Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA

Brewed by Harpoon Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Bottle from a Whole Foods in Alexanderia VA. Almost didn’t buy it based upon my other Harpoon experiences. Poured initially hazy gold with a medium sized whitish head. Some spice, good hops in the nose. Very thick mouthfeel.....tasty with big resiny hop flavor...definitely sense the alcohol. Sweet malts are evident all the way to the finish. Better than anticipated.

12 oz bottle via Mys Swap 4 (tanks alexsdad!). Pours a semi-hazy amber with a large head. Not much from the nose, a bit of pine. Taste is pretty typical IIPA’ish.Some piny/perfumy hoppiness on top of a strong malt backbone. Lots of fruity esters, some pineapple, apricot hop flavors, some toffee. Balanced with a strong malt backbone and the alcohol is evident. Warm but not hot. Body is full. A slightly above average IIPA that would do well with more hops and less malts as is borderline barleywine here.

Clear amber pour with thick, sticky white head. Aroma of hops, some plastic sweetness. Flavor is sweet malt, some hops, and an omnipresent sweetness. Some cardboard, alcohol is present. Very filtered, wondering if this is a bit old?

Scary looking 12oz bottle courtesy of Cavie. Pours a bit light and clear for an impy, amber and orange with a modest fluffy white head. Sweet citrus hops with a hint of cat-pee hops dominate the aroma with a hint of malt and alcohol. The flavor is sweet malt and grapefruit all the way with a bitter finish that tingles and lingers on mixed deliciously with that sweet grapefruit. Big body with medium carbonation.

Poured a somewhat hazy orange with a big white fluffy head. Very nice aromas of spicy hops and citrus. The flavor was good but I could definitely taste some alcohol in the finish. The body is pretty thick and resinous. This seemed more like a barleywine IMO, but nevertheless it was a very solid brew.

Brown bottle, 12 ounces, via Luc Bourbonnière (merci!), purchased on July 21 2009, savoured on August 26 2009; eye: golden with a light amber hue, clear, slight effervescence, good almond head that eventually turns into a tiny ring, good lacing; nose: hops, hops, hops, grapefruit, slight caramel, pine, light spices; mouth: hops, hops, resinous hops, astringency, grapefruit, orange rind, malt, light caramel, pine, light spices, finale in resinous hops with light presence of orange rind, medium body, quite bitter, slightly sweet, mild astringency, gritty texture; overall: quite likable FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 12 onces, via Luc Bourbonnière (merci!), achetée le 21 juillet 2009, savourée le 26 août 2009; œil : dorée avec une légère teinte ambrée, claire, très légère effervescence, mousse amande de bon volume qui éventuellement se transforme en un petit anneau, bonne dentelle; nez : houblon, houblon, houblon, pamplemousse, très léger caramel, pin, léger épices; bouche : houblon, houblon, houblon résineux, astringence, pamplemousse, écorce d’orange, malt, léger caramel, pin, léger épices, finale en houblon résineux avec légère présence d’écorce d’orange, corps moyen, pas mal amère, très légèrement sucrée, astringence moyenne, texture granuleuse; en résumé : bien aimé

Bottle. Soft, hazy copper. Compact beige head. Aroma is grapefruit juice, pine needles, and spicy hops atop a softer malt and caramel backbone. Taste is strong spicy and citrusy hops, grapefruit juice, sweet malt, caramel, melon, pear, and orange rind. Body is thick and chewy with resinous and biting hops. Finishes with more hops, spicy notes, grapefruit and orange, light melon and pear, sweet, chewy malt, light toffee and caramel.

Bottle. Pours a hazy copper color with a smallish light-tan head. The aroma is dominated by spicy grapefruits with some caramel maltiness and vanilla off in the background. Goes down big-bodied and kinda sticky. The flavor starts off with some toasty caramel maltiness. Juicy grapefruits, lemon rinds, and limes follow. A bit grainy at the end. Alcohol is present, but not obtrusive.