Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #05 - Alt Ale

Formerly brewed at Harpoon Brewery
Style: Altbier
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Pours a rusty copper color with red tints, small white head. Aroma of malt, light hops, apricot, berry, tea leaves. Medium body for the style, firm malt body with fruitiness, slightly sweet. Nothing too special, but certainly not bad.

Aroma: strawberries/cherries, bubble gum, cooked fish, cherry wood, brown sugar, spices, cinnamon
Appearance: oak brown, small off-white head, no lacing
Flavor: slight wood, some sugar, some grass--not really a whole lot here
Palate: smooth, weird spicy grass aftertaste

08.10.04 bomber. Pours a rather dark mahoganey color with a medium white head and silly lacing. Aromas have the wonderful alt salted pretzel smell. The flavor follows suit and the body is coating with a salty, coating feel. My only complaint with this beer is it’s lack of spice, that tongue raking bite that so often lingers with an alt. Not surprising, really, to think that Harpoon worked hard to rid this brew of that bite that might be thought of as an off flavor by the average consumer. So many of Harpoon’s brews fall into the category with Dewars scotch and Kendall Jackson wines...they’re all good, well made, and consistent, but none of them is willing to take the chance and push the envelope. Whatever, this beer works - but for five bucks?!?!

A nice crystal clear reddish brown hue with long legs. Richy malty aroma with a slighty citrusy scent. Light tan head that dissippates quite quickly. Taste is quite malty, with a very full mouthfeel (almost chewy), but very well balanced by a touch of slight spice. Mild aftertaste is sweet. Overall, a fine example of the style.

Medium brown color. Small white foamy had. Aroma is malty and fruity. A medium bodied alt. Malts are fruity and sweet, touches of orange and brown sugar. Hops are grapefruity and slightly spicy. Nicely balanced alt. Fresh and fruity. Light and refreshing. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Bottle @ RBSG 04’ Grand Tasting
Brown amber, sticky head/lacing. Aroma is a nutty, sweet, light caramel note, a vague earthiness is present. Average for the style.

Clear amber. Smooth and creamy on the tongue. Interesting fruity-caramel sweetness. Notes of toasted bread and caramel. Balanced and well-made beer. Weird ... after I typed that sentence, I happened to notice argo0 said basically the same thing on his last line. Anyway, Alt is not a big fav style of mine, but this was a pretty good brew.

(RBSG04) Clear amber body with beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, caramel, floral. Taste is medium sweet, caramel, earthy/floral, orange/peach. Light-medium body. Nicely balanced beer, well crafted.