99. Harpoon 100 Barrel Series #27 Helles Blond Bock

Our fifth beer from Harpoon. You can call me Ishmael.

Harpoon’s Helles Blond Bock starts with a bready malt nose. The dull gold color and ivory head go well with the soft creamy mouthfeel. In terms of the flavor profile, Helles Blond Bock begins bready and sweet with some crispness in the front before moving into a sweet middle with some light carbonation bite. Finishing crisp and dry, there is also some light hop bitterness that lingers briefly. There are some caramel flavors that develop in the front of the beer as it warms, rounding the beer across the palate. Overall, and enjoyable and interesting beer.

From the bottle: “This German-style Bock balances bready malt sweetness with delicate hop bitterness; light-bodied, clean, and satisfying.”

From Harpoon’s website: “The 27th offering of Harpoon’s 100 Barrel Series is Helles Blond Bock. This light amber beer has a bready aroma, creamy smooth mouthfeel, and a clean, lingering sweetness at the finish. Brewer Jaime Schier set out to create a beer with a robust body that was light in color and delicate on the palate. Jaime combined Pale Ale malt, Munich malt, and Black malt to give the beer its intense malt flavor. A German Bock yeast accentuates the malt character, yielding a slightly sweet aroma. German Noble hops add a touch of bitterness to balance the malt. This Helles Bock recipe comprised the most malt per 120-barrel batch ever brewed at Harpoon. Enjoy it on a warm, sunny day, with a big basket of pretzels and mustard.”

ABV: 7.4%
IBU: 15/30
OG 17.1° P

I also participated in the Trolley Stop’s monthly beer tasting (on the solo tip—some one wasn’t up to beer mayhem this evening): tonight’s line-up included Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere, Thirsty Dog Barktoberfest, Bell’s Best Brown, Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin, Rogue Dead Guy Ale (which is a Maibock—I still find that shocking), Two Brothers Heavy Handed, Bell’s Java Stout, Bell’s Double Cream, and Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale. Gots to love the Bell’s heavy line-up. I voted for the Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere, but as usual my wishes went against the crowd...

(10/7/2009)