SS Kentucky
Carton Brewing Company

The Kentucky-New Jersey connection is live and well when on the collaborative boat that's driven by Carton and Against the Grain breweries. With the aid of smoked pineapple, Pacific Jade and Zythos hops piled high on a classic Imperial IPA has us wondering if this boat is big enough for all of us.

SS Kentucky sets sail with a burnish gold pour, a fair haze and a frothy, cottony crown. With the scent of tropical fruit, citrus and a fresh botanical greenness swooning about the nose, the first sip brings a honey dipped radiance to a light caramel, and a mild poundcake and cashew taste early and often on the tongue.

As the hops unfold on the middle palate, a burst of pineapple is front and center. A follow up of tangy under ripened oranges, lemon, green berries and currant lead to a firm and withstanding bitterness of pepper and pine. All the while, a mild simmer of smokiness brings a mesquite level of savory to the overall session.

Medium full in body, the Imperial IPA has a crisp and refreshing texture that's a juxtaposition to the smoked pineapple flavor that offers a robust and hearty character. A long trail of resinous bitterness is of fruit rinds and campfire lingers long after the sweetness has subsided.

 

Pours a semi translucent light orange/golden color. Nice creamy foamy head. Smells like smoke , hops,pineapple.Taste is off center to me. Much smokiness, faint pineapple, a mishmash of like 7 hops. A bit less smoke and more pineapple would be better. Feels very well. Nice carbonation, medium to light body. Finishes juicy. Overall not bad. a tad disappointed but don't regret trying it. This beer was in collaboration with Against the grain brewing ,which I have never heard of. Overall an interesting unique DIPA. I would consider buying again. I found the reason for all the smokiness is they "against the grain" smoked the grains in addition to the pineapple-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a good IPA. Way to smoky and weird. No hop flavor or traditional IPA flavor. I wish that it had more pineapple and less smoke. That would make it a good and unique

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can. Poured a hazy yellow color. Thin head. Aroma doesn't necessarily shout "Double IPA" to me. That isn't much of a problem because the smoked pineapple aroma is delectable. Genuine pineapple flesh with a light but present smokiness. Some tropical fruit hops accentuate the pineapple. Solid malt sweetness and alcohol. Flavor relinquishes the grip the smokey pineapple had on the nose. Its still the dominant factor on the palate but the other aspects of the beer are more important here. Smoked pineapple, juicy hops, alcohol, pineapple juice, sweet pale malt. Thick bodied. Could have used a bit more bitterness. I did really enjoy this beer as I do most Carton offerings. It was interesting and unique; and I enjoyed it more than the other people I drank it with.