Just to let you know, these posts may begin to slow to a mere drip in the coming weeks, possibly petering out altogether for a brief hiatus. Fear not, I’ll have plenty to yammer on about when I return from Europe. I’ll be in Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Venice over the course of two weeks, and I doubt I’ll even have time for a post. Instead of seeking out internet cafes, I’ll be looking for those of the beer variety in my spare time. I should be back around the beginning of June, if I return at all!

Other than that, I’ve been trying to keep it beery around here. This past weekend, I snatched up a keg of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale for a good friend of mine who’s moving out to Colorado. We decided to throw him a party, and I couldn’t think of a better beer to accommodate the varying tastes of the crowd and the seasonably warm weather this time of year. When I got around to returning the keg today, the owner of the establishment (Corks & Kegs, if you must know) asked if there was any left in it with a knowing smile. I gave him a “no” response. “Yep, that’s the only one that always comes back empty,” he said. The party was a success, a lot of it having to do with that particular beer. I’m sure somewhere down the line, when I open up a bottle of Two Hearted to relax for the evening, I’ll recall the good time I had that night, and a few others I’ve had over the course of my better beer drinking days. Funny how a good beer can really bring you back.

Nevertheless, aside from preparing for that trip (or trying to anyway), I recently got a promotion. So tonight, I’m staying in, being somewhat non-productive, and sipping on a Harpoon Firth of Forth Ale from their 100 Barrel Series. The packaging for this stuff always impresses me, I’m not sure why. Come to think of it, the label designs for all Harpoon offerings never cease to appeal to me visually. This one’s billed as a “dark scotch style ale” according to the print, so let’s see what she’s made of.

A translucent, russet-colored beer it is, with roughly half a finger of ecru head on top that leaves circular clusters of foam behind. Notes of toffee, toasted and bready malt, with a negligible hint of bittersweet chocolate are present in the nose. Palate is mostly a malty toffee flavor, rounded and subtle, that dries out with a little hop bittering balance towards the finish. There is a sweetness that’s evident in the aftertaste, which lingers gently, but not cloyingly.

Not an amazing beer by any means, and not to disparage the entire line, but I normally like the labels better than the beer inside. Still, Harpoon is prone to making a solid beer, not a spectacular one, and for this I salute them. Sure, it’s not the most inventive or astounding special release, but perhaps that’s what is influencing my critique. Were this to be an everyday beer, I might be more impressed due to its understated nature. Plus, it’s just nice to sit down to a milder and smoother beer that’s easy to drink, without complex flavors ripping your tongue out. Harpoon is known for making easy sippers, and this one is no different. And at the moment, that’s the kind of mindset I’m in.