All Orange Clouds in My Coffee
Carton Brewing Company

 

Canned on 4/12/2023. Poured into a Carton pub glass. It pours a cloudy, dirty orange color with a half finger of frothy, milk-white head and lots of thick, creamy lacing. You can really smell the freshly-brewed coffee, along with orange/tangerine, lemon, and berry. As it warms I also notice an oaty, vanilla aroma. The Hayissa Olocho coffee is evident in the first sip. It's rich, earthy, bitter, and acidic. The tangerine, lemon, red berry, and grapefruit provide a refreshing, fruity balance especially as the ale warms a bit. But it's very much a coffee-forward IPA. It also shares the earthy, nutty flavor of the original version. It seems more bitter than 25 IBU and there's a touch of burnt coffee harshness at the finish. The mouthfeel is full and creamy with pleasant carbonation, and it doesn't drink like 10.5% ABV. Carton enjoys brewing with coffee and this variant has more depth of flavor than the original version. My only issue is the lingering harshness which may mellow with another week in the can. I'll revisit.