Epitome
Carton Brewing Company

EpitomeEpitome
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From:
Carton Brewing Company
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
Black IPA
Ranked #2
ABV:
10.3%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,498
Avg:
4.29 | pDev: 8.16%
Reviews:
50
Ratings:
326
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 16, 2023
Added:
Dec 29, 2012
Wants:
  70
Gots:
  59
We don't have many rules at Carton Brewing and those we have we made up for ourselves. In general though, we strive for drinkability through balance and harmonization of flavors. But even self-imposed rules are meant to be broken. With Epitome we decided to embrace the teenage metalhead in each of us and get discordant with a seriously hoppy, high gravity, black ale. The only notions accepted were to make it bigger, bolder, hotter & faster. A Beast. The ABV had to push past 10, the black had to be "none more," and the hops had to be American and piled on like a double bass drum kicking faster and harder. Drink Epitome because things worth doing are worth over doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXRy7uocSG8&list=UUnN44_ILc3y0x6WbvjLR1Kg
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Rifugium:
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.87/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
First had: on tap at Carton

I decided to finish off my session at Carton with Epitome, or as the guy sitting next to me called it "EPP-ih-tohm." Dark brown-black pour, with a solid cap of off-white head that receded to a thick ringlet, lacing the glass nicely. Typical of the style, the nose was full of piney hops, with a good dose of dark chocolaty malts, but it was the hop profile that came through the most. Good balance in the taste of piney hops and dark roasty malts, with neither really fully taking charge; solid yet controlled bitter finish. Mouthfeel was chewy and bold, body was medium. I have to give extra points for the feel, because this did not at all seem like a 10+%ABV beer. I'd have thought maybe 8 at the most, but nope. Good brew overall.
Dec 02, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Limazulu
Reviewed by Limazulu from Idaho

4.99/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A-Dark dark brown, cloudy with slight khaki head
S-Roasty hops
T-nutty grassy bitter wonderfulness. Above average bitter, below average sweet.
M-Medium full body, chewy, dry finish
O-A stranded on a deserted island beer
Dec 16, 2023
Photo of bitterbeer
Rated by bitterbeer from New York

4.8/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Solid, delicious, incredibly easy to drink.
Excellent bitterness.
Apr 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Jan 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Apr 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by srw from Virginia

Feb 20, 2018
Photo of Wiffler27
Reviewed by Wiffler27 from South Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
canned 11/16/17 and enjoyed on 1/15/18

deep oil black with a thick creamy head, looks just like a black ale is supposed to

smell is surprisingly "green". smells of sweet hops. close your eyes and this could be a west coast ipa by it's aroma

taste is full of sweet malt and bittering hops. like a well carbonated and well hopped stout. black ales are so fascinating to me. a "green" flavor due to its hoppiness and dark colored yet light tasting malt.

really good beer, probably the best black ale i've ever had. Carton makes great IPAs and have some funky yet tremendous experimental shit, i love them. yay NJ
Jan 16, 2018
Photo of AZBeerDude72
Reviewed by AZBeerDude72 from Arizona

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: Pitch black with rich tan head and sticky lacing.
N: Hoppy with a nice sweet note, floral in nature, some citrus.
T: Thrown off, you see stout but get hoppy smooth notes. Great hops, floral, little bite, minor malt. Is this an IPA? LOL
M: Medium
O: Impressed with the presentation, you see a stout and get a hoppy beer with some stout feel but drinks like an IPA. Impressed to say the least, really great effort on this beer. I think this is the only beer that drinks like an IPA and looks dead on for a stout, outstanding.
Jan 13, 2018
Photo of JRed
Reviewed by JRed from New Jersey

3.69/5  rDev -14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Black in body with khaki head that dissipates. Aroma of grape, grass, light medicinal. Tastes of grape, grass, pine, medicinal notes, molasses, big booze follows up, medicinal bitterness. Light bodied with light carbonation.
Jan 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Jan 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.6 by Collinsl from New Jersey

Jan 04, 2018
Photo of eppie82
Reviewed by eppie82 from Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From can. Very dark (opaque?) black with good bit of foam upon aggressive pour. Foam stuck around as you drank along. While cold, this smelled like a fruity IPA almost. But as it warmed, the chocolate and coffee malt profile really came out. The flavors were roasted malts, coffee, chocolate and even mild vanilla. These became more pronounced as it warmed a bit. Very creamy and smooth, with medium mouthfeel.

This was surprising in good way. Dangerously easy to drink for 10%+ abv. Would gladly get this again. Probably the best black ale I've had.
Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by BFCarr from New Jersey

Dec 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by Rammed96 from Maryland

Dec 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by ArkyVaughan from New Jersey

Dec 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.31 by ScubaLeon from New York

Dec 21, 2017
Photo of ShaggaCurtisovich
Reviewed by ShaggaCurtisovich from New Jersey

4.79/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Wow! Close to a five. First, more breweries should churn out black ipas. Second, how did most miss the most important ingredient in this beer. To me vanilla stands out. Jet black nose lacing and a nice IPA taste with a smooth finish. This is the best black IPA I've had. Great job on this one.
Dec 17, 2017
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On draft in a snifter glass

Black in color, off white colored head. Some lacing. Aroma is a nice mix of earthy hops and roasty flavor. Similar taste, nice mix of flavors. Moderately bitter, good balance of sweet and dry. A little cocoa. Medium bodied.
Dec 07, 2017
Epitome from Carton Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 326 ratings