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IPA
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- 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:
- 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
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 fdrich29:
Reviewed by fdrich29 from Massachusetts
4.3/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This has been a staple of mine for a few years now. Bottle has the distictive Harpoon logo that looks like it a tatoo youre great uncle had from his navy days.
Amber in appearance with a sweet, hoppy taste and smooth and pleasant mouthfeel makes for its high drinkability.
Easily accessable in the New England area and beyond and reasonalbly priced for such a well crafted beer. Tastes best out of a growler fresh from the brewery in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mar 09, 2004Amber in appearance with a sweet, hoppy taste and smooth and pleasant mouthfeel makes for its high drinkability.
Easily accessable in the New England area and beyond and reasonalbly priced for such a well crafted beer. Tastes best out of a growler fresh from the brewery in Boston, Massachusetts.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by FreePal88
3.98/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
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, 2023Rated 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
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, 2023Reviewed 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
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, 2023Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
4/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2023Reviewed by ATL6245 from Georgia
4.32/5 rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
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, 2023Aroma: 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.
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
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, 2022Rated 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
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, 2022Reviewed 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
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, 2022Nice 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.
IPA from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
4366 ratings
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