Harpoon Brewing Company - Take 5

Pouring a bright golden hue with crystal clarity and a lasting head of tight-bubbled foam, this session IPA offers up a bold aroma profile that really drew us in. Wonderfully lush American hop aromas deliver a little bit of everything: tropical fruits, soft floral tones, various citrus notes, apricot, a little earth, a little grass, a little melon... That melon note really opened up for us in the flavor along with plenty of citrus, all overlaying a malt core offering a subtle crackery character that's balanced by moderate hop bitterness. Juicy, crisp, and refreshingly light on the palate, this brew is one of the easiest drinking brews we've encountered in a while, and at just 4.3% it's easy to knock back a couple without falling over. For food pairings, we're inclined to go with something flavorful but not too heavy, just like the beer itself; Asian chicken salad, grilled shrimp with lemon and paprika, or a chicken quesadilla with spicy jack cheese sound good to us. Cheers!

Harpoon Brewing Company 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 say 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. Way to go, guys! For more information about the brewery or scheduled tours, call 617-456-2322, or visit their website at www.harpoonbrewery.com.