077-10014 - Motueka
Carton Brewing Company

 

 

This was the last of the 0'Dub variants that I went through this week, as I reviewed all of the others in the order which they were canned. I'm not terribly familiar with the particular hop used in this, but I liked the way it tasted and even though the dry, pithy lime was a bit too strong, it was like Tobasco in that it kept me coming back for more!

The pour to this was nice as the beer had a hazy, golden hue that shone nicely with a fluffy head and spots of lacing left behind on the top of my glass. Lots of lime and tropical fruit in the nose with even more of the former in the taste. Strong, pithy, and acrid, it hit fast and hard. Balance was key here as the malt provided body but couldn't be detected in terms of taste, as the citrus rind and hints of booze were complemented by a piney resin that quietly emerged in the aftertaste. A hint of prickly pear and lemon-lime soda came through in the end as the carbonation was lively in this, but not overpowering at the same time.

There was just enough alcohol in this to be felt but not really discerned during sips. It's amazing how the change in hops affects each version of this brew and this was the one that grew on me the most as I worked my way through it. Love the New York ZIP joining the fray here but I would have savored it more had the date on the bottom of the can been legible. No matter - this went down easily and has me looking for the day when I can enjoy 07006 at my place since that's the ZIP code I reside in! Just another example of how great this series was to review...

Can received in a recent trade- thanks Jordan!

This one pours a light clear amber, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

It smells wonderful- it's got the intensely dank aromatics of regular O77XX- with some wonderful tropical things going on- mango, grapefruit, and some zesty lime.

The taste follows suit. This is my first stab at a Carton Dubviant- and I need to try more of the others. It's got a wonderful dank and floral character to it, resinous and very herbal, got that marijuana thing going on. The Motueka provides an exotic character to it that I love- lime, mango, some typical grapefruit. There's definitely a present malt backbone, but it really only props everything up in a sturdy way- it doesn't really show itself too strongly.

This is medium bodied, with a definite lingering bitterness.

This is probably the best hoppy beer I've had yet from Carton- it's fantastic stuff.

 

 

 

 

Dry and dragging on the palate. Some faint muted citrus,

Low C-

Pours a filtered amber color with a fluffy white head.

Smells of strawberry bush, white lemon zest, ripe tomatoes in the sun, dried orange and wild flowers. Definitely convincing by its herbal tones with a subtle fruitiness adding to the complexity of the nose. Cakey malts complete the appearance of the beer on the nose, creating a unique, intriguing blend.

Has a supersoft, smooth mouthfeel with a medium, fitting carbonation, which compliments to the refreshing aspect of the beer, without overshadowing any of its more subtle flavors.

Tastes of cakey malts, a dry, herbal and somehow fruity hop profile, which slowly evolves on the palate with a prickly, unripe fruitiness to it. Malts stay on the sugary end of things while the hops release a fitting resinous quality among its remaining herbal dryness, tying the flavors very well together. Finishes with ice bonbons, licorice, lemon rind and a longer lasting dry, herbal ending.

Certainly a sweeter ipa, which gets not yet defined by the malts, which is due to a well pronounced, resinous and pleasantly complex hop profile.

 

Thanks again to New Jersey Beer Czar Extrodanaire SammyJaxxx.
Pours a golden orange to west coast low horizon sunset (cuz that's what I saw). Fluffy white foam with some solid lacing.
Smells of gentle tropical fruit melange including pineapple, mango, and maybe durian fruit, some citrus notes followed by a bit of earthy dank. The flavor is a very balanced dance of the tropical notes mentioned with a bit of orange zest that then moves in a piney, resiny, smooth finish. This one really cruises around the hop profile. Mouthfeel is full enough for style. Overall, I think this one has soon much for so many. For the tropical profiles, for the citrusy profiles, for the resiny profiles. This one has it all. And it moves so smoothly between them. Every hophead could find what they prefer, yet be gently nudged into a different realm.

The beer comes in a light gold color.

The aroma offers tropical fruits, with lime, touches of berry, breadiness, grapefruit.

The flavor follows with hints of lime zest, faint citrus qualities, with the base still shining with peach, pineapple, dank pine throughout. The hop shows itself as less obvious compared to Nelson, but still a wonderful example of experimentation with this brew.

 

 

Of all Carton DIPAs this one, which combines my two longest lived zip codes 07716 (where Carton is made in Atlantic Highlands - 16 years) and 10014 West Village (where I lived on Bethune, Grove, and Commerce St - in the dog leg crook - 15 years), is my personal current favorite. 10014 ranks with the best of Stone, Green Flash, Founders, and feels closest to a Stone - Drink By Date - because it's so juicy and fresh. (And both zip codes are among best places to live on the planet).

A. Light yellow hazed body sports a 1 finger head that laces all the way down.
S. Bright citrus orchard, with flashes of lime and orange sorbet, on a subdued caramel malt base.
T. Come up very high as fresh, juicy, citrus, lime, orange rind - up front - fresh as a Drink By - and balanced by caramel base and enough bitter to balance in the finish.
F. Thinner, less mouth feel than other DIPAs, like fresh squeezed orange juice without the pulp, but a cleansing, scrubbing elegant finish.

Another sexy beer and I'm biased by my 10014 and 07716 addresses.