White IPA | Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Brewed by:
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Massachusetts, United States
harpoonbrewery.com
Style: Belgian IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.20%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Ken Hermann has taken our exploration of – and adoration for – the IPA style in a completely new direction. With notes of orange peel and coriander, the soft mouthfeel reminiscent of a Belgian wit, and the hop additions of Simcoe, Citra and Cascade, he strikes a delicate balance between two disparate styles while showcasing the characteristics of both. It’s a refreshing take on a new style, and we hope you enjoy it! Cheers.
45 IBU
Added by Jason on 04-24-2012
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 407 | Reviews: 62
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.31/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.65/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Pale yellowish color but nice, not a turn off by any means. Surprisingly sweet and leafy smell compared to many IPA's the hops don't overwhelm the smell. Taste is hoppy at the end but balanced. I like a bitter finish when im drinking an IPA. it just makes sense. feel is smooth, doesn't have the bite youre used to seeing in IPA's. Overall a fun and tasty beer, a nice alternative to IPA's.
390 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Pale yellowish color but nice, not a turn off by any means. Surprisingly sweet and leafy smell compared to many IPA's the hops don't overwhelm the smell. Taste is hoppy at the end but balanced. I like a bitter finish when im drinking an IPA. it just makes sense. feel is smooth, doesn't have the bite youre used to seeing in IPA's. Overall a fun and tasty beer, a nice alternative to IPA's.
390 characters
3.5/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.08/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy gold/amber color. The scent in floral with some hints of orange peel and coriander - not overwhelming, though. A smooth, drinkable flavor follows, with subtle hops and citrus flavors. A passable and drinkable White IPA.
232 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy gold/amber color. The scent in floral with some hints of orange peel and coriander - not overwhelming, though. A smooth, drinkable flavor follows, with subtle hops and citrus flavors. A passable and drinkable White IPA.
232 characters
3.85/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.27/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Looks good, smells incredible, tastes above average. Overall good take on an IPA 4.25
85 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Looks good, smells incredible, tastes above average. Overall good take on an IPA 4.25
85 characters
4.51/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.03/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy gold with an excellently poised, creamy white head. I get a spicy orange scent with fruity aroma hop background far from the glass. Smelling closer to the glass I get more of the sweet malt profile with spices holding strong throughout. On the palate I get the strong reminiscence of belgian wit with orange and coriander shining through in the beginning. Grapefruity bittering hops take this one home in the end. This one is light on the palate and not too overbearing with carbonation. Overall this is a nicely balanced spring beer with nothing overpowering on the palate.
587 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy gold with an excellently poised, creamy white head. I get a spicy orange scent with fruity aroma hop background far from the glass. Smelling closer to the glass I get more of the sweet malt profile with spices holding strong throughout. On the palate I get the strong reminiscence of belgian wit with orange and coriander shining through in the beginning. Grapefruity bittering hops take this one home in the end. This one is light on the palate and not too overbearing with carbonation. Overall this is a nicely balanced spring beer with nothing overpowering on the palate.
587 characters
2.39/5 rDev -37.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Monotone. Subtle IPA. Not very exciting. Very light Flavor. Probably a good starting point for those getting into IPA.
118 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Monotone. Subtle IPA. Not very exciting. Very light Flavor. Probably a good starting point for those getting into IPA.
118 characters
2.92/5 rDev -23.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Truncated impressions:
HEAD: ~3-4 inches wide. White colour. Fair creaminess, thickness, and fullness. Nice complexion and consistency.
Retention is nice - ~5-6 minutes.
BODY: Clear yellow with copper hues. Clean, with no visible yeasty muck.
It's a nice looking IPA, but has no unique or special characteristics.
AROMA: Floral hop character, vague citrus, pale malts, hints of Simcoe-derived onion, coriander, well-attenuated yeast, and clean barley.
It's appealing for what it is, but I'm not finding evidence of much complexity or depth of flavour.
No booze or off-notes are detectable.
TASTE: Floral hops, coriander seed, some grassiness, overripe fruit, some citrus zest. Witbier-esque lemon peel. Maybe a hint of spicy rye malt? Pale malts, pilsner malts, Munich malts. It's rather simple and straightforward, and quickly gets too bitter by the third act. Average duration, intensity, and depth of flavour.
It's a simple build for an IPA (white or otherwise), and isn't gestalt. Has a loose cohesion, and I do like it, but there's no subtlety or intricacy here for the discerning drinker. You've got to bring more to the table with an IPA if you want to stand out.
TEXTURE: Overcarbonated, crisp, smooth, wet, medium-bodied, and somewhat refreshing.
Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, astringent, harsh, rough, or scratchy.
There's no harmony of texture to taste, and this mouthfeel doesn't elevate the beer as a whole.
Could be softer.
OVERALL: It's a passable IPA from Harpoon, and whether you accept its branding as a white IPA or not, it's still pedestrian and underwhelming. Won't impress the discerning drinker. I won't be picking it up again, but it's drinkable, sure.
C+ (2.92)
1,701 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Truncated impressions:
HEAD: ~3-4 inches wide. White colour. Fair creaminess, thickness, and fullness. Nice complexion and consistency.
Retention is nice - ~5-6 minutes.
BODY: Clear yellow with copper hues. Clean, with no visible yeasty muck.
It's a nice looking IPA, but has no unique or special characteristics.
AROMA: Floral hop character, vague citrus, pale malts, hints of Simcoe-derived onion, coriander, well-attenuated yeast, and clean barley.
It's appealing for what it is, but I'm not finding evidence of much complexity or depth of flavour.
No booze or off-notes are detectable.
TASTE: Floral hops, coriander seed, some grassiness, overripe fruit, some citrus zest. Witbier-esque lemon peel. Maybe a hint of spicy rye malt? Pale malts, pilsner malts, Munich malts. It's rather simple and straightforward, and quickly gets too bitter by the third act. Average duration, intensity, and depth of flavour.
It's a simple build for an IPA (white or otherwise), and isn't gestalt. Has a loose cohesion, and I do like it, but there's no subtlety or intricacy here for the discerning drinker. You've got to bring more to the table with an IPA if you want to stand out.
TEXTURE: Overcarbonated, crisp, smooth, wet, medium-bodied, and somewhat refreshing.
Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, astringent, harsh, rough, or scratchy.
There's no harmony of texture to taste, and this mouthfeel doesn't elevate the beer as a whole.
Could be softer.
OVERALL: It's a passable IPA from Harpoon, and whether you accept its branding as a white IPA or not, it's still pedestrian and underwhelming. Won't impress the discerning drinker. I won't be picking it up again, but it's drinkable, sure.
C+ (2.92)
1,701 characters
4.15/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
3.94/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best white IPA I have reviewed. Gotta love when Harpoon nails it.
A: Lasting head, long lacing over a hazed, golden tarnished body.
S: Too subtle but dank with fruity hop, spicy, yeasty, peppery, coriander and citrus zest.
T: Follows smell, but much bigger and satisfying. Hop fore and aft with lovely and lively coriander, spicy bitterness, tobacco, alcoholic esters, minty, herbal, earthy.
F: Large and good mouth feel, with smooth, semi-slick, medium body, grainy, long finish.
As A Bros wrote "bounces off the Wit side ... but comes back in a different way to compliment and clash at the same time. The most interesting White IPA"
640 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best white IPA I have reviewed. Gotta love when Harpoon nails it.
A: Lasting head, long lacing over a hazed, golden tarnished body.
S: Too subtle but dank with fruity hop, spicy, yeasty, peppery, coriander and citrus zest.
T: Follows smell, but much bigger and satisfying. Hop fore and aft with lovely and lively coriander, spicy bitterness, tobacco, alcoholic esters, minty, herbal, earthy.
F: Large and good mouth feel, with smooth, semi-slick, medium body, grainy, long finish.
As A Bros wrote "bounces off the Wit side ... but comes back in a different way to compliment and clash at the same time. The most interesting White IPA"
640 characters
3.15/5 rDev -17.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.12/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
White IPA from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating:
3.82 out of
5 with
407 ratings
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