BOSTON, MA (October 2012) – The Harpoon Brewery is proud to bring back Grateful Harvest Ale, a New England cranberry ale brewed in the Thanksgiving spirit of giving back to the community. For every 6-pack of Grateful Ale sold, the Harpoon Brewery will make a $1 donation to the local food bank in the area in which the beer was purchased.
Harpoon Grateful Harvest Ale is a beer brewed with Thanksgiving celebrations in mind. Freshly harvested cranberries, donated by local cranberry farm A.D. Makepeace, lend a subtle tartness to the beer. The cranberry flavor complements the malty character derived by the combination of Munich and Vienna malts. An addition of CaraMunich malt enhances the beer’s reddish hue and adds a touch of sweetness, while Northern Brewer bittering hops complement the slight cranberry tartness. A traditional top fermenting strain of ale yeast was used to showcase the malt profile and accent the fresh cranberry aroma. The result is a medium-bodied, malty and mildly sweet amber ale with a bready aroma and a subtle cranberry flavor.
The idea for Harpoon Grateful Harvest Ale was born out of the relationships the brewery has cultivated with New England food banks throughout the years. This beer will help raise desperately needed funds for the fight against hunger, with $1 from every 6-pack sold going to the local food bank in the area in which it was purchased. In 2011 and 2012 combined, Harpoon Helps donated $49,608 to local food banks through Grateful Harvest sales. The brewery anticipates approximately $35,000 will be donated to local food banks based on sales of Harpoon Grateful Harvest this year alone.
Harpoon was founded on two principles: to make great beer and to be good neighbors within their community. Since the brewery bottled its first beer in 1986, Harpoon has endeavored to make meaningful contributions to causes that are important to them and their customers. What started as beer donations here and there, hosting fundraisers for friends from time to time, and producing small fundraisers, has developed into one of the brewery’s most cherished programs: Harpoon Helps. So far in 2012 alone, the Harpoon Helps program has raised more than $445,000 for local charities, donated more than 50,000 pints toward local charity events with approximately 300 local non-profits supported, and has performed thousands of volunteer hours at local organizations.
Harpoon Grateful Harvest Ale Specs:
Style: Cranberry Amber Ale
OG: 15.5
ABV: 5.9%
IBUs: 25
Color: 46
Pairing Suggestion: Turkey with all the fixings
Harpoon Grateful Harvest Ale will be available in bottles from early October through early December. This beer is an ideal beer for the Thanksgiving season.
About the Harpoon Brewery
The Harpoon Brewery was founded by beers lovers, Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary. In 1986 Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first brewery to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and UFO Hefeweizen beers, along with four special seasonal selections. In 2000 Harpoon purchased a second brewery in Windsor, VT, making Harpoon the 8th largest craft brewer in the US. Harpoon has since introduced two lines of limited edition beers, the 100 Barrel Series and the Leviathan Series, as well as the all-natural Harpoon Cider made from freshly pressed, local apples. For more information about Harpoon beers and visiting the breweries, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com.
