Sakura
Carton Brewing Company

SakuraSakura
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Carton Brewing Company
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
Berliner Weisse
Ranked #172
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
87
Ranked #23,005
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 8.79%
Ratings:
64 | reviews: 19
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 28, 2024
Added:
Jul 14, 2016
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  7
Can beer transfer time?
Cherry Blosoms are wistful
Trap nostalgia

With Sakura we drag the joy of Spring’s regeneration into the languid summer doldrums. The evocation of that ethereal moment when winter is gone and the warm weather is drifting in; rebirth through age captured in the delicate aromatic waft of the cherry’s blossom. A simple salted sour lightened and dried with sushi rice in the mash; the promise of warmth ending dormant chill, brought forward to accentuate balmy summer evenings. Drink Sakura and revel in the yin-yang of captured impermanence.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Highlander weiss sour ale with salted cherry blossoms.

A: A good clarity on a sunset orange colored body shows a spacious rise of macro-bubbles evenly paced. The head was thin, pancake like, a slight layering of milky covering that quickly dissipates with no visible lacing on the walls.

S: Sour cherries, honeysuckle and wet roses for aroma. There is a bit of sour apples, and some sour fruitiness of apples and pears. Damp floral notes, above average scent, that was smooth and even toned throughout. Some funky mandarin orange upon warming.

T: Some sour apples, cherries and some sour fruitiness for flavor. Damp floral, wet roses and sour raspberries.

M: Sticky mouthful, a bit syrupy, but lively with good carbonation. Smooth, slippery, and slick off the tongue and swallow. Medium fullness.

O: A well defined and eloquently smooth sourness from start to finish. Easy drinking for the casual or new drinker.
Jul 28, 2024
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
(12 oz can, canned on(?) 08/23/21; purchased single off shelf... poured into a fat tulip)

L: relatively-clear, honey-golden liquid; mild, uniform haze; finger-high foam on pour, slinks away... little collar lingering, no lacing

S: wow! not redolent, but cherry is definitely present... Gose-like malt, aromatic profile... hint of (smoky) black pepper?

T: oh, is that good!... saline, briny dried cherry; lightly-toasted, cookie-like malt foundation at its core... ribbon of cherry flesh in the finish... little sweetness, mild-moderate tartness; subtle nuttiness in the aftertaste

F: soft, somewhat sumptuous and silky... its tart bite up front is at an ideal intensity, slightly stunning but short of stinging... flavors arguably beg for a more lively carbonation

O: taste alone, it's a winner (it's also a Gose) and something I may be tempted to buy a pack of, provided I'm in a spendy mood (1834)
Nov 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Mar 19, 2020
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.52/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
As the brewers in New Jersey extend their hand into Leipzig, they're reaching for the traditional sour, salty, spicy and bready taste that only a Gose can provide, they extend their imagination into the floral, whimsy and flowery side of invention with cherry blossoms.

Pouring a pale and hazy gold, Sakura shows tepid shades of peach before crowning with a loose ivory cap. As aromas of tart fruit emerge from the foam, a hint of floral, stone fruit and citrus rolls over a wheat germ earthiness and a scent of fresh baking bread. A gentle sweetness of cereal, saltwater taffy and sourdough greet the tongue, its measure of maltiness is medium and moderate.

Relaxing over the course of the middle palate, the maltiness gives way to the brisk and briny sourness that waltzes in with green apple, lemon and lime, wine spritzer and mild taste of actual sour red cherries. A floral flavor of hibiscus and rose pedals extend from the cherry blossoms before a perfumy and salty taste from coriander and actual salt additions for roundness and a offset to the brine.

Medium bodied and appropriately fuller for a Gose, the beer is more acidic than tart but only modestly sour by today's sour ale calibration. While the cherry blossom character is faint and eventually lost on the tastebuds, the resulting Gose lacks the firmness and roundness to carry the session without the insistence of its special ingredient.
Nov 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by cp45 from New Jersey

Oct 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4.41 by Vylo from New Jersey

Aug 30, 2019
Photo of cjgiant
Rated by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.04/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
5oz: nice, lightly flavored; light golden with minor haze; sea foam and citrus, cherry hints; lightly tart with nice level of salinity; refreshing
Aug 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by dextermcgurk from New York

Oct 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.07 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Oct 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by hypnotoad1 from Virginia

Sep 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.99 by Tbone2131 from Connecticut

Aug 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by AlpacaAlpaca from New York

Aug 04, 2018
Photo of JerzDevl2000
Reviewed by JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey

3.72/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Traded for this beer months and months ago and finally got around to it today, right after the cherry blossoms for this year have run their course. The bottom of the can says "Start@3BF" above the date of 7/14 but thankfully, this didn't taste too old or skunked when I poured it out and sipped it. This was a typical Gose in most senses but it was just a bit too salty for my likes and some of the other flavors could have been a bit more pronounced in the end.

Golden, thin, and with plenty of head, this had the look that one would expect from a Gose. Hardly any lacing left behind as I worked my way through this as the liquid slid down the side of my Carton glass pretty easily. Can't say what Rose tastes like but there wasn't much of it in the aroma as there were faint hints of lemon, cherry blossoms and tartness underneath the more potent salt. Much more of the latter was in the taste with a bit of hibiscus thrown in for good measure. The malt was a basic cracker and I had hoped that the sushi rice would stand out more, like when I had Sake many moons ago. The finish and carbonation was light, brisk, and just right for something of this ilk.

The same could be said of the alcohol as it was so low that I couldn't even feel it. While not a winner, this was a great beer for the season that like most other Goses, would hardly offend anyone who enjoys the craft. Not outstanding but a welcome change from the higher hopped brews that I tend to enjoy more. Just wish it had some more discernible flavors to it!
May 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

Mar 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by newbeeraday from Pennsylvania

Jan 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by malfunxion from New York

Jan 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by EnthusedAboutBeer from New Jersey

Dec 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by Lucoli from New York

Dec 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.82 by von_kaiser from Connecticut

Nov 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.47 by kuishinbo_tantei from New York

Oct 29, 2016