Harpoon enters the shandy market

Discussion in 'New England' started by DarkDragon999, Mar 21, 2014.

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  1. DarkDragon999

    DarkDragon999 Maven (1,331) Feb 13, 2013 Rhode Island

    Press Release:
    (Boston, MA) – The Harpoon Brewery is pleased to introduce UFO Big Squeeze Shandy, an unfiltered wheat beer blended with all natural grapefruit juice. This seasonal offering from the brewer’s UFO series, a line of unfiltered beers, has hit the shelves just in time for summer in bottles, cans, and on draft. Sweet with a hint of tartness, Big Squeeze shandy is a New England summer treat.
    “Our UFO beers are about adventure and fun,” says Harpoon CEO and co-founder Rich Doyle. “UFO Big Squeeze shandy is a refreshing to complement to this great season in New England. The combination of the grapefruit juice with the unfiltered wheat beer is a fantastic blend. It will be a staple in my fridge for the next few months.”
    UFO Big Squeeze Specs and Tasting Notes:
    Style: Shandy (beer with grapefruit juice added)
    ABV: 4.5%
    Appearance: hazy, slightly orange, fine foamy head
    Aroma: clean citrus, some cracker notes from the wheat malt
    Mouth feel: light bodied
    Taste: sweet malt, sweet / tart grapefruit
    Finish: quenching, refreshing
    UFO Big Squeeze shandy is available in 6-pack bottles, 12-pack bottles and cans, and draft.
    About the Harpoon Brewery:
    The Harpoon Brewery was founded by beer lovers, Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary. In 1986 Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first brewery to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award winning IPA and UFO White?beers, along with special seasonal selections. In 2000 Harpoon purchased a second brewery in Windsor, VT, making Harpoon the 9th largest craft brewer in the US. Harpoon has since introduced the limited batch 100 Barrel Series and the as well as the all-natural Harpoon Craft Cider made from freshly pressed, local apples. For more information about Harpoon beers and visiting the breweries, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com.

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    #1 DarkDragon999, Mar 21, 2014
  2. DarkDragon999

    DarkDragon999 Maven (1,331) Feb 13, 2013 Rhode Island

    Shandy with grapefruit and not lemon ? Unsual no ?
     
    #2 DarkDragon999, Mar 21, 2014
  3. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    Had it last night at Vt Taphouse, if you like grapefruit juice, you will enjoy it. Not much beer going on, but low abv and extremely drinkable.
     
    #3 youbrewidrink, Mar 21, 2014
  4. BillDon

    BillDon Zealot (589) Jul 16, 2011 Massachusetts

    Had it as the Boston brewery today. Did t expect
    Much bit was pleasently surprised. Very strong grapefruit flavor that was very close to grapefruit juice. Could have used a touch more carbonation. Would be great on a warm summer day.
     
    #4 BillDon, Mar 22, 2014
  5. wildcats10

    wildcats10 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2012 New Hampshire
    Trader

    #5 wildcats10, Mar 22, 2014
  6. Newport_beerguy

    Newport_beerguy Pooh-Bah (1,860) Feb 24, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Haha, ironically I had both in the past few weeks while my wife was hunting for a specific grapefruit beer. The Stiegl is definitely closer to a grapefruit soda, and as stated above there is not a lot of carbonation in the UFO Shandy. I would definitely bring a 12 pack of these cans to a summer party though.
     
    #6 Newport_beerguy, Mar 22, 2014
  7. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Harpoon is stepping up the variety for sure. I liked The Long Thaw, and am looking forward to the Shandy for the grapefruit and low ABV.
     
    #7 DougC123, Mar 22, 2014
  8. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I love grapefruit, so I will give this a shot.
     
    #8 Providence, Mar 22, 2014
  9. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Off topic, but Abita's Grapefruit IPA is a must try if you like grapefruit.
     
    #9 DougC123, Mar 22, 2014
    Providence likes this.
  10. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll keep an eye out, thanks.
     
    #10 Providence, Mar 22, 2014
  11. AJ01923

    AJ01923 Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2013 Massachusetts

    Staying off topic, Wormtown Buddhas Juice (IPA w/ Grapefruit peel was great). Better than the stone version IMO.
     
    #11 AJ01923, Mar 24, 2014
  12. yuppiescum

    yuppiescum Zealot (519) Jun 4, 2009 Massachusetts

    Fresca and Vodka is great.
     
    #12 yuppiescum, Mar 25, 2014
  13. a74gent

    a74gent Pundit (981) Mar 16, 2010 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Love this in the summer after any physical activity or in the morning as a refresher. Harder to find than bottles, but it does come in cans as well! Stiegl doesn't get much shelf space out here I think because of the distrib, but I know of a store that asked and got the cans for me.
     
    #13 a74gent, Mar 25, 2014
  14. HRamz3

    HRamz3 Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2010 Pitcairn

    Sounds goo to me! As long as the sweetness is low.
     
    #14 HRamz3, Mar 25, 2014
  15. DarkDragon999

    DarkDragon999 Maven (1,331) Feb 13, 2013 Rhode Island

    Ive seen it around. I need feedback from people who've had it. If youre not a huge grapefruit fan does it have anything else to offer ? How strong is the grapefruit taste? Stronger than the grapefruit in an IPA Id imagine.
     
    #15 DarkDragon999, Apr 16, 2014
  16. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    I picked up a 12 pack yesterday to see if was worth putting on tap. It is like a grapefruit soda to me. I like it, but probably not enough to buy a keg of it. It will have some appeal in the hot summer days. It is a shandy, so to think of it like an IPA is the wrong direction, it isn't anything like that.
     
    #16 DougC123, Apr 17, 2014
  17. dumpstation

    dumpstation Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2011 Vermont

    #17 dumpstation, Apr 17, 2014
  18. JGLittle

    JGLittle Pundit (897) Mar 24, 2012 Massachusetts

    Not a fan. Tried a sip. And I like grapefruit juice.
     
    #18 JGLittle, Apr 17, 2014
  19. DarkDragon999

    DarkDragon999 Maven (1,331) Feb 13, 2013 Rhode Island

    Its tart and bitter and tastes how a grapefruit infused beer should. Other grapefruit beers lack the tartness and bitter
    ness and taste more like soda. This one gets it right.
     
    #19 DarkDragon999, Apr 24, 2014
    jamvt likes this.
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