Big League
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

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

 

Harpoon Brewery "Big League"
$8/14 oz. on tap @ Harpoon Tap Room, Boston Logan International Airport, Boston, MA on 1 December 2022

Notes via stream of consciousness: A hazy deep golden body is capped by a short head of white foam. The head retention isn't that great and I wonder if this is a dirty bar glass. I don't know, there aren't any bubbles along the sides of the glass, nor do I see any grease along the lip. Moving on, the aroma is limited for the style (this is a New Englans style IPA, right?). It's floral, citrusy, and peachy. On to the taste... it's fuller but very much the same. The malt is basic and softly sweet, and I'm getting notes of apple, grapefruit, peach, and orange. A median bitterness balances it nicely, so there's that. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp-then-smooth across the palate with a median carbonation level. The lacing that's left behind is limited and I'm again wondering whether it's the glass or just the beer itself. In the end it's a decent enough take on the style but nothing special.
Review #8,407

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the bottle, it pours a hazy amber color with a nicecreamy white head that lasts and leaves lacing. The nose gets a dose of citrus. The mouth gets the tang of citrus, that zing in the back of your mouth and a nice malt base.

 

12oz bottle, tulip, packaged 11/15/21.

Thickly hazed, warm yellow-orange, finger plus of white froth, nice lacing.

While the aroma is akin to many similar beers, there is a major difference. The mango, orange pulp, and lemon zest are almost par for the course, but what’s lacking marks the improvement - alcohol heat.

More of the same, orange juice especially. Soft in the mouth, lightly sweet, no distinct malt flavors, but still no harsh alcohol.

Soft medium-light body, medium carbonation, with a rather clean finish.

This is one of the better NEIPAs I’ve had.

 

The most appealingly cloudy IPA I have ever put my eyes upon. It looked great in the light and out, perfectly opaque and with a yellow-ish-orange hue with an almost creamy and white head. Mouthfeel was crisp and well carbonated, and the smell was about what you would expect from an IPA of this style - super juicy. I felt the taste could have been a bit more balanced, between the hop-forward bitterness and the sweet scent that met the nose, but it was still worthwhile. Overall, a very nice surprise and I'm already looking forward to having my second one, soon...

 

 

A bottle of Harpoon Big League "juicy IPA" was given to me by my son. Sampled at 55F in a simple sham pilsener glass. The characteristics of the beer are typical of the style. The style is not my favorite. Some of the characteristics might put off fans of the style, but appeal to me. There is an impressive head that leaves nice lacing. The flavor is as expected (emphasis on flavor hops) but with a nice mellow mouth-feel. This might be due to the oat addition. The aftertaste is mostly flavor hops, but with a slight residual bitterness that I approve of. Not extreme juicyness.