Harpoon Beer Hall

Discussion in 'New England' started by Auror, Jan 29, 2013.

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  1. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Had a chance to go to the Harpoon (Boston) Brewery Beer Hall soft opening (Friends and Family session) tonight. I guess it is opening to the public on February 1st. The space is really nice, overlooking the brewery and with a decent cityscape on the other side. It's mainly a huge bar (with a second for backup) and a bunch of long beer hall tables (and a few standing room circular tables). It seems the only food they will have is pretzels, but they were hot and delicious, with a few interesting dipping sauces including peanut butter caramel. The lack of a full food menu might make it more of a tour overflow place. No TVs either, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Lastly, they had a decent retail store and growler station attached. They had about 10 different glassware types, with almost as many styles for sale (although seemed a bit pricey), as well as 6-packs and clothing. I considered buying a few glasses, but didn't pull the trigger. I did purchase a growler, partially to watch the state-of-the-art fill machine work. It C02 purged every growler, and it seemed remarkably easy to function for employees (probably cuts down on a lot of lost product due to foam, too). Employees only had to put the empty growler in and cap it when filled. Here's hoping they don't let any sit uncapped too long.

    As for the draft menu, they had...everything Harpoon makes on tap; around 20 options, including the two current 100-Barrel and two Leviathan series. Even more of note, they had 2 pilot beers on tap. One was a lemongrass mint hefeweizen, which was decent, but a bit subdued. Aroma was nice, although a friend said it smelled like a grandmother's bathroom (she must use something lemon-scented to clean). The second was an imperial saison, and it was truly excellent. Like a 10% abv Tank 7, it went down real easy with a nice lemony flavor, light body, and dry finish. I would have guessed 6% (I had to ask and have my jaw drop when he said 10}. Great for casual craft fans and anyone who likes citrusy saisons. I don't think it's the same as the retired Leviathan Saison Royale. I ended up getting that as my growler choice ($14 + 64oz glass for the Leviathan, 100 barrel, and pilot beers). We had free beers tonight, but I think someone said regular beers are $5.75 or so, probably more for the premium options.

    I recommend stopping in, and I'm sure it'll be a great place to chill before/after a tour. Anyone else planning a trip over soon?
     
    jamvt likes this.
  2. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I'll be in the area this Sunday and was thinking of swinging by early afternoon before the Superbowl. I did want to give it a few weeks though, as I figure it will be uncomfortably packed that first weekend. I'll post here if I do end up going.
     
  3. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    I'm glad the shorter trip from tank to glass won't stop anyone from experiencing Boston markups. Oof.
     
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  4. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah don't take that as gospel on the price since I didn't pay it, but that's what I thought someone said.

    But yeah... making their money back on free tastings after tours I guess :wink:.
     
  5. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    Seems about right based on the prices at their fests.
     
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  6. fineout

    fineout Crusader (499) Apr 23, 2010 Rhode Island

    the reason that they got the bigger hall was to offset how packed it used to be, they seem to have done their homework from what ive heard and I'm sure it will be better than it had.

    I was upset to not get an invite to the friends event but I also applied on the last day of registration.
     
  7. ljkeats

    ljkeats Pundit (957) Jun 27, 2007 Massachusetts

    According to some tweets, not opening to the public on Feb 1st. Website only says early Feb.
     
  8. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    From what I hear it seats 300 with 500 capacity, so that shouldn't be an issue most of the time.

    I went in the lottery with my friends and none of us got it. I got it through an industry connection, fortunately.
     
    fineout likes this.
  9. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    How late is it going to stay open? Is it still going to be early evening or into the night? Unless it stays open later, it's really just going to attract the post-tour crowd...
     
  10. jamvt

    jamvt Savant (1,126) Aug 5, 2005 Massachusetts
    Trader

    11-11.
     
  11. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    Excellent...
     
  12. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Have you ever been to their Harpoon fests? There's plenty of space both outside and in the tent and those become incredibly crowded. I assume it won't be like that every single weekend night, but I can see this first weekend easily reaching capacity.
     
  13. AReno00

    AReno00 Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2009 Massachusetts

    Complaining about a $5.75 beer? Maybe cities aren't for you.
     
  14. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    Nah, it just irks me when breweries charge some if the highest prices around. It just seems greedy to pocket the markup that would normally go to a wholesaler and not pass any of that savings along to your customers. Breweries are happy to talk about how much they love their fans, but only as long as dollars aren't involved.
     
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  15. PaulB

    PaulB Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2002 Massachusetts

    I hear you (and lulz re: transpo costs crack) but I understand Harpoon has always quoted sensitivity about not "undercutting" the zillion bars in neighboring downtown Boston that sell its products. Fest prices for a pint have been higher than one would expect for a decade or more.

    This place seems cool, look fwd to checking it out
     
  16. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    Yeah, that's the common refrain. I personally think it's straw man--bars' business is based on much more than simply dispensing beer. If they were concerned about losing customers due to prices we'd see much lower prices than we do now. There's simply no way a beer hall in the Seaport area offering $5 pints of Harpoon (sheesh, is that too much to ask?) canabalizes business from downtown.

    Sorry to steer OT--it's a peeve, and I find the excuses equally irksome.
     
    pjl44 likes this.
  17. bradalmanac

    bradalmanac Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts

    fyi, according to one of the Harpoon crew at the beer hall last night, they're still on target to open this Friday at 11am. Well worth a visit. Place is going to be nuts during the next ACBF, and will be a go-to spot before shows at the Bank of America Pavilion this summer, too.

    Their standard lineup will indeed be $5.75/beer. More limited/higher alcohol beers will be $8.00. I tried and loved that Imperial Saison, as well. Definitely doesn't taste like the 9.8% they estimated it at. Sampled the Lemongrass Mint Hef (one of those Pilot beers - i.e. a test batch), and yeah... that's not anything I need to try again.
     
  18. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah I got a growler and I'll probably review it/add it to BA soon.
     
  19. Jason

    Jason Founder (0) Aug 23, 1996 Massachusetts

    They can't undercharge for their beer, bars that carry their beer would not be happy.
     
  20. TheMonkfish

    TheMonkfish Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2012 Chad

    I've worked about a quarter mile from Harpoon for 15 years and have yet to visit the brewery - I seriously have to get down there one of these days. I should probably travel with an empty growler in the trunk going forward (and no trunk does not mean my ass.) :slight_smile:
     
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