A Beer for All Seasons
Written: Feb 28 '00 (Updated Feb 28 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: superb taste, full body without great weight
Cons: neither ubiquitous nor inexpensive in the U.S.
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| HRogue's Full Review: Harp Lager |
I've always been the sort of person to try one or two new brews whenever I'm in an establishment that offers some unfamiliar selections. However, I had my first pint of Harp Lager at a bar on my 19th birthday (I'm 27 now so I believe the statute of limitations has expired on that evening of lawbreaking.) I've tried more varieties of beer than I could count in the intervening years, but Harp remains my favorite. It has all the depth and richness one comes to expect from the finer brews of the Old World, but it lacks the heavy bitterness Americans often associate with a proper lager. It can become a little weighty if served warm or nursed over an extremely long period of time. However, when moderately chilled and properly quaffed, it is a delight which rivals any beverage ever conceived.
I've found that many people who disapprove of beer from across the Atlantic base their attitude on one or two unpleasant experiences with heavier, darker brews. Harp is definitely not one of those "beers you eat with a fork." It is an ideal choice for introducing others to the possibilities of imports. In fact, the stuff is so friendly to the palette that is has potential as a means to convert those who presently express a dislike for beer. Though there may be some expense involved in an evening of Harp and good cheer, just about anyone who has ever had the pleasure will tell you that a pint glass full of shimmering golden Harp is much more desirable than a case of domestic cans. Bottles of Harp also qualify as tasty treats, but if you bring them to a gathering be sure your host has a proper bottle opener. In this age of industrial convenience it is surprising how many people are unprepared for caps that do not simply twist off.
Often, the quality of a drinking experience is influenced by the surroundings. For example, I find that the harshness of a vodka martini is somehow ameliorated by a formal setting. A bottle of Corona becomes enhanced when it quenches the thirst of a blazing midsummer's day. The lingering aftertaste of certain red wines seems to harmonize with the marinara sauce of a hearty pasta dish. A warm infusion of peppermint schnapps is bettered when mixed with hot cocoa and served on a frigid winter night. For me, Harp is the one indulgence which needs no occasion. It goes well with just about any kind of snack or meal, and there is no setting in which it seems out of place. Schmoozing with overdressed investors, catching up on old times with a few friends in a loud bar, or simply unwinding alone after a long day at the office -- any time that is a good time for a drink is probably also a good time for a Harp.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
HRogue
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Member: Jason Stevens
Location: Pekin, IL
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 15 members
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