IPA
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

IPAIPA
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From:
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English IPA
Ranked #60
ABV:
6%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,835
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 13.22%
Reviews:
1,321
Ratings:
4,366
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 24, 2024
Added:
Nov 01, 2000
Wants:
  99
Gots:
  1,013
We started brewing this beer as a summer seasonal in 1993. There were some great IPAs out in the Pacific Northwest, but no local IPAs on the east coast. We wanted to have a local IPA, so we brewed one. People absolutely loved it, and so did we. So we made it a year-round beer, and it’s now our bestselling beer and our flagship.
Since its introduction, Harpoon IPA has remained unique in its ability to balance hop bitterness with a strong malt backbone. Dry-hopped with Cascade hops, it has a floral hop aroma and a finish that is bitter (it is an IPA after all!) without being harsh or astringent. Combined with a malty sweetness and the fruity esters of our proprietary yeast, those hops create a beer that is wonderfully hoppy but clean and refreshing enough to enjoy a few of - and we hope you do.

42 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Benjamyn:
Photo of Benjamyn
Rated by Benjamyn

4/5  rDev +10.2%

Jun 27, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.54 by baklo from North Carolina

Feb 24, 2024
 
Rated: 3.9 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 3.65 by gboley from California

Nov 06, 2023
Photo of FreePal88
Reviewed by FreePal88

3.98/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
When you want an IPA that doesn't taste like grapefruit or orange but you don't wanna pick one at random and end up with one that tastes like grapefruit or orange anyway, there's always Harpoon.
Nov 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.61 by not2quick from Missouri

Nov 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.42 by Hazey92 from New York

Sep 24, 2023
Photo of Danmooney40
Rated by Danmooney40 from Virginia

3.54/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Kind of harsh bitterness without a full palate of tastes.
Sep 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Taenim from Maine

Sep 09, 2023
Photo of KrakowBluegrass
Reviewed by KrakowBluegrass from Massachusetts

3.46/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Fourteen years ago, when I moved from California to Massachusetts, it was the first local beer I fell in love with. It was always a lot better on draft than from the bottle, and I still will order it at Logan airport or in Boston restaurants if nothing that holds great appeal to me is available. It’s a little too bland for my taste now. Still, a good solid IPA.
Jul 08, 2023
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Just looking through all the ratings and reviews this beer has garnered during its long run and cannot find anything new to add except to reemphasize many of its fine qualities. From its handsome appearance to the tasty, balanced finish, it is a solid well made "4" that has not abandoned its roots.
Jul 01, 2023
Photo of ATL6245
Reviewed by ATL6245 from Georgia

4.32/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Clear amber, fluffy white head with good retention.

Aroma: Citrus and toasted, bready malt.

Flavor: Citrus, toast and bread. Moderately sweet. Moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Drying, moderate carbonation, medium length finish.

Overall: Another iconic, old school IPA. Pours a clear amber color producing a nice fluffy white head with good retention. The Cascade and Cluster Hops provide citrus aromas of grapefruit and oranges that distinguish the nose. You also get some toasty bread hints from the lightly roasted malts. Tastes include citrus notes combined with the sweet malt that you would expect from a beer of amber color. Bitterness is quite restrained; however, the sweetness is as well, giving it a nice balance between the two. It finishes on the dry side with a medium aftertaste. Well crafted, classically balanced IPA.
Jun 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.69 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Mar 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.54 by KC_beerman from Missouri

Jan 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.29 by carolinabeerguy from North Carolina

Jan 04, 2023
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

3.57/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a slightly cloudy deep golden orange, 1.5" soapy head with good retention and lacing. Nose is malt and roasted barley with a nice background note of pine and earthy spice. Taste is also malt forward, though there's enough hop presence to keep things balance. Would like a bit more bright, spicy hop, but this still satisfies. Mouthfeel is moderate with light carbonation.
Dec 17, 2022
Photo of ckaire69
Rated by ckaire69 from Georgia

3.67/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Good traditional ipa. Certainly more balanced than many out there, today
Oct 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by JamesLeung from Florida

Oct 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by cryptichead from Illinois

Oct 14, 2022
Photo of MadMadMike
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle pulled out of a cooler full of ice water.
Nice genie of steam rises from the bottle when popped open.
Smells original classic IPA.
Tastes like an un- fussied with IPA. It’s hoppy, crisp, malt balanced.
Feels carbed and smooth, tingly.
Overall, “just an IPA” in the fondest of terms.
Oct 11, 2022
IPA from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 4366 ratings