Harpoon Brewery, Boston

As fiercely as we love Sam Adams, we decided to open our hearts and taste buds to a new brewery. Several friends told us we had to try the Harpoon Brewery for a new experience, and we finally decided to visit. The Brewery is located on the water front in Boston. It’s a large fully functioning brewery, which was really cool to see.

The tour started with an explanation of how the brewing process begins and the ingredients necessary to make beer.While the guide was talking we got our Harpoon tasting glasses and were told to hold on to them for some free samples at the end of the tour. The group was then invited to look around and see the large vessels that start changing those four ingredients into beer.

Greg checking out the giant empty metal thingy

another beer tasting glass to add to our collection

We headed down to the conditioning vats, where the ingredients start to come together. There, we sampled what is called “green beer”, meaning it hasn’t finished the process yet. It has no carbonation at this stage and was not fully conditioned or filtered, so the flavors were not fully developed. Interesting to taste the beer at this point, but not delicious by any means.

green beer. not delicious.

After the tasting, we headed back to see where the beer is bottled, and how it’s packed. We learned that this facility is significantly smaller than the main facility in Vermont, and has much older machinery. The guide mentioned that 8 hours of bottling usually turns into at least 12 hours because of how often the old machines will shut down or break. After that, they brought us to the warehouse. Filled from top to bottom with Harpoon beer and cider.

cases and cases of Harpoon. otherwise called heaven.

At the end of the tour, we were brought back up to the gift shop/tasting room to try the different varieties of Harpoon. Everything was on tap, and each tour group had 30 minutes to try the different types of beer (aka, 30 minutes to drink as much as possible in the tiny glasses they gave you). Everyone gets a sample of the Harpoon IPA, their signature beer, but from there it’s up to you.

Dane with his Celtic Ale

I tried the Chocolate Stout, UFO White Ale, Celtic Ale, and then an interesting mixture. As I went up for my last sample, the woman next to me suggested I try a mixture of the Harpoon Cider and Winter Warmer. I was a little skeptical, but she assured me it tasted just like apple pie, so I gave it a shot. She was right and it was delicious. Never would have thought to mix two types of beer.

Chocolate Stout, which definitely tasted like chocolate

We had so much fun there with our friends. It was $5 per person to get in. Parking wasn’t a problem, and it’s easy to get to if you’re driving. Not sure how it would be to get there via public transportation, though there did seem to be a Silver Line stop nearby. It was a great and different experience, and I have a feeling we’ll go back!

happy harpoon couple

Tags: beer, fun with food, new tastes, traveling