Harvest 2012
Carton Brewing Company

From notes. Draft at the Pour House in Westmont, NJ

Pours a slightly cloudy, dark golden orange color with apricot edges and a two finger frothy white head that very slowly settles into a lasting cap/ring. Great retention with large rings and streaks of soapy lacing coating the glass on the way down.

Slightly spicy floral hop aroma with prominent resinous oils and juicy citrus/tropical fruit sweetness countered by a pale malt backbone. Was expecting more rye in the nose but it's kind of subtle with peppery spice. Some other subtle autumnal spices but mostly contains complex hop profile and sweet malt notes. Strong hints of ruby red grapefruit and orange peel along with caramel malt sweetness, toffee and biscuit.

Fuller body than expected yet clean, crisp and easy to drink. rye presence up front is just strong enough giving it a peppery spiciness that doesn't overpower the other notes. The rye is complimented by a complex hop profile that gives off some dry, earthy bitterness and sweet fruit flavors. Rye followed by dank buds, grass and subtle pine needle along with strong grapefruit, mango, papaya and blood orange. Sweet malt backbone with a some caramel, bread and biscuit. Really well balanced and completely crushable. The rye isn't overpowering and the hops are delicately balanced by subtle malt flavor. This is a very nice beer from Carton. One that I could drink in large quantities. Maybe the best I've had from them up to this point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Description:

Harvest 2012

Rye Pale Ale
ABV: 6.2% | IBU: 50| SRM: 4

Each autumn's hop harvest presents an opportunity to assess yearly variation in flavors. Some are broad across all the plants in a region, others are specific to unique clones and certain farms. Each fall we choose two different varities to add to our Harvest Ale. The first we receive straight off the bines and add it wet in the whirlpool. The second we add whole cone as a dry hop. Our base is a simple pale with a touch of rye spiciness to be seasonally appropriate with enough heft to support the selected hops while otherwise existing to flaunt the year's crop's nuances. Harvest 2012 was wet hopped with Citra from B.T. Loftus Ranches, Inc. and dry hopped with Amarillo from Virgil Gamache Farms. Drink it because it is a fresh taste of things to come.

Had this one on tap at the Copper Mine Pub today in North Arlington NJ.

Appearance: Pours a fairly clear light orange with a 1 finger white crown that shows moderate retention and lace.

Smell: Bready malt, lots of grassy herbal wet hop notes, a touch of catty citra, and little to no amarillo peachness.

Taste: Same as the nose. A good grassy herbal bitterness over a very bready malt profile. Some unsweetened peach notes are more apparent in the background of the flavor than the nose. The bitterness is quite stiff and satisfying. I'd give it a 4.25 if I could so I'm rounding down a bit.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, fairly crisp, moderate to medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Goes down easy, has pungent bitterness, but lacks the "wow factor" I look for in Wet Hop Ales. A very enjoyable beer to drink none the less.