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Black IPA
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.7 | pDev: 13.24%
- Reviews:
- 76
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 10, 2018
- Added:
- Jan 09, 2012
- Wants:
- 11
- Gots:
- 52
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Notes:
Harpoon brewer Matt DeLuca took over the brewhouse for our 40th 100 Barrel Series offering. A newly released specialty malt from Briess called Midnight Wheat gives this beer an almost stout-like appearance without the overly roasty attributes often associated with traditional dark malts. Flaked barley is also used in the malt bill for head retention. An intense yet diverse hop addition schedule is executed during the boil that results in a well balanced offering.
On top of the Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade, and Citra hops is an ample addition of Ahtanum hops that provides a fruity aroma to complement the earthy, spicy bitterness of this dark ale.
67 IBU
On top of the Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade, and Citra hops is an ample addition of Ahtanum hops that provides a fruity aroma to complement the earthy, spicy bitterness of this dark ale.
67 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana
3.21/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.21/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Harpoon Black IPA has a thick, spongy, beige head, a semi-clear, dark, red-brown, bubbly appearance, and heavy lacing left behind. The aroma and flavor are a bit difficult to pin down, but I smelled fairly dark-roasted malt, wheat bread, some citrus, and some very subdued hop oil. Taste is of medium-to-heavy roasted malt char, citrus, mellow hop bitterness (67 IBU?), and bread crust. Mouthfeel is medium, and Harpoon Black IPA finishes dry and mellow.
RJT
Apr 28, 2016RJT
Reviewed by Regulator from Indiana
3.45/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.45/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look:
After a careful pour, the beer lies in the mug with less head than that dude in Skyrim that says, "My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same?" Like most Black IPAs, Harpoon looked like a flat cola with a hint of creamer.
Smell:
The smell in and of itself was the only distinctly off-putting feature of this Black IPA. When I closed my eyes and took a whiff of this dank brew I had flashbacks of my fraternity bathroom on a Sunday morning.
Taste:
Despite the odor, Harpoon Black IPA delivers on taste. It opens with a creamy espresso flare and follows with a pungent pine bite. The resulting balance brings enough hop for a harsh IPA aficionado while not intimidating a casual newcomer.
Feel:
Smooth, a bit too thin for a Black IPA.
Overall:
Harpoon delivers an average to above-average showing for Black IPA fans. My personal preference would be more powerful roasty notes.
Dec 22, 2015After a careful pour, the beer lies in the mug with less head than that dude in Skyrim that says, "My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same?" Like most Black IPAs, Harpoon looked like a flat cola with a hint of creamer.
Smell:
The smell in and of itself was the only distinctly off-putting feature of this Black IPA. When I closed my eyes and took a whiff of this dank brew I had flashbacks of my fraternity bathroom on a Sunday morning.
Taste:
Despite the odor, Harpoon Black IPA delivers on taste. It opens with a creamy espresso flare and follows with a pungent pine bite. The resulting balance brings enough hop for a harsh IPA aficionado while not intimidating a casual newcomer.
Feel:
Smooth, a bit too thin for a Black IPA.
Overall:
Harpoon delivers an average to above-average showing for Black IPA fans. My personal preference would be more powerful roasty notes.
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.85/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is black when viewed from afar; upon closer inspection when held up to a bright light the bottom of the glass is clear dark red in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high light than head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface, a thick collar around the edge, and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of roasted malts are present in the nose along with notes of piney hops and hints of black licorice.
T: The taste follows the smell, having flavors of roasted malts, piney hops, and licorice along with hints of earthy yeast and a moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The piney hops leave your mouth tingling in the finish.
O: This an interesting Black IPA that is relatively easy to drink. I particularly liked the combination of the black licorice and piney flavors.
Serving type: bottle
Dec 10, 2015S: Moderate aromas of roasted malts are present in the nose along with notes of piney hops and hints of black licorice.
T: The taste follows the smell, having flavors of roasted malts, piney hops, and licorice along with hints of earthy yeast and a moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The piney hops leave your mouth tingling in the finish.
O: This an interesting Black IPA that is relatively easy to drink. I particularly liked the combination of the black licorice and piney flavors.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed by ajilllau from Florida
3.44/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Nice, light. Does not pack a powerful punch and you can taste that it is not high in abv. Would definitely drink again and it's a beer that you can have more than one.
Oct 22, 2015
Rated by Kale99 from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I have had this black ipa once but really enjoyed it
Mar 08, 2015Rated by mkwebb from Massachusetts
4.63/5 rDev +25.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +25.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Very tasty. Tastes like a lighter beer even in the IPA Adventure pack.
Jan 04, 2015
Black IPA from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
328 ratings
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