Carver - Fullsteam Brewery

blackie

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Have had Carver a few times whether by growler or, in this instance, a draft at the brewpub - the beer is a deep maple amber in color, served in a tall lager style glass with a low cap of carbonation. Opens with aromatic biscuity malts, toasty, with lots of caramelization and an earthy sweet potato sugar. Earthy, grassy hops. Moderate in body and carbonation. Flavors of toasted biscuity malts and caramel, the sweet potatoes come through as an earthy sweetness but not exactly distinct. Lots of rich, heavy flavor. Earthy hops with a hint of toast and light bitter to the finish. A nice lager, slightly sweet for my taste, but enjoyably full flavored and I think the use of sweet potatoes is both well done and a benefit to the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2013 00:47:33 | More by blackie

blivingston1985

North Carolina

3.59/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served in a shaker pint at The Flying Saucer-Charlotte

Pale honey/amber color. No head, but my glasss was filled to the brim. A lace is on top of the beer throughout consuption, but just a ring wround the glass that doesn't stick to the walls of the glass.

Soft, bready malt and as well as light sweet potato on the nose

Nice medium body. The sweet potato is noticable, but i don't find it sweet like I've read in several reviews. Adds a richness, but I'm sure the sweet potato isn't really leaving that much residual sugar. It just tastes of rich, sweet potato-y.

Solid finish. I would by this if it s available in sixers in my area.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2013 02:05:24 | More by blivingston1985

tdm168

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the brewery on 3/3/12.

Pours a bright golden orange with a thin lacing of soft head that fades quickly. The nose is a little musty, but with nice citrusy, hop aromas. The flavor is sweet just like the sweet potatoes used to brew it. There is also a nice, balanced hop bitterness and a mild yeasty note that reminds me of a lager. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth, but a bit crisp.

This is an unusual beer. These guys get credit for trying something inventive and doing it well. The hops and the sweetness are balanced well, but the flavor isn't very complex. That being said, it's drinkable and enjoyable and it's worth trying if only to say you've had something so unique.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2012 02:00:34 | More by tdm168

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Finally reviewing this thing. Ive had it so many times.

Pour is a nice orange amber color with minimal head.

Smell is always amazing. It smells like Pumpkin Pie to me.

The taste is lager smooth. The sweet potatoes dont really add much to the flavor. I think all the sugars and flavors were eaten up by the yeast.

Finish is clean and smooth. Nice lager feel.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2012 00:38:07 | More by VncentLIFE

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Amberish orange. Thick fizzy head actually holds together pretty well despite the fact that it looks like it won't. One fat ring of lacing.
S- Smells sweet, picking up the sweet potatoes. A touch of spice aroma.
T- This tastes like a pumpkin ale/lager. The sweet potatoes have a similar contribution of a sweet, meaty, slightly earthy character. I like what they're doing but it's just too sweet. A faint hint of hops.
M- Full for a fruit beer or an amber lager. I actually found this a bit overcarbed.
D- An interesting, relatively innovative brew. Worth a try based on uniqueness, but it would never be a go to beer for me. If they toned down the sweetness, I could dig it more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2011 04:58:43 | More by jsprain1

Bung

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

At Revolution Pizza, Charlotte.
Hazy orange/gold pour, white head. Looks fine.

Some malt, caramel and grassy spice.

Taste has a very nice spiciness to it. Close to you average pumpkin brew. Malt, citrus and an herbal grassiness aw well.

Easy to drink on the heavy side of light. Kind of different and a real nice brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 03:00:39 | More by Bung

Verecund

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a banana yellow meets amber with a quarter finger head. Almost no lacing. Early batches were clearer (from what I remember), but the last time I had this, it was somewhat cloudy.

Nose is of earthy hops, a sweet vegetable aroma (like that of caramelized sweet potatoes), bready malts, and citrus.

Somewhat herbal on the tongue, with lots of bready maltiness. The sweet potatoes don't add much, from what I can tell, but there is a distinct spiciness on the finish and a sweetness that's almost sweet potato in nature.

Medium-light in body, with medium carbonation.

What I've called the Fullsteam terroir comes through here - there's a subtle soil attribute that actually works with the hop profile (somewhat spicy, earthy, citrusy). Fairly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 01:13:00 | More by Verecund

oberon

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I admit the sweet potato aspect of this beer peaked my interest and probably was the reason I picked this growler up.Poured into a Willy becker a clear burnt orange color with a thin wispy head that was gone pretty quickly,sweet juicy malt aromas,almost gummy,the alcohol lends a little sweetness as well.The palate is sweet as well it has almost a clove-like spice in the finish,like sweet potato pie almost,with a doughy pie crust flavor to boot.Iam not sure if this beer is spiced but it has hints of it being so,its different but a little to sweet to be great in my opinion.

Serving type: growler

01-26-2011 21:26:38 | More by oberon

skeeordye11

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: crystal clear golden orange color. Thin white head with a touch of lacing. Very beautiful color!
S: sweet maltiness predominates with a strong earthy hoppiness compliment.
T: beautifully balanced malt sweetnes with a strong bitterness from the hops. Some nice caramel notes in there as well.
M: mouthfeel is medium-full. I attribute that to the starch from the sweet potatoes.
D: fantastic. I could easily destroy a growler of this in one sitting. The balance is fantastic. Nice up front bitterness with enough malt to back it up. Very nicely done. Strongly recommend if you can find it!

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2010 23:04:12 | More by skeeordye11

callisbeers

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the brewery out of a plastic cup (yuck). However, this did not keep me from enjoying this beer. Not really sure how to review this one. It is definitely unique but yet ordinary at the same time. Don't think sweet potato or you probably won't try it. It is definitely and ingredient but it does not overtake the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 21:47:40 | More by callisbeers

montrealmike

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bought a growler and enjoyed the same day. Pours a minimal head, is slightly fragrant, has a moderate mouthfeel, and is very drinkable and very sessionable. I really enjoyed this one (brewed with local NC ingredients) from Fullsteam, a relatively new, local brewery in the Durham/RTP area.

Serving type: growler

11-14-2010 02:41:47 | More by montrealmike

mdfb79

New York

3.48/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a growler into a tulip.

a - Pours a clear light amber color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells slightly of sweet potatoes and of weird, fruit malts. Not bad but interesting.

t - Tastes of pale malts, bready malts, light fruit, and caramel malts.

m - Light body and low carbonation.

d - A very interesting beer. Would certainly try again.

Serving type: growler

10-24-2010 02:18:39 | More by mdfb79

atsprings

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Busy Bee served in a standard pint glass a crisp orange with a nice frothy light khaki head that slowly diminishes to a thin layer and leaves nice lacing on the glass. Aroma was earthy hops in front of sweet malts and a distinct sweet potato presence. The taste is sweet caramel malts with a nice lingering sweet potato taste balanced nicely by subtle citrus hops. I must say, I wasn't a sweet potato fan until I got a sample of this beer last year, I certainly am a fan now.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2010 22:23:23 | More by atsprings