Harpoon Celtic Ale

I decided to pick up another Harpoon ale after the word "Celtic" drew me to it. I enjoyed the Summer Ale a decent amount so I figured I'd take a stab at their Irish offering.

The brew pours with a full white head and nice carbonation. It has the look of a classic Irish Red Ale. It had the classic ale scent that was full of hops and barley. The taste was a boatload of barley with a dash of hops. It was really beery with a touch of citrus notes. The texture, however, was quite thin, albeit smooth. There wasn't a whole lot of body and it was a little too carbonated-tasting - almost like a soda.

This was a solid brew - definitely something I'd pick up again if I can find it. It holds its own as a solid session beer and something to have on occasion. Nothing special, but something definitely worth noting.

Appearance - 3.7
Smell - 3.5
Taste - 3.3
Texture - 3.0
Overall - 3.38/5

Harpoon Summer Beer

I wanted to try a little something new for a Paisley tailgating concert that I went to. I heard good things about Samuel Adams Summer Ale but I figured why not go for something new?

The beer poured out with a rich golden color and completely transparent. It had a slight foam, but no head, and a slight bubble. It had a very rich, hoppy scent that was slightly sweet and had a dash of barley thrown in too. Strangely, it reminded me a little of cheap beer like Coors or Budweiser. It tasted just like it smelled: lots of hops and a little barley. It also tasted like it had a little bit of lemon zest or something else citrusy in it. The texture was very smooth and refreshing - optimal for a summer brew at a tailgate, beach or chilling in your backyard.

This is by no means a really expensive, complicated brew. But, it is a very good social brew where you can have a few and enjoy the taste and the setting of where you're at.

Appearance - 3.5
Smell - 3.6
Taste - 3.8
Texture - 4
Overall - 3.73/5