Harpoon Brewery
Boston, MA
Available: throughout New England, and in select markets in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states
Harpoon Ale, first released in 1987, is brewed with 2 row pale and caramel malts, and Cluster and Cascade hops. It was the first in the family of Harpoon beers from the Harpoon Brewery (Mass Bay Brewing Co.), the largest craft brewer in New England.
ABV: 4.9
ABW: 3.9
Color: 9.75 L
Bitterness: 19
Original gravity: 1055
Beautiful to look at, and aromatic as well. The beer did not fail its task to entrance and delight my taste buds. This beer holds one's attention with a well-managed hop-malt balance. It has actually improved since my first tasting way back in 1989.
A brash bright orange beer with a sturdy tan head. The aroma is fruity, biscuity malt with the faintest note of hops. Low to moderate bitterness is up front on the palate as medium-bodied caramelish malt moves through to a slightly acidic hard mineral finish. The finish is clipped and sets up well for the next sip. Unexciting, with no big flavors--this tastes just like dozens of other pale ales. That said, it’s well-brewed, clean and versatile. Perfectly nice with a burger.
I have known this beer since its earliest days, and its salient features seem unchanged: its teasing, gold-to-bronze color; perfumy aroma; firm, almost brittle, body; cookie-like maltiness; fruity palate; and flowery, hoppy finish. In this bottling, I note an especially creamy aroma, strawberry-like fruitiness and a nice counterpoint of crispness in the finish.
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer Style and Saké.
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.
Author of Ultimate Beer, the Simon & Schuster Guide to Beer and numerous other works on drinks, Jackson has created legions of converts to fine beer.
Sat Aug 28th, 2010
Birth of a Brewery
It’s rare that a beer lover gets to watch a brewery being born. However, years ago I offered a young man a job at the magazine for no apparent reason...
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