Harpoon IPA Turns 20 & Celebrates With Favorite Stories
Boston, MA – Twenty years ago in Boston, Harpoon IPA was brewed for the first time. Harpoon Brewery co-founders Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary were unsure how local drinkers would take to this medium-bodied, hoppy, bitter, copper-colored ale, so they introduced it as a summer seasonal beer. It became an instant New England favorite and in 1994 Harpoon IPA became a year-round beer. Harpoon IPA has since become the brewery’s bestselling beer and to this day it remains Harpoon’s flagship.
Harpoon is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harpoon IPA by telling the brewery’s IPA story, and by inviting Harpoon IPA fans to share their own stories in the “Tell Us Your IPA Story” contest. The contest will collect stories from Harpoon IPA fans via Facebook through May 12. Stories can include written word, poems, photos, videos, or a combination. Submitted stories will be voted on and the winning story will be announced at HarpoonFest, the brewery’s annual summer festival. The winner will receive the “Harpoon Experience”, which will guarantee VIP entry to all of Harpoon’s festivals and sporting events at both the Boston, MA and Windsor, VT breweries for one year. To view the contest, visit: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/news/944/Tell-Us-Your-IPA-Story.
“We love telling stories here at the brewery,” says Harpoon co-founder Rich Doyle. “Some stories will live in Harpoon legend, like when we first brewed Harpoon IPA back in 1993. It took all 10 of us working at the brewery to bring the first batch of IPA to life. Ever since then, Harpoon IPA has been the catalyst for our most memorable experiences here at the brewery. We are excited to hear the stories of our fellow Harpoon IPA fans out there.”
To continue the IPA celebration throughout the year, Harpoon will release limited edition 6-packs of two new IPAs, Harpoon White IPA and Harpoon Black IPA. The White IPA, a blend of a Belgian wit and American hops, will be released in May, while the Black IPA will be released later this fall. The two IPAs were also featured alongside Harpoon IPA and Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA in the new IPA Adventure Mix, a limited release IPA variety mix pack that was released earlier this year to kick off Harpoon IPA’s 20th anniversary.
About the Harpoon Brewery:
The Harpoon Brewery was founded by beers 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 Hefeweizen beers, along with four 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 Cider made from freshly pressed, local apples. For more information about Harpoon beers and visiting the breweries, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com – @harpoon_brewery – facebook
