Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Harpoon Leviathan Series Imperial IPA

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Dec 23, 2009 7:30PM

We were running around finishing Christmas shopping Sunday when we found ourselves near the Gage. Dirk Flanigan's Michigan Avenue tavern makes quite possibly the best poutine in the city, teeming with cheese curds and rich elk ragout. It's a hearty dish that requires a hearty beer to match. We weren't in the mood for an Imperial IPA, but our first two choices were 86'ed. By process of elimination, Harpoon Brewing was the recipient of our thirst and food pairing skills.

The Gage carries Harpoon's Imperial IPA, part of their "Leviathan" series of high gravity beers. the Leviathan IPA is a bold, hoppy ale, weighing in at 10 percent ABV. the hops added to the boil include Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, and Amarillo, while the brewery's proprietary yeast is used in fermentation. While the beer is fermenting, it's dry-hopped with what we think are Centennial hops, given the grapefruit and pine on the nose. The result is a beer that begs to be noticed, with a lingering bitter finish that more than met the challenge of pairing with the curds and elk in the poutine.

A 10-ounce stemmed glass draft pour of Leviathan Imperial IPA will set you back $6 at the Gage. According to Beer Menus Chicago, 42°N Latitude (4500 N. Lincoln, 773-907-2226) carries this in 12-ounce bottles for $7.