Tangled Up
Carton Brewing Company

An orange to red pour with a one finger white cap. A nice, light wheat-based ale that goes down easy--very sessionable. On the sour side of the blueberry sour-sweet equation, but not overly so. Flavor brings out wine, tart cider, citrus and green apples. Overall, a kinder, gentler sour.

On tap at Carton

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Carton, just about 2 years now. Every time I’m passing through Jersey they seem to be closed for the day so I’m happy I’m heading to Asbury Park a little earlier today and was able to stop in. This sounds like a fun one to kick things off with, just a straightforward Weisse with blueberries. Let’s get into it

Pours a lightly cloudy deep orange with a finger of soapy white head that slowly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

This is light and bright on the nose, the tannic quality of the blueberries really prop it up. I’m picking up on aromas of blueberry skin, lemon zest, earthy wheat, honey, vanilla bean, light coriander, and biscuity malt

It’s a little sharper in taste but still rather gentle. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting blueberry skin, crackery malt, lemon zest, lime zest, honey, earthy wheat, and light grape must. The swallow brings notes of blueberry skin, lemon zest, crackery malt, white pepper, coriander, grape must, light pineapple, and earthy wheat

A light body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp yet slick beer. Finishes a tad sticky but dries out over time

This one is solid all around. Very tart but it works well

 

Adding the robust dark berries of blueberries to an otherwise bright and lighter beer has Carton brewers all tangled up in variety, complexity and charm when turning their Berlinerweiss into something slightly more than traditional ale.

So Tangled UP pours with no evidence of its berry secrets within as it decants with a mildly hazy chrome golden look, As a voluminous froth amasses the glass, hints of blueberry rise above the otherwise cidery, winey and citursy sourness underneath. The faint sweetness of wafer, taffy and sourdough greets the tongue with a malty wheaten upstart.

Then as the ale rolls across the tongue, its sweetness is cast aside and the brunt of sourness begins its acidic dominance, leading with green apple, lime, lemon, white grape and gooseberry. The gentle nature of blueberries eventually get lost in its taste as the late palate is dryly of cereal, tartness and a brief waft of damp burlap with an earthy touch in the end.

Medium bodied and considerably full compared to classic Berlinerweiss, the lumbering nature of wheat malt on the finish prevents the dryness, effervescence and brightness that had dubbed the style as the "champagne of the north". But the blueberries add a subtle intrigue that has the palate wanting a little more.

16 oz. can purchased at brewery, poured into Aslin anniversary glass. I assume blueberries were picked on Maggie's farm.

L: 2F white fluffy head with good retention and lots of sticky lacing. Beer is a clear copper.

S: Blueberries and sour yeast. Pretty simple.

T: Blueberries, sour malts and yeasts. Sour finish but not puckering.

F: Light bodied, well-carbonated, crisp and refreshing, well-balanced and constructed.

O: Good blueberry Berliner and I look forward to next year's "Do Drink Twice, It's Alright."

 

 

 

 

Pours a very light fog copper with a finger of khaki foam. More head is attainable, but retention is poor regardless. Aroma is blueberry - big, with lactic sour bite and crusty biscuity, toasty malts. Flavor profile is big blueberry, with crusty, biscuity, bready, nutty malts. It has a big lactic bite in the back on the palate, and then lets blueberry notes linger on the tongue for a while. Mouth feel is effervescent, with a medium thickness. Overall, big blueberry, but a tasty sour.

Served in a 12oz snifter from a 16oz can.

 

Pours an amber color. Fairly clear. The head is one finger, slightly off white, frothy, and has decent retention. No lacing on the glass.
The nose is really nice and tart blueberry. The tartness lingers in my nose.
Taste - It's actually mellow for a second, then the tartness kicks in. After it gets almost smooth and a slight sweetness on the backside.
The body is actually quite light, but not watery at all. No real alcohol feel in spite of it being a 7% beer.
Damn fun drinking and delicious sour. One slight problem with it, in a way, it's almost too easy to drink. I could easily pound these on a hot day, and get into trouble fast. I'd enjoy it though.

 

 

 

Sour done well, Buy this. Thrilled to be its first review
a) Pours a berry tinged inky golden body that sprouts and supports a decent finger of head and lasting lace (at brewer).
s) Blueberry, yes, but mainly a lively vein of tart marbling your senses.
t) Sour coming dominant. A tinge / whiff of blue berry, green fruit, yeast, pickle.
f) complex, intensely sour as you'd like it to be, no halfway here.
o) Buy this and share the sour as a 1-of-a-kind delight.