leviathan (lēvī’əthən) , in the Bible [Job], aquatic monster, presumably the crocodile, the whale, or a dragon. It was a symbol of evil to be ultimately defeated by the power of good. – Columbia University Press

(Boston, MA) – Harpoon Brewery, the 10th ranked craft brewery in the country (in 2007 sales), recently made a splash with the announcement of its new Leviathan line of beers. For years, the brewery’s 100 Barrel Series has been its only play at the limited release market, the biggest growth segment in craft brewing in 2007 according to the Brewers Association. Unfortunately, the 100 Barrel Series beers have been met with mixed reviews over the years. The new Leviathan line, however, could put Harpoon on the radar of those looking for upper echelon brews.

Harpoon Triticus, a Wheat Wine that came out of a collaboration with the Alstrom brothers back in early 2005, is the brewery’s only top-rated beer to date. Since that time, other regional craft breweries have experienced success with their limited releases. Deschutes The Abyss has become one of the highest-rated beers of all-time, Full Sail’s barrel-aged porters have earned praise, and Sierra Nevada Brewing’s hoppy beers have been a hit. Harpoon is not alone as only half of the Brewers Association’s top 10 breweries have a place in the top 100 brewers list at RateBeer. That status won’t change overnight, whether or not the new series is successful, but if it is, Harpoon will at least have a new place in the minds of beer connoisseurs.

The first in the Leviathan Series of 2008 will be a redux of the old Triticus beer brewed in 2005. It debuted recently at American Craft Beer Fest and is listed at 14.3% ABV. According to the brewery’s official press release, Leviathan beers will be brewed in 120-barrel batches. The beers will be available in 4-packs and on draft for distribution, excluding the Triticus which will be available on draft only. The second beer in the series, an Imperial IPA, will be released in September 2008.” The brewery also got approval this past week for Harpoon Leviathan Baltic Porter, likely to be the third release in the series (not official yet).

As for that 100 Barrel Series, Harpoon is still chugging along. Harpoon Glacier Harvest ’08 Wet Hop Beer, with a light profile of 38 IBUs, is the next installment in the series and #24 overall. Harpoon Rauchfetzen, brewed with Hallertau and Brewer’s Gold hops, will be #25.