Harpoon Brewery marketing campaign calls for IPA Stories

Twenty years ago in Boston, Harpoon IPA was brewed for the first time. Harpoon Brewery co-founders Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary were unsure how local drinkers would take to this medium-bodied, hoppy, bitter, copper-colored ale, so they introduced it as a summer seasonal beer.  It became an instant New England favorite and in 1994 Harpoon IPA became a year-round beer. Harpoon IPA has since become the brewery’s bestselling beer and to this day it remains Harpoon’s flagship.

Editor Chris Crowell’s IPA story: I was really into IPAs about five years ago, and then I drifted away, lost the taste or something, and got more into stouts, porters and other seasonals … but this year, a slew of awesome IPAs rekindled my interest. In the words of George Costanza, I’m back, baby, I’m, back!

Harpoon is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harpoon IPA by telling the brewery’s IPA story, and using it as a social marketing opportunity by inviting Harpoon IPA fans to share their own stories in the “Tell Us Your IPA Story” contest.  The contest will collect stories from Harpoon IPA fans via Facebook through May 12. Stories can include written word, poems, photos, videos or a combination. Submitted stories will be voted on and the winning story will be announced at HarpoonFest, the brewery’s annual summer festival.

The winner will receive the “Harpoon Experience”, which will guarantee VIP entry to all of Harpoon’s festivals and sporting events at both the Boston and Windsor, Vt., breweries for one year. Click here for more on the contest.

“We love telling stories here at the brewery,” Doyle said. “Some stories will live in Harpoon legend, like when we first brewed Harpoon IPA back in 1993. It took all 10 of us working at the brewery to bring the first batch of IPA to life. Ever since then, Harpoon IPA has been the catalyst for our most memorable experiences here at the brewery. We are excited to hear the stories of our fellow Harpoon IPA fans out there.”

To continue the IPA celebration throughout the year, Harpoon will release limited edition six-packs of two new IPAs: Harpoon White IPA and Harpoon Black IPA. The White IPA, a blend of a Belgian wit and American hops, will be released in May, while the Black IPA will be released later this fall.  The two IPAs were also featured alongside Harpoon IPA and Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA in the new IPA Adventure Mix, a limited release IPA variety mix pack that was released earlier this year to kick off Harpoon IPA’s 20th anniversary.