Things have not gone so well for Harpoon through their first two attempts here on my blog. The first one was middling at best, and the second one caused me to create a diatribe explaining to breweries across the world that the insertion of unnecessary ingredients displeases me. I believe every single brewery that has read that review has changed the way they make beer. That is to say, I don't believe anyone read that review. But, I can't damn a brewery for just two attempts. Their third is going to be a breakout, and I'm sure of it.
The amber is so deep on this beer that it's almost mahogany. The off-white head takes a modicum of time to boil away, and it leaves a complete covering across the top of the beer and more lacing than any amber ale has any right to have. The aroma is slightly woody with a caramel malt and I'm surprisingly not smelling much beyond a vague floral aroma in terms of hops. This says pretty proudly on the label that it's a hoppy amber ale, but right now the lacing is the only thing that's indicating that there might be some hops in here.First sip does not disabuse me of the notion that this is not a particularly hoppy beer. There are some hops in here, but the amber ale nature of the beer is significantly thrust forward compared to the hops. The caramel malt is mixing with some flowers that presumably are coming from the hops, and there's a dry woodenness about the beer that squelches almost everything else out by the time the sip is done.
Tip-in is mild carbonation sizzle with caramel and very light flowers easing into the picture. The middle is solid and refreshing with the malt becoming more sweet but a bitterness from the hops is managing to cut into it with a much-needed complexity. The finish is where the wood and dryness come in, but they accentuate the middle more than they detract from it.
Bottom Line: This is a fall seasonal beer, and it will do well on a cool autumnal night.
3.25/5