Review – Harpoon IPA

From Harpoon Brewery – The high hopping of Harpoon IPA is not only noticeable in the nose but especially in the finish. The lingering bitter finish of this beer is not harsh or astringent, but crisp and pronounced. This is created, in part, by dry hopping – a technique that involves adding fresh hops to the conditioning beer to provide a fresh hop aroma.

Harpoon Brewery – Harpoon IPA – 12 oz. bottle poured into a beer glass. 5.9% abv. Part of a Harpoon Sampler Pack purchased at Dawsons Liquor – Severna Park, MD.

Appearance: Clear gold with just a hint of orange and a copious, cream colored head.

Aroma: Gentle pine and citrus with a little birthday cake if you take a big sniff. I had to use my imagination to find the floral aromas.
Taste: Hoppy bitterness, but not overpoweringly so. Delicate pine and grapefruit notes on the finish (I think it tasted more like flowers than smelled like them… not that I’ve ever eaten flowers, mind you).

Mouthfeel: Clean with a dry, not-quite astringent finish.

Overall: Not the greatest IPA I’ve ever had, but a good showing nonetheless. A beginner’s IPA, if you will.