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100 Barrel Series #22 - Steve Stewart's Firth Of Forth
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- From:
- Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
- ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.7 | pDev: 10.81%
- Reviews:
- 131
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 26, 2014
- Added:
- Feb 25, 2008
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 1
The story of Harpoon’s Steve Stewart’s Firth of Forth Ale began at Harpoon a decade ago. Back in 1998 a young Scottish brewer named Steve Stewart crossed the big pond and came to Harpoon in Boston as part of a brewery intern exchange program. Steve apprenticed at Harpoon for a couple months then took his new-found appreciation of American craft beer back to his full-time brewing job at a large Irish brewery. After some time, Steve decided to return to his birthplace -Scotland - and open his own microbrewery.
Over the years, Steve kept in touch with the brewers at Harpoon, filling them in on his brewing progress. In April 2007 when Harpoon staff took their annual employee anniversary trip, they paid a special visit to Steve's microbrewery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Between toasting pints of Steve's award-winning cask ales the Harpoon brewers invited Steve to guest brew a 100 Barrel Series beer. He accepted with delight. For several months Steve and our brewers collaborated on the recipe, an American twist on a traditional Scottish Ale.
28 IBU
Over the years, Steve kept in touch with the brewers at Harpoon, filling them in on his brewing progress. In April 2007 when Harpoon staff took their annual employee anniversary trip, they paid a special visit to Steve's microbrewery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Between toasting pints of Steve's award-winning cask ales the Harpoon brewers invited Steve to guest brew a 100 Barrel Series beer. He accepted with delight. For several months Steve and our brewers collaborated on the recipe, an American twist on a traditional Scottish Ale.
28 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by deanhead:
Reviewed by deanhead from Vermont
3.16/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.16/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I didn't quite know what to expect with this beer. It arrived in a tulip glass at the Harpoon brewery in Windsor.
Appearance was a nice dep rich brown color, with nice carbonation. That's about the only place this beer shined.
Very little aroma of anything to be found. Some horseblanket,and earhty notes, but that's it.
Very neutral and plain tasting. Slighlty malty flavor and thats about it.
Light to medium body mouthfeel. Seemed thin for the style.
Drinkability. It was easy to drink, but there is really nothing memorable about this beer. I'm glad I tried it, but honestly I wasn't impressed.
Apr 30, 2008Appearance was a nice dep rich brown color, with nice carbonation. That's about the only place this beer shined.
Very little aroma of anything to be found. Some horseblanket,and earhty notes, but that's it.
Very neutral and plain tasting. Slighlty malty flavor and thats about it.
Light to medium body mouthfeel. Seemed thin for the style.
Drinkability. It was easy to drink, but there is really nothing memorable about this beer. I'm glad I tried it, but honestly I wasn't impressed.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by mikereaser from Pennsylvania
3.6/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.6/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
this is several years old at this point
A - pours a deep chestnut with not alot of foam whatsoever
S - aroma now is a bit oxidized with some hints of brown sugar and sweet malts
T - brown sugar dominates along with some sweet malts, the flavor at this point is very thin, a bit of soggy cardboard indicates that its past its prime
M - medium bodied with some sweet malts shining through along with some nice citrusy hops that haven't had the thought to leave yet
D - very drinkable. It has a nice blend of funkiness.
Oct 30, 2011A - pours a deep chestnut with not alot of foam whatsoever
S - aroma now is a bit oxidized with some hints of brown sugar and sweet malts
T - brown sugar dominates along with some sweet malts, the flavor at this point is very thin, a bit of soggy cardboard indicates that its past its prime
M - medium bodied with some sweet malts shining through along with some nice citrusy hops that haven't had the thought to leave yet
D - very drinkable. It has a nice blend of funkiness.
Reviewed by SkeeterHawk from Texas
3.97/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I picked this beer up at Greens liquor tonight. I thought that it was an older series, and this was the last bottle, so I guess I was lucky to get this one.
Appearance: Poured pretty dark with a little bit of haze. The beer had a reddish tint to it, and poured with a small 1/4" head that dissipated quickly. There was a consistent small ring of foam that stayed as the beer was consumed.
Aroma: I get a whole bunch of sweet caramel notes like I should, and there seems to be a subtle Peat thing going on in there. Otherwise, the hops are reserved, so they aren't throwing a bunch of citrusy American hops in there to screw up a Scottish style.
Taste: The beer is very malty with a little bit of hops to balance in the finish and that is about it. That is good. There is a boat load of caramel in here, and it comes across the palate a whole lot more formidable than a 5% beer does. The body is medium with ample carbonation for the style. The finish is owned by the malt.
Opinion: Overall this is a pretty good beer and a good representation of the style. I was a bit concerned when seeing that they used American hops in a Scottish style, but they did it well so that you can't really tell if they hadn't told you. I like the flavor and balance and am glad that I got the opportunity to try this beer.
Mar 15, 2011Appearance: Poured pretty dark with a little bit of haze. The beer had a reddish tint to it, and poured with a small 1/4" head that dissipated quickly. There was a consistent small ring of foam that stayed as the beer was consumed.
Aroma: I get a whole bunch of sweet caramel notes like I should, and there seems to be a subtle Peat thing going on in there. Otherwise, the hops are reserved, so they aren't throwing a bunch of citrusy American hops in there to screw up a Scottish style.
Taste: The beer is very malty with a little bit of hops to balance in the finish and that is about it. That is good. There is a boat load of caramel in here, and it comes across the palate a whole lot more formidable than a 5% beer does. The body is medium with ample carbonation for the style. The finish is owned by the malt.
Opinion: Overall this is a pretty good beer and a good representation of the style. I was a bit concerned when seeing that they used American hops in a Scottish style, but they did it well so that you can't really tell if they hadn't told you. I like the flavor and balance and am glad that I got the opportunity to try this beer.
Reviewed by ThaBobfather from Ohio
3.8/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From notes on 07/21/08
Pours a very murky nearly brown color with mostly tan, thin head.
Smells of some caramel, maybe some sweet malt.
Tastes very smokey with some strong malt, sweet flavor.
The finish is murky and has a lot of coffee bitter in it.
Highly drinkable.
May 13, 2009Pours a very murky nearly brown color with mostly tan, thin head.
Smells of some caramel, maybe some sweet malt.
Tastes very smokey with some strong malt, sweet flavor.
The finish is murky and has a lot of coffee bitter in it.
Highly drinkable.
Reviewed by mjd83goblue from Michigan
3.29/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
3.29/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber.
Pours a little flat and generally looks like muddy water. Not a good start.
Not much jumping out on the nose. A bit of caramely sweetness. Taste isn't as rich as one might expect from the style, but otherwise decent. Roasted Scottish malt, a touch of
charcoal. A bit of hops at the end. Thin mouthfeel.
Nothing memorable about this one.
May 09, 2009Pours a little flat and generally looks like muddy water. Not a good start.
Not much jumping out on the nose. A bit of caramely sweetness. Taste isn't as rich as one might expect from the style, but otherwise decent. Roasted Scottish malt, a touch of
charcoal. A bit of hops at the end. Thin mouthfeel.
Nothing memorable about this one.
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois
3.53/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
G: Poured into a dimpled stein.
A: Pours a thick, cola-brown with a very decent head and plenty of carbonation on top. The beer is almost opaque in the glass. Decent lacing.
S: Contrary to other reviewers, I'm getting a pretty good (and fairly strong) smell out of this one. Deep malts and a caramel character. Slight hops (wonder if there were more when this was first released?)
T: An initial hop bitterness (reminds me ever-so-slightly of Alpha King) and then fades into darker malts. Caramel flavors are present, as well as a little bit of nut.
M: A little thinner than what I would have expected. Also, not a ton of carbonation. Slightly creamy, though actually quite watery.
D: Overall, fairly decent drinkability, but nothing great. Mouthfeel isn't quite right, and the taste isn't as strong as I would like.
D:
Apr 15, 2009A: Pours a thick, cola-brown with a very decent head and plenty of carbonation on top. The beer is almost opaque in the glass. Decent lacing.
S: Contrary to other reviewers, I'm getting a pretty good (and fairly strong) smell out of this one. Deep malts and a caramel character. Slight hops (wonder if there were more when this was first released?)
T: An initial hop bitterness (reminds me ever-so-slightly of Alpha King) and then fades into darker malts. Caramel flavors are present, as well as a little bit of nut.
M: A little thinner than what I would have expected. Also, not a ton of carbonation. Slightly creamy, though actually quite watery.
D: Overall, fairly decent drinkability, but nothing great. Mouthfeel isn't quite right, and the taste isn't as strong as I would like.
D:
Reviewed by merlin48 from Kentucky
3.78/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.78/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Bomber pours a clear chestnut body with a medium sized beige head. Some delicate sheet lacing hangs on the glass.
Aroma is malty caramel mostly, with hints of earthy hops and a faint metallic note.
Mouthfeel is light medium, even slightly watery, and is the lowpoint of the beer. Low medium carbonation.
Taste has a bready maltiness that is sweet with caramel and toffee. Earthy hops provide a balancing bitterness. There might be a faint wisp of smoky malt underneath but it could be my imagination.
Very enjoyable, even sessionable. Not the best Scotch ale made in America, but better than the ratings here.
Mar 22, 2009Aroma is malty caramel mostly, with hints of earthy hops and a faint metallic note.
Mouthfeel is light medium, even slightly watery, and is the lowpoint of the beer. Low medium carbonation.
Taste has a bready maltiness that is sweet with caramel and toffee. Earthy hops provide a balancing bitterness. There might be a faint wisp of smoky malt underneath but it could be my imagination.
Very enjoyable, even sessionable. Not the best Scotch ale made in America, but better than the ratings here.
Reviewed by nick76 from Florida
3.37/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
3.37/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
The aroma is very sweet and fruity with toasted malt, ginger, fruit, chocolate, and spices. The appearance is brown with a medium head. The flavor is like the aroma with a light hoppy finish. The palate is thin. Overall it's a little strange but pretty easy to drink.
Mar 02, 2009
100 Barrel Series #22 - Steve Stewart's Firth Of Forth from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
143 ratings
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