Harpoon Brewery - Summer Style

Inspired by blonde ales, hazy New England-style pale ales & IPAs, and keller köslch, a traditional hazy style predating the more modern crystal-clear filtered köslch we commonly think of today, Summer Style pours a moderately hazy golden orange color topped by a robust head of just off-white foam. On the nose, look for lots of lightly fruity and herbal notes with many subtle complexities including hints of lemon, tangerine, and sliced honeydew, along with spicy-herbal tones and some floral character – all underpinned by an impression of toasty wheat. On the palate, the hoppy notes hit upfront with a good dose of citrus rind, melon, and spice, while the malts offer quite a bold toasty note akin to bread crust that wells up and lingers in the finish. Perceived hop bitterness is moderate, working in concert with the carbonation to provide plenty of crisp bite to keep this brew dry and refreshing. This is an easy one to drink all on its own and is super crushable, as mentioned on the can. But, food pairing options abound; we’d play off the central malty core and choose breaded dishes like fried chicken, schnitzel, or fish & chips. Cheers!

Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986, quite early in the US microbrew renaissance. Before starting the brewery, the founding team of Dan Kenary and Rich Doyle traveled throughout Europe in search of various beer and brewery styles upon which they would model their own (“product research” we think they called it). Upon returning, they partnered with George Ligeti and hired brewer Russ Heissner, and by 1987 their first beer was sold as the brewery debuted on the Boston waterfront.

Harpoon has always been focused on positively impacting their local community. This is an important component of the brewery and pub lifestyle that the founders witnessed while experiencing European traditions abroad. As they’ve stated on their website, “We learned to appreciate how much local brewers meant to their communities. They were not just manufacturers of a product; they were part of the social fabric. We asked each other, ‘Why not do that in New England?’” The result of this initial desire has won them overwhelming approval from the locals and beyond. In fact, in 2000 they purchased a second brewery in Windsor, Vermont, to keep up with demand. In 2014, Harpoon became an employee-owned company with the introduction of an employee stock ownership plan, a major point of pride for the entire organization. Way to go, guys! For more information about the brewery or scheduled tours, visit their website at www.harpoonbrewery.com.