Harpoon Summer Beer Review

Brewery: Harpoon Brewery | Beer: Summer Beer
Style: Kölsch ABV: 5.0% IBUs: 28
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

This review is a part of an article on summer seasonals as part of the monthly beer blogging project The Session.

Harpoon was founded back in 1986 by a trio of Harvard classmates in Boston. In the 20-plus years since, Harpoon has established itself as a major player in the New England craft-brewing scene, with a portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and special releases.

Their summer seasonal, Summer Beer, was inspired by a trip to Germany by master brewer and co-founder Rich Doyle. Released in 1999, this year marks the ten year mark for the beer. A Kölsch-style ale, here's how Harpoon describe the beer:

The hopping levels provide a crisp, dry finish that make this beer particularly refreshing. Harpoon Summer Beer is a beer brewed to be enjoyed with summertime activities. It is light, refreshing, and crisp.

All of the Kölsch-style beers I've tried so far have been awesomely refreshing, and with the summer sun beating down on me here in Texas, I'm ready to dive in.

Appearance: A crystal-clear, pale straw body with two fingers of creamy white head that feature good retention and patchy lacing. The clarity here is brilliant, I could read a book through this beer.

Aroma: Grainy malt with lemony and slightly spicy noble hops. Reminiscent of a good Pilsener.

Taste: A grainy, lightly toasted malt backbone. The mildly bitter and spicy hops come back in towards the end to dry the malt slightly. A crisp finish with a grainy and slightly spicy aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with good carbonation. Dries a little in the finish.

Drinkability: Quite the thirst quencher, this goes back rapidly (as you'd expect from a Summer seasonal).

Verdict: Harpoon's Summer Beer is a straight-forward, light, and easy-drinking beer that makes for a great Summer seasonal. If you had told me this was a Pilsener, I don't think I would have questioned you, but that's rather acceptable for Kölsches.

Grade: B

Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Review

Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Beer: Fancy Lawnmower
Style: Kölsch | ABV: 4.9%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

This is the second Saint Arnold offering in a series featuring my local microbrewery. Buying local beer both greatly reduces the carbon footprint of your pint and puts your dollar in the pocket of a local company. For the next beer I decided to jump to the opposite end of the spectrum. The Lovibond spectrum that is, har har.

Launched in 2000, Fancy Lawnmower quickly became one of Saint Arnold's signature beers. The beer is an award-winning Kölsch, having racked up one gold and two bronze medals in the Great American Beer Festival. The ingredient list reads pale malted barley, pale wheat, German Hallertauer hops and a type of top fermenting ale yeast that happens to ferment at lager temperatures. I have to admit, even though this beer is a Houston icon, I've never tried it. Let's see how it stands up.

Appearance: Golden, cloudy and effervescent with a thin head that dissipates quickly

Aroma: Floral and bitter, almost reminds me of sparkling apple cider

Taste: Crisp and bitter with citrus hints

Mouthfeel: Not as fizzy as its appearance led me to believe, cuts nicely

Drinkability: Somewhat bitter, but would be perfect for a hot Texas afternoon

Verdict: While Kölsch is not one of the styles of beer I usually reach for, this is certainly a beer I can enjoy. If I was outside in the heat at a ballgame, this would be an almost perfect choice.

Grade: B-