100 Barrel Series #39 - Vermont Spruce Tip
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

100 Barrel Series #39 - Vermont Spruce Tip100 Barrel Series #39 - Vermont Spruce Tip
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From:
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
ABV:
7%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.51 | pDev: 13.96%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
106
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 19, 2020
Added:
Dec 02, 2011
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  4
This hearty ale is a showcase for a traditional yet seldom used brewing ingredient: spruce tips. Harvested at their tender, ripe, bright green peak in Downer State Forest, Vermont, these spruce tips impart citrus, pine, spice, herbal and earthy notes. A host of malts, a hint of roasted barley and generous use of Chinook hops complement the unique spruce flavor.

We’d like to thank the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and all of the many great volunteers that helped us with this unusual harvest.

38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.12/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours an amber body with off white head with nice retention and lacing
S: slight sweet, subtle vanilla smell; subtle toffee notes
T: subtle sweet toffee notes with some alcohol undertones; nothing too impressive
M: medium mouthfeel and smooth; pretty good overall
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; decent drinking beer overall
Nov 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.24 by Crbrue from Ohio

Sep 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by wrightst from Maryland

Aug 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by VTEno17 from Florida

May 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Mar 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kmlund from Massachusetts

Oct 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by JoeMarsh from Missouri

Jun 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jun 25, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by KarateShow from Massachusetts

Jun 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by civicm87 from New York

May 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Lare453 from Florida

Mar 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Huffs from New York

Jan 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by MNBeerNE from Massachusetts

Nov 10, 2012
 
Rated: 2.75 by sendbeer from Georgia

Nov 03, 2012
 
 
Rated: 3.25 by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

Aug 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Jun 28, 2012
Photo of Gambrinus1184
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22oz. bomber into a NOLA Brewing pint glass.

A: Medium, copper amber color with a thick, foamy head of off-white foam which causes a small bit of lacing to build up around the edge of the glass.

S: Semi-roasted caramel malt sweetness couples with a spicy, fruity ale yeast complicated by a pine and woody herbal hop resin.

T: Sweet doses of fruity, caramel malts up front which lend a bit of body and alcohol to the flavor. Up next is the spicy hop bitterness brought upon by the piney, spicy addition of spruce tips. The finish is a bit viscous with a touch of booziness but also a hint of piney hop goodness thanks to the Chinook additions.

M: Full-bodied ale with some spicy, bitter notes imparted by spruce tips and dry, Chinook hops. Pretty satisfying and easy to drink.

O: This 7% ABV essentially "American Strong Ale" for all intents and purposes, was not half bad. It has some balance and identity issues, but on the whole, I liked the spicy, floral, fruity and piney effect brought on by the Chinook hops, yeast strain and craftsmanship. Not the best in the series but certainly a unique and tasty one.
Jun 07, 2012
Photo of chugalug06
Reviewed by chugalug06 from Colorado

3.56/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
One of the clearest most clean looking brews I’ve ever seen. Decent lacing and great head build-ability. Head is slight off-white with think foamy appearance.

WHOA! Knock your socks-off spicy at first, but then it fades…still a great scent! Very mellow vanilla and pine. Slight citrus (orange) too. A bit too (caramel) malted.

The taste is far from the scent… very mellow and laid-back flavor. Not a forward presentation. Quite dry and quenching, but not much rounds out the flavor profile… Great carbonation and zero heat, but comparatively, the flavor lacks for the type of brew.

An awesome brew only a few steps away from being a winner, but it needs that extra kick to help push it into a different category. I think with less malt this brew would have been a masterpiece worthy of award. Subtly unique, worthy.
May 30, 2012
100 Barrel Series #39 - Vermont Spruce Tip from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 106 ratings