#SS2012 - Carton Brewing Company

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ

A: Pours a slightly hazy bold golden orange in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation, it also kind of glows when held up to the light. The beer has a finger and a half tall dense foamy white head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the surface of the beer and a much thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate amounts of caramel malt sweetness with a stronger presence of citrus, grapefruit, and tropical hops. The hop smell intensifies as the beer warms.

T: This beer has a solid caramel malt body with a moderate amount of sweetness. On top of the maltiness, there is a strong flavor of citrus, grapefruit, and tropical/mango hops to the beer. The beer has a moderate to strong amount of lingering bitterness but it is not a biting bitterness (nor is it unpleasant).

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: I enjoyed this beer and really liked the blend of hop flavors and aromas. The beer tasted like it might be big but yet was still pretty easy to drink. I would definitely get this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2012 14:36:42 | More by dbrauneis

mdfb79

New York

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 09/18/12 notes. Had this on tap at Pony Bar on the UES in NYC. 8 oz. pour.

a - Pours a clear bright yellow color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks pretty nice.

s - Smells strongly of citrus hops, pine hops, tropical fruits, fruity malts, grapefruits, resin, and some floral hops. Super hoppy and fresh; a really awesome nose.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, tropical fruits, pine hops, fruity malts, some lemon. Hops are not quite as strong as the nose but still a bunch of them and very nice. No bitterness at all in the taste.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. No bitterness, pretty easy to drink.

o - Overall another really nice hoppy beer from Carton; they really know what they are doing with their hoppy beers. Nose is awesome and full of citrus and tropical fruits, and for over 8% ABV it is very easy to drink. I still like 077XX the best but this is tied with Boat for right under that. Would certainly seek it out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2012 16:00:50 | More by mdfb79

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bold gold, excellent clarity, topped by five fingers of oatmeal-white level bubbles of all sizes.

Light citrus aroma, very pleasing and inviting, but struggles to escape the glass. Hints of pine.

Thick swath of sweet caramel coats the tongue. Big juicy fruit explosion. Blast of bitter at the swallow. All blends in the afterglow.

Solid smooth medium mouthfeel.

Carton continues to impress.

Serving type: growler

08-20-2012 23:33:36 | More by RonfromJersey

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at The Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a cloudy, pale golden orange color with tangerine edges and a one finger, frothy white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

The nose of this beer is bursting with sweet citrus and tropical fruit notes along with some dank, grassy pine needle character and a subtle onion like presence.  The sweeter notes dominate, however, with strong pineapple juice, mango and orange peel notes.

Medium bodied with a slight creamy texture and a nice balance of dry bitterness and tropical fruit sweetness.  Slightly earthy/grassy with resinous pine needle and spruce tip countered by pineapple, mango, clementine and grapefruit.  Perfusion provides the perfect amount of sweetness and the pale malt backbone balances things out without hindering the delicious hop flavors.  Really well balanced with a well masked ABV.   in finish.  There's only subtle heat in the finish making this beer dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 01:44:56 | More by corby112

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap. A delicious, almost prototypical DIPA for me: hugely hoppy, full of nuance, good bitterness but not over the top, a rich, sweet malt backbone that stays mostly in the wings. Alcohol well-hidden. Hazy orange, solid cap of cream colored foam, good retention and lacing.

Undertone of caramel maltiness in the nose but up front big notes of grapefruit and pine. Taste follows the nose; the fruity citrus, pine and resiny hop notes sing clearly, bitterness lingers in the aftertaste but doesn’t obscure the flavor; pleasant but unobtrusive caramel malt; mostly, but not totally, dry in the finish.

Medium-full bodied, medium to slightly low carbonation; creamy and smooth feel well-suited to the other characteristics of this beer. My favorite from Carton so far.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2012 02:06:05 | More by tobelerone

tzieser

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: hazy orange in color with a fluffy white head that sticks to the sides of my Duvel tulip for a very long time.

S: lots of tropical fruit and undertones of pine hops. Subtle tones of malt sweetness.

T: big hop flavor. citrus, mango and pineapple notes balanced by sweet caramel malts. abv very well hidden. not much else to say other than the fact that it tastes as good as some as some of the best DIPAs I've ever come to emjoy.

M: good mouthfeel.

A fantastic DIPA. Ranks up there with some of the best DIPAs I've ever had. Never thought I'd say that before, especially in NJ (no offense Jerseyiites). Carton is the real deal. Can't wait to try their other offerings.

Serving type: growler

10-08-2012 03:43:56 | More by tzieser