The Hook
Carton Brewing Company

(16 oz can, journey began 09/29/25; purchased cold 4-pack at the brewery last night... poured into a Becker pint)

L: heavily-hazed light amber liquid, but not murky to the point of NEIPA grounds... the head builds billowy and high and holds long, lacing in random specs

S: lemon custard, fresh squeezed orange juice, rose water... bit of a floury and/or fresh baked white bread crumb in the back

T: Citra-heavy for sure... pithy citrus at its core... slightly doughy malt character, blooming a bit more in the aftertaste... green, floral, slight capsicum spice in the hops as it goes... the wheated element is quite prominent, pulling the overall taste away from the NEIPA thing, if it even harkens to it at all

F: almost a lager-like tight, plump, malty viscosity and finish... really soft aft with little residual resin or alc warmth sensation... almost cask-like textures

O: wasn't attuned to it fridge cold, but I fell asleep a few sips in, finished the rest when I awoke and it was quite enjoyable... not a Citra fanatic, but this won me over (2467)

 

 

Canned: 11/01/2024. Nice citrusy juicy hoppy APA. Good balance with light-moderate bitterness. Light to medium bodied with a good juicy finish.

 

Can purchased from Fattey Beer Company in Rochester, NY.

This one pours a just slightly hazy golden yellow color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like spicy hops, citrusy hops, and a soft wheatiness.

This is real solid, nicely juicy, but with a nice wheaty and spicy bitterness on the back end. There’s melon, orange, and grapefruit, with a peppery and spicy bitterness.

This is soft but bitter, in a very pleasant way, with a great drinkability to it. This runs super clean on the palate, and goes down smooth.

I really enjoyed this one, and absolutely love that Carton is easier to get locally now.

 

 

Had this from a can.

A: Pours a straw yellow body, with some gold hues. Has a thick, white head with pretty decent retention and lacing,
S: Very subtle floral, citrus notes with some earthiness. Hints of lemongrass in the nose.
T: Earthy, citrus rind taste with floral notes. Sweet alcohol notes and subtle hints of chamomile and lemongrass in the back of the palette.
M: medium bodied, fairly smooth and crisp.
O: Solid feel and taste combo; very drinkable beer. Great for the warmer months.

 

Pours a nice hazy golden color with a nice head and lacing
Aroma has generous tropical and citrus hints
The taste follows the nose with a a well balanced tropical and citrus flavors
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A well balanced Pale Ale

 

On tap at Fred & Ethel's in Smithtown, 8/25/21

Pale straw copper color, nice little foamy white head. Nose is light citrus with some passionfruit and berries, grassy. Taste more or less follows nose, fruity and hoppy with a light earthy and grassy finished. Light bodied, moderate carbonation, well-balanced, nicely refreshing. I am liking these lighter IPAs more and more these days.

 

 

Can from Whole Foods on the UWS. Pours a hazy light peachy orange, flash of creamy white head, smell is sweet candied malts, caramel, hints of earthy hops, taste is honey, sour wheat, caramel, light toffee, feel is light to medium bodied with mild carbonation. Hard to read the can date but I think it says early May, so this one is past due, but the result is strangely interesting with a nice honey character. Need to try a fresh one!

This is listed as an IPA but I would definitely call it a pale ale. This is a style I've grown so tired of and that I usually now avoid at all costs but I do love Carton so I gave it a try. It's a fairly standard New England hazy beer but Carton managed to craft it well enough to avoid the unpleasant aftertaste or chalky texture so many of these beers have. nb

Pours hazy yellow with a thin white head from 16oz can (5/1/20). There’s not much aroma but what is there is floral and sweet. Taste is mostly sweet with subtle citra hop notes, low bitterness. Feel is great, very smooth with good mouthfeel. Overall, at 5.5% it’s hard to beat.