Frequently Asked Questions

We get a lot of questions about the Brewery, our Beers, and our Festivals. Here is a list of some of the questions we answer the most, hope it helps! 1. How can I find out when the beer was bottled? In an effort to further our commitment to bringing the freshest Harpoon to you, we have improved the freshness dating on our bottles. Beginning in January ‘07, all Harpoon bottled beer will have a “Best By” date ink-jetted on the bottle. It will be printed in bright yellow ink so that it’s easy for you to read. The Best By date will be approximately 120 days after the beer is bottled. This method will replace the darker printed “bottled on” date used previously. This way, you can be sure that you’re drinking the freshest beer possible from Harpoon! 2. Can I rent out the Tasting Room at the Brewery in Boston? We do not rent out for private parties. However, another option to keep in mind is the Harpoon 5:30 Club. The 5:30 Club is a group tasting at the brewery for 15 to 80 of your friends. The 5:30 Club is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings from 5:30 - 7:00 pm, by appointment only. This is a unique opportunity to see the brewery and how we brew our beers, and of course, have a sample or two directly from the source! The tour takes place in our Tasting Room which overlooks the brewery floor. Since we can hold up to 80 people in our Tasting Room, we often have several groups here for a 5:30 Club. To have a private 5:30 Club you have to have at least 40 people. For more information and available dates, email our Tasting Room Manager. 3. Is Harpoon beer suitable for vegans and vegetarians? Yes, the only animal products used in beer production is isinglass (which is a dried swim bladder of a tropical fish from the Sea of China) or gelatin. These products are used typically in the production of 'cask' ales, the unfiltered ones served through a beer engine at bars that cater to beer connoisseurs. They're very, very rarely used otherwise, although some brewers will use them to prepare a particularly hazy beer for filtration. At Harpoon, we never use either for our normally produced beers, like the draft's you're likely to see or any of our bottled products. 4. Are any Harpoon beers wheat-free? The following beers have NO wheat in their recipes: IPA Ale Hibernian Winter Warmer Avoid the following, as all have varying amounts of wheat in their recipes: UFO Hefeweizen and UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen (all hefeweizens have lots of wheat in them) Summer Beer (a kolsch style; avoid other brewers' kolsches as most will contain wheat) Octoberfest 5. Does Harpoon support local charities with donations? Yes, please visit Harpoon Helps page for more information and to request a donation. 6.Where can I find Harpoon? Harpoon is currently available in the following states: MA, NH, VT, ME, RI, CT, NY, NJ, OH, IN, IL, MI, DE, MD, DC, PA, VA, WV, NC, SC, TN, KY, AL, GA, FL. We are happy to give you additional info, so feel free to send us an email and we’ll let you know where to find Harpoon in your area. 7. How many calories/carbs are there in a 12 oz bottle of IPA? Calories: 165-175 Carbs: 14.5g-16.5g Variability is due to seasonal/crop year variability in malted barley characteristics. 8. What is the shelf-life for a bottle of Harpoon beer? The shelf life is 150 days, or about 5 months. You can look for the package date on the bottle neck.