It’s back! Harpoon Maibock is back that is. Harpoon is the featured brewery for May for the Taco Mac chain of restaurant/sports bars, and Harpoon Maibock is one of the four featured beers. It’s also brewed especially for Taco Mac, you see, and I know this because Taco Mac is now doing radio ads, one of which announced the same. Still, Harpoon Maibock seems to have more lives than a cat, and keeps popping up time and again.
I
first tried this beer back in the late 90s (or was it the early aughts?)
under the name Harpoon Spring Maibock. But that
wasn't really a Maibock, because they brewed it as an ale. Maibocks, a pale
variation on the classic German bock, are traditionally lagers. Then
in 2005, I scored a bottle of
Harpoon 100 Barrel Maibock,
Session 9 in that
series.
Here's what Harpoon said about their limited edition
Maibock then:
Brewer: Al Marzi Style: Maibock Alcohol by Volume: 5.8%
IBU: 40 Original Gravity: 14.5 The big, malty scent of the Harpoon 100
Barrel Series Maibock is present just above the floral hop nose. The
combination of five malts creates a full, smooth texture that yields a
clean, dry bitterness. This is a full-bodied beer with a pronounced hop and
malt character.
The current incarnation of Harpoon Maibock seems to be the
same beer (almost) as the 100 Barrel edition. I doubt it’s lagered, but it
does taste more to me like a good Maibock should. The 100 Barrel version was
darker than normal for the style, and the mug I’m sipping from at Taco Mac
is as well. Still, this is not so chocolaty or nutty (but still is a tad
nutty). I get a sweet malty nose, soft toasty malt up front, gentle
cooked corn character, just a hint of caramel, and a balancing herbal
bitterness.
Harpoon Maibock is a tasty pale bock that I think has improved and is more authentic than it used to be. And heck, at $6 with a free Harpoon glass, it’s fairly reasonable in price as well. I’m kicking it up a half star, and who knows? Maybe it’ll be better still in its next incarnation.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft