About
It all started in 1986. Sure, many things have changed since the early days of Harpoon, but much has stayed the same. We still love brewing beer and enjoying it with friends.

In July 2014, Harpoon became an employee owned company, with 48% of the company given to employees through the establishment of an ESOP. An E-what? ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. It is a mechanism by which a company contributes to its employees’ retirement by allocating shares to them which it repurchases…..yadda, yadda, yadda… Here’s what it means: we are employee owned, we are an independent craft brewer, and you bet we’re damn proud of it.

In 2024, Harpoon and Smuttynose merged, forming Barrel One Collective.
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Tessic (2442) reviewed
Dark from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
6.4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
This Munich dark pours a really dark red with a tan head. To the nose it has ripe fruit, molassass and a little citrus. First sip is rich with flavours of roasted malts with a little coffee thrown in. Finish is hoppy with a slight bitterness. Palate is roasty with lingering hops.
Tried on 22 Nov 2006 at 19:20
Anders37 (30296) reviewed
100 Barrel Series #11: Framboise from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
5.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6
Bottle. Pours a hazy reddish colour with a small white head. Sweet raspberry aroma. Sweet malty, fruity raspberry flavor with some sourness. Malty finish with some sourness.
Tried from Bottle on 19 Nov 2006 at 14:01
Mansquito (19868) reviewed
Winter Warmer from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
5.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 4 Texture 6 Overall 4.5
Just got a few winter beers, this amongst them. Poured a nice dark orange color with a pretty big head that slowly descends. Head is not really thick, but certainly makes up for density with size. Smell of spices, but nice. Not hoppy at all and almost a little bit watery. Kinda malty and all. Swished around on the tongue, the beer gives a range of spice flavours. I don’t think that they overdid the cinnamon. Only complaint is that the finish is a little watery.
Tried on 16 Nov 2006 at 16:33
Mansquito (19868) reviewed
UFO Hefeweizen from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
5.2/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 6
Really weird name. Some people who I drank this with were calling it OO- FOE, while I was calling it U-F-O. I don’t know, but this is pretty much an average American wheat that is rather easy to drink. Didn’t try it with a lemon, but I did notice a citrusy taste to the beer. Drinkable, but nothing really that remarkable.
Tried from Can on 12 Nov 2006 at 14:23
Mansquito (19868) reviewed
Ale from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
6.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 4 Overall 7
This is the less alcoholic and less hoppy cousin of the more prevelent Harpoon India Pale Ale. Actually, I prefer this beer to that one. This medium bodied beer goes down smoother and in my humble opinion tastes a little bit better than its close kin. Average and nothing too special, but definately good.
Tried on 12 Nov 2006 at 14:20
Mansquito (19868) reviewed
IPA from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
6.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
A pretty good IPA that I find everywhere I go in Boston. It is quite bitter and also quite hoppy. Not too sure that it goes down all that smoothly, but the taste is definately ok in the mouth. Not the best IPA that you can get, but certainly one of the better beers from the bigger breweries. Harpoon makes many better beers though.
Tried from Can on 12 Nov 2006 at 13:26
maniac (11815) reviewed
Winter Warmer from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
5.8/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Bottle on 11/10/2010. Clear copper body with a small off-white head. Sweet spice and caramel aroma. Spice, honey and caramel flavor. Medium body with moderate carbonation. 6/3/6/3/11 - 2.9 Rated on 11/9/2006. Hazy amber body with a small creamy tan head. Sweet cinnamon and spice aroma. Very strong cinnamon flavor with a hint of nutmeg. 5/3/7/3/12 - 3.0
Tried from Bottle on 09 Nov 2006 at 11:57
Hibba (866) reviewed
IPA from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
6.8/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 8
Deep golden with orange tendencies...foam present, then dissipates to a simple lasting presence....malty aroma, not much hop on the nose for an IPA...(IPA by my standards)...as I go on....slight lacing forming...even b4 sipping, has a creamy apperance...well balanced, pleasant, hops show through on the finish....nice....easy to drink....definite malts over hops, but mingled just right for my taste buds to enjoy...a damn good sippin’ IPA...thanks Maureen!
Tried on 01 Nov 2006 at 19:40
Hibba (866) reviewed
UFO Hefeweizen from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
5.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 4 Flavor 5 Texture 8 Overall 4.5
Has a nice creamy mouthfeel..but otherwise a disapointment...no clove and a flat finish.
Tried on 01 Nov 2006 at 19:34
Mansquito (19868) reviewed
Octoberfest from Harpoon Brewery
19 years ago
5.4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 4.5
I don’t really see what is so great about this octoberfest. I am not sure exactly what in this beer it is, but something in it just puts me off. It might be the weird little bitterness. It might be the residual sweetness. I don’t know exactly what it is, but something is just wrong with the beer.
Tried on 31 Oct 2006 at 16:46