077XX
Carton Brewing Company

 

 

A single pour emptied the contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. The stark white head might be overabundant, but the pour is relatively a good one. The brew is cloudy, but bright apricot-amber in color. Speaking of apricot, the aroma is mostly reminiscent of fruit. It's not particularly pungent. There's an appealing dryness that runs the entire tasting. It isn't fruity at all. Earthy piney is the best taste reference. It's not layered and there's not much taste transition, even during the finish. Nor need there be. There's sufficient malt for the body, but it adds to the earthiness rather than adding any sweetness.
Although there's only scant glass lacing, this is very, very good, overall. But, to think so, you'll need to enjoy a very bitter and dry hoppy taste. The hit from the ABV was surprising, as it didn't really show itself to the palate. Well, it is a Double IPA and it's worthy of the description.

 

 

Pours a mix of pale and bronze, mildly fluffy, but dense white head; very good retention with above average lacing.

The nose is so biting, in a pleasant way, on this beer…prominent resin and sappiness; all the biting aspects of pine without the aromatic needle smell, hiding behind there is a mildly fruity and orange smell to it with an green dankness trying its best to poke threw.

Taste carries a nice mild malty sweet presence that the nose does not hint at…after that the orange like fruitiness, and the sap bites on the finish; dank in aftertaste.

Medium body, prickling sappy bite immediately upon each sip that just coats the whole tongue; it then finishes incredibly dry with another wallop of hops in the form of substantial bitterness. This goes down so remarkably clean and easy; combine that with it’s intoxicating sap and pine, a dangerous combination for this guy.

n ice hoppy ipa great hop taste - good hop aftetasty

 

 

 

Hazy golden, but can just see the shadow of my finger through the body. Just off white head that looks frothy with good lacing. Dank nose, resin, mango, papaya. Tons of fresh tasting hops, floral, sweet, incredibly balanced, drying bitterness at the end. Medium mouthfeel. This is underrated

 

22oz pour at Vanguard at Newark Airport. A bit pricey, but not outrageous.

Looks splendid in the glass. Clear pale amber body. Small white head shrinks to a fat collar and covering, rings of lacing.

Hoppy aroma that bounces between pine and grapefruit.

On tasting, drinks stronger than the abv would suggest. Bitter, pine and grapefruit, but this doesn't lay heavily on the tongue. Solid malt base.

Mouth close to full, finish almost seems like a smooth bitterness with pine transitioning to grapefruit.

Overall, splendid beer. Glad to have found it at the airport. Server Mani gave the following draft options, "Sam Adam's Boston Lager, Stella., and.... oh yes, Carton 077XX". A no brainer.

 

 

 

(16 oz can, 09/29/21; purchased cold 4-pack... poured into my Belhaven pub pint)

L: clear, brassy-gold liquid, until some speckled, sparkly sediment slips in; med-tight spongy foam stand... maybe due to the sediment, but the head recedes to a thin collar; little lace

S: pineapple, dried mango, flower-water, spiced orange; maybe some light, cereal-like crystal malt poking through... definite muffin-baked malt foundation supporting the vaguely earthy, leafy hop highlights... bit of alcohol accentuating the citrusy character of the hops... overall, moderately rich depth, yet muddy clarity, subdued intensity

T: a citrusy, leafy bitterness, a bit English in its overall hop and ester character... over and over, orange and mango rind; back end bitterness has a peppery, tonic edge... delectable marriage of whipped creamy malt and fruity cannabis

F: delicately plush resinous texture; back end bitter bite near stinging thanks to the charge of ethanol... palate maintains a steady pilot light or smooth burn from start to finish... joyous contact

O: so finally I've gotten around to this review... had this beer maybe no more than a half-dozen times, including once at the brewery... solid, dynamic, strong hoppy ale with pleasing assertive malt presence and bitterness; eminently drinkable, begging for another round (1840)

 

2021-10-31
16oz can served in a Kane tulip. Cannot read the date. Received from @MacMalt in BIF #14.

Pours a clear amber-gold with a respectable but restrained head. Smell is a little grain and a lot of pine. Maybe some lemon or grapefruit rind.

Taste is pretty extreme bitterness. Like I haven't tasted in quite some time. Pine and intense grapefruit zest. If I pay attention, there's some sweetness that flashes across the palate before the bitterness strikes. It might be kind of a honey / floral.

Mouthfeel is dry and light. Overall, this is a nice bitter beer.