Harpoon Brewery

While visiting Boston for a conference at the Boston World Trade Center - and after researching the local microbrewery scene - I found that Harpoon Brewery was located within walking distance from both the conference and my hotel (Seaport Hotel, across from the WTC). I had a little time on my hands after flying in from Los Angeles, so I walked over to Harpoon just in time for their 4PM tasting. The beer here is amazing, as are the people who make and serve it. Our "beer guide" was Corey, who served up generous portions of tasty beer along with a healthy dose of local stories and beer lore. Start with the Harpoon Ale - not just an "average" mass-produced ale, but a golden beauty with a lot of flavor. Their "UFO" line of unfiltered beers includes a classic hefe, the "White" which is a spiced hefe (think coriander and citrus) and a Raspberry hefe, which is worthy of at least a taste if you're afraid to commit to a whole bottle. This is not a fruit-flavored beer but rather a delicately-balanced brew of hefe and natural raspberry. A series of IPAs round out the selection and include the Harpoon IPA - made more in the English style with a mild yet persistent hoppiness - a Belgian IPA hybrid with clove-like essences - and that big, bad Imperial IPA that puts some of the West Coast Double IPAs to the test. Harpoon also offers a tasty Munich Dark and a nice cider as well. Really worth a visit if you are an advocate of good beer!