Carton Brewing (April 2016)

Really enjoyed Eden!

 

Yes, had it this past Saturday at the brewery. Excellent!

 

the base saison recipe is "something nice" we've never sent it out as is, but we push it around depending on what we want. the first push with that yeast and Belgians around the house is usually temp. tharsis and eden are essentially the same grist with the different adjuncts, tharsis a touch warmer so the phenolics could run with the saffron.

 

I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make here. I think it's clear and reasonable for @HopBomb515 to be happier with a brewery that releases so many cans of various beer that it makes it easier for him and others to get it and with comparatively less fuss. What exactly is the problem with that?

 

I really enjoyed Eden. I thought the grains of paradise were an excellent addition that added complexity to a well balanced base, whereas I found that some of the flavors in Tharsis overpowered and distracted from the underlying base. My only complaint was that the finish was slightly astringent to me (compared to say a Dupont at almost exactly the same IBU) Kind of bummed I missed it through the lemongrass Randall though.

 

Very cool. Is that the case for all of your beers that change year to year (thinking of the summer sour as one example)?

EDIT also I agree about that lemongrass Randle @Zonk. I am sure it's a giant pain in the ass, but I wish Carton would break out that thing more often. Might get me to the taproom on days where there aren't new cans (a.k.a. never nowadays ) more often. Dune Fruit through cactus candy last year is one of my top 5 Carton tap room experiences.

 

yea the base for monkey and dune is called "highlander weisse" and we fool around from there to work it to the concept. like right now i am working on one with cherry blossoms. they are very subtle and i want to keep it light flavor wise plus they are almost definitively kaiseki so we are playing with various sushi rices in the grist to dry and lighten for that one.

we pretty much pull the randal out erry wednesday

 

I'll bring some clementines for AOE today

And very very cool RE: the base beers. Pretty cool to hear. Also, I've said it about 60 times, but I'm extremely excited for whatever simple sour comes about this year. Fathers Day is always prime for good weather and good beer.

 

Pixie tangerines are in season...

 

Making my first trip to Carton this Saturday. Does anyone have a rec. for some food in the area? Simple burgers and sandwiches would do just fine.

 

Gaslight is the closest option with good taps, food is good if a bit overpriced.. Harborside and On the Deck in town have decent food. Plenty of options if you want to stray out of Atlantic Highlands.

 

Last year it was the end of HopPun's run FWIW.

Gaslight ($$) has a good tap list, Moby's ($) is perfect for seafood on a nice day, Canyon ($$$) is good Mexican. There's a BBQ place and a few pizzerias within walking distance as well.

 

Gaslight.

On the Deck for the view, not so much for the food... taps suffer a bit, not a great selection.

If you're willing to drive a bit, Surf BBQ is a good option in Rumson. They have BDG on tap there. I prefer it way better than the Memphis Pigout on First. I haven't been to the pizza places on the street in years. First Avenue Pizza has changed owners in the past two years and the quality isn't as great anymore. I'm not so much a fan of Harborside.

Copper Canyon is okay, but at night it can get hectic and the service can be quite terrible - just know, they only have 1 beer on tap.

 

all true, beer is better at harborside

 

but boy is it a good beer

 

no one has mentioned kunya siam. grab some dub cans and load up on thai byo. most every tippy day ever involves about a half dozen orders of their fried beef. very good

 

I don't know @augiecarton, isn't it some sort of AAL?

Forgot about Kunya Siam, food is great, well priced, and BYO, pretty much all my favorite things.

 

Kunya is EXCELLENT. I've done the O'Dub BYO as well in the past, but in growler form right after leaving Carton.

Haven't been there in a while.

 

it's exactly an AAL! which is why its funny in a review a guy says we "claim" it is like that's a sales point rather than an honesty point

 

I'm confused with the basis of your argument. So, you're saying I should complain about things that are great? I should have no opinion? Just help me here. I don't think it's a crazy thing to say that I prefer breweries that make it easier for anyone that makes the effort to get what they set out for. I don't really care for paying high prices on bottles and waiting in line for hours. Right now Carton is doing a great job. If it comes a time when they fall off and don't keep up I'll more than likely voice that. I think I have 14 different Carton beers right now in my possession in cans, that's just amazing. I didn't wait in a line for a single one of them.