Brew Review: Harp Lager

Usually relegated to wing-man status – it’s commonly known as the “tan” portion of the bar-favorite “Black and Tan” – Harp Lager deserves to be let loose and given the full review treatment.

By John

Harp Lager could be considered a “middle-class working man’s” beer, with its dignified bottle and white-collar taste. Straw-yellow in color, Harp pours nicely with a fluffy head, thick in appearance. So far, so good…

…And then mediocrity sets in.

The taste is crisp in the mouth, with a neutral flavor of malt hops. The high-level of carbonation is leveled off with a slightly “watery” feel that does indeed give the beer an easy-to-swallow taste – even if that taste isn’t very strong.

The scent of Harp is muddled, coming off like any random beer you smell in Anybar, USA. Nothing extraordinary, but nothing off-putting either.

With extra-special brews available on all four corners of the Earth it’s no wonder that Harp gets harped on for being a bit dull. With that said, the vast majority of micro-brews are far more pricey and delicate: Harp is perfectly suited for a quiet, warm pub in the dead of winter. Kicking back with the dudes over a few packs is a sure thing – just be sure to bring some Guinness along for some classic Black and Tans if you want to go quality.

Harp Lager: forever the wing-man, never the main attraction.

Harp Lager stats

Tastes like: a third-wheel

Smells like: your average beer scent (malt hops galore)

Alcohol content: a tad low; bring a few packs in tow for maximum wastedness