Introduction

Started in Boston in 1986, Harpoon Brewery was a garage-level operation brewing one ale for the love of the game. By 1992 the crew had purchased a proper brewery and stepped on the gas — embracing the IPA as their banner style, they brought one of the first Americanized IPA versions to the market and it went through the roof. Harpoon is a household name in Boston and a community leader. Fundraising to beat ALS, a five mile marathon under the Harpoon banner, and the conversion of the company to an employee owned model. They represent the great people of Massachusetts. Now they sport nearly a dozen permanent beers on the slate, along with a number of seasonal brews. Medium-bodied, hoppy and crisp, the Harpoon IPA is the ideal American style of pale ales – refreshing and easy to quaff pints, it serves well at 10°C and should be enjoyed promptly.

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How it looks

Pours an amber-copper colour with a clear body and medium carbonation. Frothy off-white head pillowy enough to sleep on.

How it smells

A lot of tropical citrus comes across and the sharp bitterness of the zest with it. A touch of ginger and sugary sweetness, pungent floral hops, and underneath it all is a foundational malt character. A bit of a boozy whiff as well.

How it tastes

The Harpoon IPA opens on a sweet note and quickly carries over into the floral hop character. The hops have real legs, opening up the flavour from the initial flat floral notes and giving you a taste of sweet flower-buds, green and fresh leafy taste and crunchy bitter stem, really doing the work of bringing you the full hop character. This mellows into a smoother mix of the hop and malt, letting a silky body fill the palate.

Recommended food pairing

With mid-level bitterness and citrus back you can’t lose by breaking out the shellfish - do up a shrimp curry.