To Be Blunt; Marshmallow Animals
Carton Brewing Company


- From:
- Carton Brewing Company
- New Jersey, United States
- Style:
- Smoked Beer
- ABV:
- 6.2%
- Score:
- +8 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.19 | pDev: 0.48%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 08, 2025
- Added:
- May 02, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Smoke malt is one of the more dubious tools in a brewer’s bag because thresholds are vastly different. What to one palate is a hint of bacon, or whiff of BBQ, to another is ashtray or Band-Aids. How can Carton ignore playing this game? Where can smoldering aromatics go off the beaten craft? In To Be Blunt we have reassembled the deconstructed aspects of blunt wrap. Rich, dark malts brought smoke by the addition of oak smoked pale wheat, touched with a petting zoo of animal shaped marshmallows and a heavy plug of Simcoe, Columbus, and Amarillo hops. Drink To Be Blunt and hand me down a 50- pack
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.22/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
(16 oz can, journey began 04/14/25; purchased cold 4-pack at their taproom last week... poured into a Carton mug)
L: dark brown liquid, thick voluminous foam... cap breaks up and looks murky... drawn-out, lazy collar; little lacing
S: let's be honest: smells like a (scented) blunt... yeah, a bit or bunch of powdery, breakfast-cereal-grade marshmallow... relatively bold expression, quite unique character... does NOT smell like a rauchbier... might come across like a foamed coffee with a flavored creamer
T: dude, it's a blunt - how?!?... it's not a bock, not a Black IPA, despite whispers of both, and more of the latter... mucky-malty, brushy-bushy-bitter-hoppy - Cascadian... menthol, mocha aftertaste
F: thickish, fullish-bodied, silty but short of milky... bitter pluck at the mid-back of the palate, pinging and stinging... it's like licking wet velvet; not for everyone
O: I don't know how they (Carton) create some of the flavors in their more fringe brews, but they're usually remarkable and, thankfully, rarely excessively syrupy sweet - in fact quite the opposite... a smoke beer with pastry stout overtones and satisfyingly dry? - eh, this beer is a minor masterpiece (2420)
May 08, 2025L: dark brown liquid, thick voluminous foam... cap breaks up and looks murky... drawn-out, lazy collar; little lacing
S: let's be honest: smells like a (scented) blunt... yeah, a bit or bunch of powdery, breakfast-cereal-grade marshmallow... relatively bold expression, quite unique character... does NOT smell like a rauchbier... might come across like a foamed coffee with a flavored creamer
T: dude, it's a blunt - how?!?... it's not a bock, not a Black IPA, despite whispers of both, and more of the latter... mucky-malty, brushy-bushy-bitter-hoppy - Cascadian... menthol, mocha aftertaste
F: thickish, fullish-bodied, silty but short of milky... bitter pluck at the mid-back of the palate, pinging and stinging... it's like licking wet velvet; not for everyone
O: I don't know how they (Carton) create some of the flavors in their more fringe brews, but they're usually remarkable and, thankfully, rarely excessively syrupy sweet - in fact quite the opposite... a smoke beer with pastry stout overtones and satisfyingly dry? - eh, this beer is a minor masterpiece (2420)
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.17/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Carton
Moving right along, we have another beer that’s a bit odd in concept and honestly could go either way. It makes sense of paper; marshmallow should be a great foil to a smoky Rauchbier, but it could easily be unbalanced. Let’s dive in and see what it has to offer
Pours a dark mahogany with 2 fingers of creamy tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves nice lacing
There’s a definite sweetness to it courtesy of the marshmallow, but it still retains much of the classic Rauchbier profile. I’m picking up on aromas of raisin, toasted marshmallow, beechwood smoke, rye toast, honey, cacao nib, medium roast coffee, maple syrup, and a touch of bacon
It’s a bit less cohesive in taste, a bit acrid at points but still quite good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting acidic coffee, cocoa powder, red grape, molasses, beechwood smoke, maple syrup, and marshmallow. The swallow brings notes of oak smoke, acidic coffee, cacao nib, marshmallow, leafy hops, vanilla bean, red grape, light cinnamon, and hazelnut
A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes mostly dry with a roasty bitterness
This one is a bit out there but it works very well for what it is
May 03, 2025Moving right along, we have another beer that’s a bit odd in concept and honestly could go either way. It makes sense of paper; marshmallow should be a great foil to a smoky Rauchbier, but it could easily be unbalanced. Let’s dive in and see what it has to offer
Pours a dark mahogany with 2 fingers of creamy tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves nice lacing
There’s a definite sweetness to it courtesy of the marshmallow, but it still retains much of the classic Rauchbier profile. I’m picking up on aromas of raisin, toasted marshmallow, beechwood smoke, rye toast, honey, cacao nib, medium roast coffee, maple syrup, and a touch of bacon
It’s a bit less cohesive in taste, a bit acrid at points but still quite good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting acidic coffee, cocoa powder, red grape, molasses, beechwood smoke, maple syrup, and marshmallow. The swallow brings notes of oak smoke, acidic coffee, cacao nib, marshmallow, leafy hops, vanilla bean, red grape, light cinnamon, and hazelnut
A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes mostly dry with a roasty bitterness
This one is a bit out there but it works very well for what it is
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