Harpoon Summer Sampler 12x12

Beers included: Summer Style, Day Drifter IPA, Harpoon IPA, Camp Wannamango

Purchase Date 3 August 2024

Purchase Price $18.99

Initial Impressions

I didn't set out to buy seasonal sample packs all summer, but summer has always been my favorite beer season, and I found a few I was excited to see. 

12x12 Brooklyn Summer Ale

Beers Included: Brooklyn Summer Ale

Purchase Date: 3 August 2025

Purchase Price: $16.49

Initial Impressions

In the words of Dave Portnoy, "Don't give up on summer!". The beginning of August always brings about the arrival of fall beers. With our hot summer still ongoing and inspired by a text from a friend stocking up on summer beers, I decided to do the same. 

Tasting Notes: North Shore Brewers 2025 Q2 Kellerbier

As much as I prefer the written word, the digital world is moving more toward video all the time. Over the years I have very lightly dabbled in video production. I have no patience for video editing. With that in mind, I went on Facebook Live on Big Brew Day thinking that might be an easier pivot to video when I brewed this batch. 

The tl;dw about the brew is I designed a Helles-recipe that borrowed slightly from my cream ale recipe, the beer got two weeks in primary fermentation before being racked to a keg for keg-conditioning and lagering. 

I was happy to pick up a fresh crowler of Notch Zwickel directly from the brewery for my side-by-side. 

Does craft lager need to exist? Tasting notes: a macro versus micro taste test

Forgive the clickbait title, of course it does. Some of my favorite craft beers and breweries are lagers or lager-focused. What I am asking specifically is does craft American lager need to exist? Pedantically speaking, I am referring to styles 1A American Light Lager and 1B American Lager in the BCJP style-Guidelines. 

More and more craft brewers are making American-style lager. It used to be that craft beer was positioned as an alternative to bland, yellow beer. Other than responding to consumer tastes, what does craft American-style lager have to offer? Are craft brewers making better lagers than the largest lager brewers in the world? If so, is the quality difference significant enough to justify a higher price?

Let’s put it to the test.