Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #16 - Frankenfest

Formerly brewed at Harpoon Brewery
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Mmmm...sweet! But not too sweet. Smells good. Pretty amber color. Thick foamy head! Yum.

[tap @ Bukowski’s] Pours a very nice, dark amber color, with a plentiful white head. Aroma is pretty neutral- slightly malty, grainy. Toasted malt flavors, with some nutty caramel sweetness. Slightly hoppy finish. Not really a standout 100 barrel.

Pours bright amber into a shaker. Bright white micro head leaves no lacing as it slowly recedes. Malted caramel aromas. Sweet caramel with dry, lasting bitter hop finish.

This beer has tons of potential. Looks GREAT in the glass: caramelly copper with fine, foamy head that holds nicely to the sides. Slick and lush mouthfeel. The flavor is there, but it seems strangely unbalanced. The malt is nicely done, much like you would expect from a Marzen. The bitterness is there, which is unusual for the style, but, more importantly, it carries an unfortunate pelletized taste with it. It gives it a cheap microbrew taste. I’ve had better from these 100 barrel series. Still a decent beer, overall.

I (Ian) went to the release of this beer at the brewery in Boston last night, and it would be fair to say that it was very well received. They had to change the keg over even before the brewer, Mike Smith, got up to talk about the beer just after 7pm. You can read my blog of the evening here. I brought a couple of bottles home, and Sean, Amber and I reviewed it. It pours medium to dark amber, a very rich color. A large, frothy light brown head perches on top of a clear body with some carbonation activity. Good lacing and a mostly lasting head. Aroma is of moderate grain malts with a roasted character, and a light nose of grassy hops, as well as a soapy yeast aroma. Initial taste is lightly sweet, ramping up to a moderately sweet finish, with an average duration on the palate. Light to medium on the mouth, it has a creamy texture that ends up leaving us dry. Lively carbonation on the mouth. Reviewer’s notes: "Holy party in your mouth! Warm, nutty malty flavor. Expands on your tongue. Complex. Bottled on 10/06/06."