Catamount IPA
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

Reviewing from memory, have had this brew a few times. My ninth brew reviewed from these guys. This beer is fine, but does not really stand out in any way.

 

 

 

 

Now this is the blue print for a NEIPA. Nowadays we get caught up in NEIPAs needing to taste like tropical smoothies and be brewed with fruit puree and orange slices, but honestly keeping it simple and clean is fantastic. Like most New England styles, this beer is a thick hazy pale gold with a nice froth. Hoppy herby aromas are present upon lifting the glass. Sipping on this you are met with a great balance of pale maltiness capped with a delicious piney note from the hops. The slightest little zesty tropical tang at the end, but not something that dominates the beer at all. In the end it is a beer. Malt, hops, water and a little bit of magic to make this bad boy so satisfying. It would be bold to compare this to Heady, but it is far closer to Heady than it is to any of the tropical juice bombs at Tree House.

 

Nice IPA. Pretty smooth with some produced carbonation that tickles a bit. Has a hoppy nose,clean on the front with a slightly bitter flavor at the back. Can understand why this beer is considered a flagship beer for them. Only negative from my point of view is the alcoholic flavor that is left on the palate.

 

 

Cloudy, white-hued yellow color. Lasting head which leaves wider streaks on the glass.

Prickly pine aroma, light paler malt in the background.

Crisp and sparkling, this is a lighter, and more refreshing, mouthfeel. The very pale malt holds up well to the near-harsh hop bite. Moderate body. The finish is peppery but leaves a surprisingly shorter aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canned on 11/2/20 opened and reviewed on: 11/22/20

A very classic NE style appearance, thick, hazy gold. Dense white crusty foam cap. Lots of lace.

The nose is spot on! Sweet pineapple, zesty citrus scented hops and sweet, earthy grainy malt. Bold enough.

Crisp bite, smooths out quick, soft and then slightly peppery in the finish.

The balance of this NE hazy is perfect, bold and fruity hops way up front with decent amounts of earthy malted grains. Medium level complexity. High level dtinkablity.

Well worth further explorations.

From a 16 oz. can dated 11/02/20. Sampled November 21, 2020.

It looks like a typical opaque NEIPA with its pulpy, yellow-amber appearance and foamy white head.

The aroma expresses pineapple, citrus, and orange esters with a more muted cereal grain presence.

Light to medium and soft body.

The taste is juicy and fruity but the taste is not quite as vibrant as the aroma suggests. Mild fruity finish. I am someone who drank the original Catamount IPA back in the early 1990's and to that extent I find this to be a disappointment because they modernized it. As far as NEIPA's go, it is not bad.

16 oz can into a willi belcher glass.

Pours a turbid straw color with 3 fingers of sudsy off-white head. The head leaves a crown of lacing as it settles into a thin sheet. Solid retention. Good appearance for a NEIPA, but not so much for an American IPA as this is labeled.

The aroma brings notes of ripe pineapple, clementine oranges, grapefruit, and lemon zest with a faint hint of melon. The doughy malt is subtle but present. Nicely floral throughout.

The flavor starts off citrusy, with notes of oranges and lemon followed by some stone fruit, honeydew melon and fresh pineapple. Fruit flavors are balanced by a light, bready malt backbone and a subtly spicy hop finish.

The feel is on the light side of medium, with low to moderately low carbonation. Very soft and smooth, yet a touch watery.

Overall, this is definitely a pretty good IPA. Might score a bit higher as a NEIPA, but this one is fruity, well-balanced and absurdly drinkable.