-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
100 Barrel Series #39 - Vermont Spruce Tip
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- From:
- Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.51 | pDev: 13.96%
- Reviews:
- 44
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 19, 2020
- Added:
- Dec 02, 2011
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 4
This hearty ale is a showcase for a traditional yet seldom used brewing ingredient: spruce tips. Harvested at their tender, ripe, bright green peak in Downer State Forest, Vermont, these spruce tips impart citrus, pine, spice, herbal and earthy notes. A host of malts, a hint of roasted barley and generous use of Chinook hops complement the unique spruce flavor.
We’d like to thank the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and all of the many great volunteers that helped us with this unusual harvest.
38 IBU
We’d like to thank the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and all of the many great volunteers that helped us with this unusual harvest.
38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MNBeerNE:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.12/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.12/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours an amber body with off white head with nice retention and lacing
S: slight sweet, subtle vanilla smell; subtle toffee notes
T: subtle sweet toffee notes with some alcohol undertones; nothing too impressive
M: medium mouthfeel and smooth; pretty good overall
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; decent drinking beer overall
Nov 19, 2020A: pours an amber body with off white head with nice retention and lacing
S: slight sweet, subtle vanilla smell; subtle toffee notes
T: subtle sweet toffee notes with some alcohol undertones; nothing too impressive
M: medium mouthfeel and smooth; pretty good overall
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; decent drinking beer overall
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut
3.88/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22oz. bomber into a NOLA Brewing pint glass.
A: Medium, copper amber color with a thick, foamy head of off-white foam which causes a small bit of lacing to build up around the edge of the glass.
S: Semi-roasted caramel malt sweetness couples with a spicy, fruity ale yeast complicated by a pine and woody herbal hop resin.
T: Sweet doses of fruity, caramel malts up front which lend a bit of body and alcohol to the flavor. Up next is the spicy hop bitterness brought upon by the piney, spicy addition of spruce tips. The finish is a bit viscous with a touch of booziness but also a hint of piney hop goodness thanks to the Chinook additions.
M: Full-bodied ale with some spicy, bitter notes imparted by spruce tips and dry, Chinook hops. Pretty satisfying and easy to drink.
O: This 7% ABV essentially "American Strong Ale" for all intents and purposes, was not half bad. It has some balance and identity issues, but on the whole, I liked the spicy, floral, fruity and piney effect brought on by the Chinook hops, yeast strain and craftsmanship. Not the best in the series but certainly a unique and tasty one.
Jun 07, 2012A: Medium, copper amber color with a thick, foamy head of off-white foam which causes a small bit of lacing to build up around the edge of the glass.
S: Semi-roasted caramel malt sweetness couples with a spicy, fruity ale yeast complicated by a pine and woody herbal hop resin.
T: Sweet doses of fruity, caramel malts up front which lend a bit of body and alcohol to the flavor. Up next is the spicy hop bitterness brought upon by the piney, spicy addition of spruce tips. The finish is a bit viscous with a touch of booziness but also a hint of piney hop goodness thanks to the Chinook additions.
M: Full-bodied ale with some spicy, bitter notes imparted by spruce tips and dry, Chinook hops. Pretty satisfying and easy to drink.
O: This 7% ABV essentially "American Strong Ale" for all intents and purposes, was not half bad. It has some balance and identity issues, but on the whole, I liked the spicy, floral, fruity and piney effect brought on by the Chinook hops, yeast strain and craftsmanship. Not the best in the series but certainly a unique and tasty one.
Reviewed by chugalug06 from Colorado
3.56/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.56/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
One of the clearest most clean looking brews I’ve ever seen. Decent lacing and great head build-ability. Head is slight off-white with think foamy appearance.
WHOA! Knock your socks-off spicy at first, but then it fades…still a great scent! Very mellow vanilla and pine. Slight citrus (orange) too. A bit too (caramel) malted.
The taste is far from the scent… very mellow and laid-back flavor. Not a forward presentation. Quite dry and quenching, but not much rounds out the flavor profile… Great carbonation and zero heat, but comparatively, the flavor lacks for the type of brew.
An awesome brew only a few steps away from being a winner, but it needs that extra kick to help push it into a different category. I think with less malt this brew would have been a masterpiece worthy of award. Subtly unique, worthy.
May 30, 2012WHOA! Knock your socks-off spicy at first, but then it fades…still a great scent! Very mellow vanilla and pine. Slight citrus (orange) too. A bit too (caramel) malted.
The taste is far from the scent… very mellow and laid-back flavor. Not a forward presentation. Quite dry and quenching, but not much rounds out the flavor profile… Great carbonation and zero heat, but comparatively, the flavor lacks for the type of brew.
An awesome brew only a few steps away from being a winner, but it needs that extra kick to help push it into a different category. I think with less malt this brew would have been a masterpiece worthy of award. Subtly unique, worthy.
100 Barrel Series #39 - Vermont Spruce Tip from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
106 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!