Carton Brewing Company
077XX East Coast Double India Pale Ale
American Double/Imperial IPA
New Jersey
7.8%
16oz, 4-Pack
$13.99
Aggressive pour yields a modest finger of just off-white foam, even surface although the lack of retention upsets that quickly enough, conversely the lacing while thin all but fully coats the glass and sticks like glue. The liquid is more filmy than cloudy, golden to slightly rust water in look, extremely tiny bubbles furtively scurry now and then. The nose leaps out at you with well toasted country bread, pretzel notes and both a salty and peppery edge, enough so to marginalize the florality and mixed white citrus, while you never doubt it's there the white pit fruit easily pushed aside, you could say it's aggressive to a fault. Full-bodied, curiously drier during the attack and then sweetens up and feels wetter through the finish. Grainy and peppery yet here it's more balanced with honey, caramel, pine sap and tea leaf on hand. Likewise the mango, peach, guava fruit more resonant. More damp leafy matter than bright cut grass. The carbonation accords itself better than expected but can't call it creamy, stays angular. It comes across like a lot of thought was put into it. You have to like a beer that doesn't back down and is more interested in what it has to say than whether or not you want to hear it.
3 out of 5