Any Harpoon beers worth a damn?

[the_bird]

Well, I wasn't entirely in charge, I was mostly there in an advisory capacity. My buddy is friends with people at the local distributor, which really does not distribute all that many different beers. Why he did JUST Harpoon, honestly, the reason kind of escapes me except that there weren't any other really good breweries on there other than Sierra Nevada. There may have been a financial reason for that, I really can't remember.

It wasn't even really a formal tasting, we invited some of his clients and had people hang out and relax, get to know each other, have a few bites to eat. Went really well, people really enjoyed it. The beer was good, the guy who was serving had a little too much to drink himself, but by the time he got too sloppy it was all just people who were also friends (in addition to being clients) who were left.

The beers were good - I think my favorite was probably the Barleywine, as I recall it being a little drier than most barleywines (almost more like a big IPA).

It was just a chance to say "thanks" to some clients, give them a chance to come out and have a few drinks in a very relaxed atmosphere. Worked out great.

 

[smokinop]

I bought a sixer of the Chocolate Stout couple of months ago, still have 2 in fridge. Has an unpleasing taste & mouth-feel to me.

 

[the_bird]

Yeah, that one is terrible, very artificial. Fermented Hershey's. Wasn't part of the tasting.

 

[shoreman]

Munich dark

 

[Calichusetts]

I think I might have to use the word "hate" along with Harpoon beers. Seriously, as I posted a few weeks ago, the only beer I have ever not finished in my life was their winter warmer. But I do like to experiment, I bought their IPA a few months ago and "disliked" it. I was brainstorming on how to formulate a bohemian pilsner and realized their are THREE local hops from the Czech, not just Saaz...days later I am at a craft pub and find that Harpoon has done a Sladek hopped pilsner...it was aweful. Now I realize why Saaz was so popular.

Still, I am at a craft brew store last week and fine Harpoons 100 Barrell Vermont Spruce Ale. I am serious when I say this is one of the best beers on the planet. It made even a hop head like me appreciate a low IBU beer! My wife smelled and tasted a bit of it and agreed that it was one of the best beers she has had. I have had many of the "best beers" as promoted by this site and they are very good, but this is just fantastic...might turn out to be my first clone!

Again, 100 Barrell Vermont Spruce is truly magically, a legit New England ale that I am proud of...go buy it...immediately!

 

[pernox]

Their 100 Barrel Series is out of the park. Like, all of them. I had a Docesna last night - even with too much age for a 6.1% beer it was fantastic. Their Leviathan series is lights out, too.

...That said, their IPA is second only to Shipyard's in mediocrity, and the Winter Warmer is horrifying. I've actually got a bottle left from '09 that I just can't seem to bring myself to drink. I had two out of the sixer, gave the other three away... Can't seem to get the last one into me. I figure I'll let it go until it hits five years and see if it's drinkable.