpoon , I feel like this one has been sliding downwards the past few years, not the punchy and flavorful IPA I remember.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2005 01:03:23 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

From 07/03/11 notes. Brought a 12 pack of this to a BBQ to try and get some friends to try something other than Corona, but I ended up drinking 6-7 of them myself as most people did not touch them.

a - Pours a clear amber color with one finger of fluffy white head and mdoerate carbonation evident. Light lacing on the glass.

s - Smells of citrus hop, fruity malts, light pine hops, and some tropical fruits. Not overly hoppy, but a lot of fruit, which I enjoyed.

t - Tastes of citurs hops, fruity malts, tropical fruits, biscuit, and bready malts. Some ncie fruit again but also some smooth bready malts.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Super smooth and creamy body, and very easy to drink.

o - Overall a pretty nice IPA that got me through the day. The friends of mine who did try it all enjoyed it a lot; I would think this could be a very good low ABV IPA to bring to a summer BBQ or gathering to introduce some non-crafat beer drinkers to craft beers. Would certainly have it again.

Serving type: can

07-08-2011 15:07:58 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle found in my fridge after the Superbowl party. Thanks, somebody...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" off-white head above the dark golden/light amber brew. Head is pillowy and a bit uneven as it fades slightly, with nice lacing. Aroma is leafy hops, with underpinnings of sweet pale maltiness. Taste is upfront with a shot of hops, giving way to smooth malts, and closes up shop with a revisit of the hops. Mouthfeel and drinkability are excellent as well. Nice one from Harpoon.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2005 21:44:09 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled through the Secret Bunny 2007 BIF and sinstaineddemon.

A freakishly clear and lightly colored IPA, this has the clarity of Macro lager and is barely tinted Orange. Fair white forms but does not last.

The smell is sweet and malty and hoppy without covering up a nice floral aroma. Grapefruit and roses are the main scents here.

The taste begins sweet and floral, that suggestion of rose petal makes its way to the taste. Outstanding taste in an IPA, lots of flavor instead of a simple tongue numbing hops overload. Lots of floral taste here and just the merest trace of the normal citrus and pine tastes. Mostly the taste here is herbal and floral and doesn't really settle in to a 'taste' it keeps changing. A cut above the rest for an AIPA.

Mouthfeel is good.

VERY easy to drink and flavorful AIPA. As a rule the beers that interest Beer Advocates are too much for most of the beer drinkers of the USA this is one that is both outstanding and accessible to more casual beer drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 05:22:04 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

On tap @ the Harpoon Riverbend Taps and Beer Garden (Windsor, VT) on 2/20/11. Served in a Harpoon IPA branded pint glass.

Pours a clear copper, with a finger of thick and foamy bright-white head. This retains with roughly a rich ½ finger that proceeds to coat the sides of the glass with heavy sticky lacing. The aroma is bright and zesty smelling in the nose with citrus flavors that are undercut by some additional leafy, earthy, and spicy notes. A firm backing of caramel and bread balance things out across the back, giving the overall nose a spicy tanginess at times.

The taste mirrors the nose, with fresh biting citrus flavor that is surrounded by a leafy spiciness. This is balanced by a silky mix of caramel and lightly toasted grains. The finish is dry and spicy with a touch of bitter earth. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp on the sides, which then pulls together into more of a creamy and silky feel across the back of the throat as this goes down. That slightly sub 6% ABV helps keep this smooth and drinkable.

This was my first time with this beer on draft and I must say that I enjoyed it much more than the few times that I've had it out of the bottle. Lots of fresh bright citrus flavors and bitterness here, which were well balanced and the creamy body here kept this very drinkable. This has a bit of an Americanized British IPA hybrid thing going on and I really liked it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 18:11:49 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden amber, very clear, big white head, nice lacing. Smell is pine and citrus hops, crystal caramel malt, honey sweetness. Taste is piney, some light malt flavour, citrus near the end, clean bitter finish. Lighter bodied, medium carbonation, smooth and refreshing, tasty IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2005 17:38:04 | More by Viggo

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

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clear, light amber color with a thick off-white foamy head. The aroma is very bland, containing only a slight bitter hop presence. This beer was very watered down with not enough of a strong bitter hop taste. Another dissapointing offering from an, in my opinion, overrrated brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 06:07:33 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.84/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Pours a little deeper and darker than expected. Smells like very little. Taste = disappointing. "Where's the hops?" a la "Where's the Beef?" I get it this is an east coast interpretation, but dang.

Mouthfeel just tastes like a shiftless amber or brown ale. Doesn't inspire me to ever try any of their hoppy beers. I think they have a limited Imperial or double IPA, but I would have to speculate that based on this beer, it would take a double/imperial to raise it to its appropriate hop and alcohol strength to be a more worthy version of an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 00:05:42 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Rex's Tavern, West Chester, PA

Pretty good IPA. Of note is the fact that when I first had this beer, I was served in a true glass pint, while my friend Dave received his in a plastic cup. Just sayin'.

Poured a slightly hazy amber, with some carbonation, and a humble white head. Faint aroma of citrus hops and caramel malts. Pretty smooth tasting at first with malts and nuts up front, and hops coming in soon afterward with some bitterness. Citrus and pine notes. Light-medium mouthfeel with some stale bitterness in the aftertaste. Fairly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 18:28:15 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

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

On-tap at Cypress St. Pint and Plate in Atlanta.

Pours a clear light copper color with a one-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of pale malts with moderate amounts of buttery diacetyl and milder amounts of citrus and earthy hops. As the beer warms the hop aromas fade even further.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by moderate amounts of citrus and leafy hop flavors. Midway through the sip the hop flavors fade a bit and diacetyl works its way into things. The hops reassert themselves near the end of the sip and carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass however I'm not sure about another.

Overall this IPA was fairly forgettable - certainly not a bad beer but not one I'd be in a rush to revisit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2010 01:16:49 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

3.83/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On the pour the beers appears a deeply tanned gold with a sparkling white head that is impressive in size, frothy in its texture and as it erodes it leaves a nice lace coving. Lightly floral, hints of malt with a citrus crispness and quite a treat for the nose, sweet at the front with a middling top and a biting acidity at the finish with an “English hop spicy bite”, not brutal, just quite pleasant to the palate, also quite dry, and a very drinkable beer in this “Beer” lovers book.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2002 14:32:44 | More by Gusler

DoubleJ

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On draft in a chilled shaker pint glass at The Eastern Standard, on to the beer:

The beer shines a light pale gold in the glass, leaving decent lacing on the glass as I drink it. Aroma is clean and somewhat malty sweet. The same can be said for the first part of the taste. You taste the malts (which are bready and caramel) at first, but then the hops kick in mildly during the second half. There's a note a fruit in the middle of it all. Clean and easy drinking.

I could have confused it for a pale ale, as this is a well balanced, albeit averagish example of an IPA. Still, you can find this all around Boston, and it might make a good starter beer for those who are getting into hoppier beers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2008 02:10:36 | More by DoubleJ

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Notes of 02/2009) Tasted during a horizontal tasting of two American IPAs, the other one being the Flying Dog "Snake Dog IPA"; BB 21/10/2008, served only mildly chilled in a wine glass.

A: dark golden to amber in colour, fast-retreating off-white foamy head, fizzy upfront, then turning light on the carbonation.
S: balanced - a "breezy" aroma mixed of honey drink, lychee fruits, other slightly sharp tropical fruits, a flowery scent of Cascade-like US hops springs to mind, set against an enticing bedrock of light biscuity and faintly caramely malts. As the beer warms up a bit, a semi-sharp touch of pineapples also comes forward, witnessing the work of yeastiness.
T: sweet honey-ish, grapefruity and lychee-shell-like flavours upfront precede a lightly tannic, leafy hop bitterness and residual citric sourness; settling to a lightly chewy finish with lingering biscuity elements of pale malts, while hop bitterness stays loyally at the end of the tasting, transcending a little piney scent as well.
M&D: unfortunately, it's pretty thin on the body and the semi-spritzy fizziness comes not as soft and natural as a bottle-conditioned ale, but perhaps it's designed as such (light) to be quaffable and the overall mouthfeel is clean enough indeed. Not as deep and complex as the FD Snake Dog IPA tasted alongside, but overall an easy-drinking example all the same.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2009 17:32:52 | More by wl0307

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Very clear light amber colour topped by a thin white head that showed excellent retention and stickage.

Smell: The aroma is well-balanced between grainy malt character and citrusy hops (pink grapefruit). Very nice.

Taste: The balance is on the bitter side (of course) with a light citrus and floral hop flavour. Some basic malty sweetness is also present. While good, the flavour is a bit one dimensional.

Mouthfeel: Medium/light body and moderate carbonation with a smooth texture. No complaints here.

Drinkability: Overall, a pretty good pint and not bad for a session. I had the opportunity to sample it a couple times over several days and my impressions didn't really change.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2005 18:00:22 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a medium straw hue with a two finger creamy head. There was good retention and good sticky laing.

The smell consisted flowery and citris hop and biscuity malt.

The taste was dominated at first by the oily hop character but soon was balanced by a solid doughy malt backbone.

The mouthfeel was light and dry.

Overall a nice AIPA. Not the greatest one out there, but definitely highly drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2006 01:40:54 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The CANQuest (TM) moves forward with another summer CANned beer from Harpoon. CAN you dig it?

From the CAN: "In the tradition of IPAs, our highly-hopped, copper-colored ale features a floral aroma and and a crisp, refreshing finish. Cheers! Love Beer. Love Life. Harpoon. Pack it in, pack it out. Please recycle."

I got two-plus fingers' of tawny head from my pour, demonstrating that the rain today is finally killing the oppressive head and humidity of the past week. As the head slowly reduced, a good bit of sticky lacing formed, which was a nice trade-off. The CAN read "copper-colored", but it was a light copper for which I will extend the benefit of the doubt, with NE-quality clarity. No qualms with their mention of "a floral aroma" on the nose, however. Citrusy and definitely hoppy - that's how I like my beer from a CAN! Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with a great hoppy spiciness on the tongue. What a welcome relief from some of my recent CANs! This both tasted like something and it tasted good, also. The finish was bitter, dry, and refreshing, just the way I like my AIPAs to be. I would definitely put this is my cooler, but it is sadly a limited test run in New England to see about the viability of CANning their beers. I was lucky to get some but I hope that they make it a routine endeavor.

Serving type: can

07-10-2010 17:03:59 | More by woodychandler

Brad007

Vermont

3.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a light copper color. Aroma has a decent hop bouquet and the taste follows. Not too hoppy and not not too much of anything else. Solid flavor. A pretty good representation of its style. To some, Harpoon is a benchmark for IPAs. I would say that it's a good starting point.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2007 03:53:22 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Brown bottle best by date of 1/15/10.

Pours a very clear amber color with more than a finger of big bubble head. Just slightly off white color to the cap. Not much retension but it laces all over the place. The hops present in the nose is kinda mild for an IPA but recognizable as the fruity/citrus character of cascade. Little bit of malt sweetness coming through in the aroma as well. Taking a sip, it is a nice balance of malt sweetness to hop bitterness. Feel is quite thin and carb is a little low. Overall it isn't bad but I feel cheated. I got to enjoy this in time before the best by date but it doesn't have the freshness character to back that label up.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2009 23:53:21 | More by stakem

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On draught at Lazy Chameleon. Pours a clear amber-orange color with a thinwhite head. Decent lacing as well. The aroma is a really pleasant concoction of hops and fruit. Medium-bodied, and the flavor is surprisingly subdued given the strong aroma. There is a fair amount of malt in the flavor as well. The finish is fairly clean and bitter. Maybe it is the hop-heavy IPAs like Ruination, Buckeye '76 et al that are to blame but I like a higher level of hops than this beer offers, both in the flavor and in the finish. A decent beer nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2003 15:14:14 | More by Dogbrick