Even-tempered pale lager imbued by opulent honey palate, dry malt sweetness, and dull cocoa pitch lacks anticipated hop bite. Only moderate mocha richness saves this from being lost amongst commonplace lagers. Brewery defunct: 2006.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
HART CROSSCUT STOUT
Dry black coffee stiffness will addict strong beer fans equally enamored by the chewy chocolate malting and chalky mocha thicket sweetening sinewy maple resolve. Could use richer syrupy residue, but recommended as fine crossover to pilsner-lager fans ready to move onward and upward. Brewery defunct: 2007.
HART AMBER ALE
Thick up-front maple malting gains hop-spiced bitterness by sour fruited finish. Oak bark hint resonates below vigorous caramel creaminess. Serve to dark ale fanatics. Brewery defunct: 2007.
HARPOON WINTER WARMER
Enticing X-mas treat with immediate nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon tea spiciness coating the tongue for discrete brown sugar/ piney maple sap follow-up, hitting all the right sweet spots to relaxing full-bodied finish. Cereal graininess, strong mocha-malt influence, and sly fructose sweetness fortify dry raisin backdrop of robust exhilaration. On tap ’06 version secured tinny-hopped pumpkin-allspice zeal.
HARPOON UNION STREET REVIVAL ALE
Unfiltered 100-barrel ’05 Extra Special Bitter opens with spry red apple tang, gaining caramel stickiness, barleymalt toasting, and wheat biscuit whim before metallic finish procures a cinnamon cinder.
HARPOON UFO RASPBERRY HEFEWEIZEN
Dull musty-fruited ’06 ‘Unfiltered Offering’ with lazy hazy amber translucence retains soapy raspberry sourness that never takes hold. Parched cranberry-grapefruit pucker and green apple tartness linger faintly above frail white breaded wheat-grass base. Dismal carbolic hop fizz jeopardizes latent blanched rosé illusion. ’12 re-tasting: washed-out Seltzer fizz immensely disrupted orange-dried raspberry theme.
HARPOON UFO PALE ALE
UFO stands for ‘un-filtered offering.’ This refreshing pale ale combines lively citrus hopped bitterness with roasted barleymalt sweetness. A slight dryness envelops moderate-grained finish.
HARPOON UFO HEFEWEIZEN
Vacuous unfiltered wheat with colorful novelty label, musty crystal malt flow, and mild sourdough inertia. Unfortunately, brisk water texture and mild citric hop finish turn metallic while blanched wheat presence subsides. However, softer sessionable 2021 version improved flavor profile as lemon-dropped banana tartness gained marginal clove-coriander spicing and distant whiskey nip.
HARPOON SUMMER ALE
Reliable light-bodied Kolsch-styled brew with pearly white head and pale golden hue highlights ripe peach-grapefruit tang over dry lemony wheat backbone, but watery finish abruptly abandons fruity nuances after a few sips.
HARPOON SPRING MAI BOCK
Though lacking true wine-like mai bock essence and strength, fruity hop zest and herbal touch provide summery red ale appeal. Crisp mineral water, spry carbonation, and mild grain protraction a tad reminiscent of finer Canadian ales.
HARPOON SCOTCH STYLE ALE
Tawny amber hued ‘wee heavy’ bestows honeyed wheat continuance upon roasted nut and cocoa hints. Sweet Scotch malt finish picks up creamy lactose luster absorbing bright orange-apricot tang, sugarplum delicacy, and leathery peat nuance.
HARPOON RAUCHFETZEN
Wispy moderate-bodied German-styled rauchbier places beechwood-smoked peat malts ahead of peppery Hallertau hop spicing and faded salami-bacon singe. Latent lemony orange sourness desiccates nutmeat illusions ’til rye bread finish picks up herbal dusting. On second passing, fizzy lime Seltzer soaping overwhelms any true German rauchbier character.