Harpoon Brewery releases latest winner from employee brewing competition

It all started as a friendly brewing competition among Harpoon Brewery employees. About five years ago, brewery staffers from every department were invited to brew a beer of their choosing and present it to their colleagues for a blind sampling and voting at the company’s annual gathering in Vermont. Each year the competition became more fierce and the entries more numerous and diverse. The Harpoon Kettle Cup was born, and the winner of the Kettle Cup gets brewed as a 100 Barrel Series beer. This year, out of nearly 30 entries, a grapefruit-infused pale ale sailed to a clear victory. The brewery is proud to introduce Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Citra Victorious.

For the story on this beer, be sure to watch the video below:

Harpoon Citra Victorious, the 50th installment of the 100 Barrel Series, was brewed by Merrill Allen, Jessie Cox, Shannon Cudmore, Liz Melby,and Carolyn Orth, under the guidance of brewer Charlie Cummings. Citra hops provide a juicy citrus character while Chico yeast yields a fruity aroma in this grapefruit-infused pale ale. The combination of Maris Otter, Pale, and C60 malt adds depth and a touch of sweetness and gives the beer its rich bronze color and medium body. The finish is all citrus. Dry hopped with Citra and Cascade and loaded with 96 pounds of grapefruit peel, Harpoon Citra Victorious is easygoing with a momentous citrus kick.

The Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Citra Victorious is now available in 22-ounce bottles with limited draft availability.

Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Citra Victorious Beer Specifications:

Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5.8%
IBUs: 45
Color: 24 EBC

Harpoon introduced the 100 Barrel Series in 2003 to showcase the individual brewing talents of its employees. Every couple months, a different Harpooner is invited to choose a style of beer, formulate the recipe, and brew the beer. That brewer’s signature can be found on the bottle label. The beers in the series are one-offs; they are brewed in limited batches and are available only until the batch sells out. Since the series began in May of 2003, 50 different styles of beer have been brewed. For a complete list of beers that have been released as part of the 100 Barrel Series, visit the Harpoon Brewery website.