Over the past couple of weeks I've been lucky enough to go to a couple of tastings at a bar close to me (The Growler and Gill), which also happens to be located 3 minutes from my favorite bottle shop in the area (Cable Beverages). I also had the chance to visit Barcade in Jersey City and attended the Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.'s Pig Roast. These are three of the more memorable and delicious beers I've tried over the past couple of weeks:
1. North Coast Old Rasputin Nitro (On tap at the Growler & Gill in Nanuet, NY):
A big flavorful stout, full of chocolate and rich malty flavors and just a touch of coffee. A really fantastic stout by any means normally, but this one really benefits from the nitro. The smooth texture of nitrogenation really complements the thick texture and rich flavor profile of this beer.
Overall Rating: 4.75/5
2. Carton Shipwreck Porter (On tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ):
The second best Carton beer I've tasted, right behind Regular Coffee. It's a honey porter aged in rum barrels, and the flavors just work together - nice, rich malt profile in this porter, delicate sweetness from the honey and rum, and a little bit of a kick from the rum barrel aging (and the 10% ABV). A really fantastic beer overall, and something I look forward to having again.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
3. Carton Applejack Pumpkin Cream (On tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ):
Another barrel aged beer by Carton, another winner. Not quite as good as the Shipwreck Porter, but still a great beer. Aged in Applejack Whiskey barrels, the whiskey character definitely comes through. Great for the style of cream ale, and definitely flavorful. I do wish the beer had a little more pumpkin taste to it, though in terms of pumpkin beers, I have been spoiled in the past with great access to Elysian Night Owl (my favorite pumpkin beer ever) and Southern Tier Pumpkin.
Overall Rating: 4.35/5
As an addition to the list, I'd like to mention that I did try a lot more Carton beers at Barcade Jersey City's tap takeover (I was there the day after the original event, and I have to admit a little upset that there was either no Regular Coffee or none left), and the following beers should be honorably mentioned:
Carton Lime Rickey: I wasn't a fan of the smell, but it tasted great - nice cherry/lime flavor; Overall Rating: 4/5
Carton 077XX: Overall Rating: 4/5
Carton Swisher: Overall Rating: 4.15/5
Carton Decoy: Overall Rating: 4/5
Carton Comma: Really nice black pepper taste, delivers exactly on the description of the beer as a black pepper saison - my biggest issue with this beer is that I couldn't see myself wanting another one, even though I was extremely pleased that it delivered on the description; Overall Rating: 4.15/5
Carton GORP: Good ol' Raisins and Peanuts, again, another beer that delivers on the description. Overall Rating: 4/5
And some non-Carton Beers so it doesn't look like they paid me to write the above:
Lancaster White Ale Brewed with Apple and Curry (On tap at The Dog & Cask, Rochelle Park, NJ): Nice apple sweetness and tartness with a kick of curry spice. A really interesting, flavorful beer; Overall Rating: 4.15/5
Bell's Two Hearted Ale (On tap at The Growler & Gill, Nanuet, NY): Overall Rating: 4.2/5
NJ Beer Co 1787 Abbey Single (On tap at Buffalo Wild Wings, Secaucus, NJ): Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Captain Lawrence Sweet Chick (On tap at Captain Lawrence Brewing Co): Overall Rating: 4/5
Captain Lawrence IPA (On tap at Captain Lawrence Brewing Co): Overall Rating: 4/5
And my last honorable mention, as much as I hate to do it:
Amstel Radler: I don't know if I should really rate this here, because it's, as I was told, 60% Amstel and 40% lemon juice, but I do have to admit that it is incredibly tasty. I debated rating this beer because Amstel is owned by Heineken, but in the end, obviously decided to include it anyway. At 2% ABV, it tastes like there is zero alcohol content and even the most lightweight of your friends will get full before feeling it's effects, but it is delicious. Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (And only because I had trouble rating it as a beer).
1. North Coast Old Rasputin Nitro (On tap at the Growler & Gill in Nanuet, NY):
A big flavorful stout, full of chocolate and rich malty flavors and just a touch of coffee. A really fantastic stout by any means normally, but this one really benefits from the nitro. The smooth texture of nitrogenation really complements the thick texture and rich flavor profile of this beer.
Overall Rating: 4.75/5
2. Carton Shipwreck Porter (On tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ):
The second best Carton beer I've tasted, right behind Regular Coffee. It's a honey porter aged in rum barrels, and the flavors just work together - nice, rich malt profile in this porter, delicate sweetness from the honey and rum, and a little bit of a kick from the rum barrel aging (and the 10% ABV). A really fantastic beer overall, and something I look forward to having again.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
3. Carton Applejack Pumpkin Cream (On tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ):
Another barrel aged beer by Carton, another winner. Not quite as good as the Shipwreck Porter, but still a great beer. Aged in Applejack Whiskey barrels, the whiskey character definitely comes through. Great for the style of cream ale, and definitely flavorful. I do wish the beer had a little more pumpkin taste to it, though in terms of pumpkin beers, I have been spoiled in the past with great access to Elysian Night Owl (my favorite pumpkin beer ever) and Southern Tier Pumpkin.
Overall Rating: 4.35/5
As an addition to the list, I'd like to mention that I did try a lot more Carton beers at Barcade Jersey City's tap takeover (I was there the day after the original event, and I have to admit a little upset that there was either no Regular Coffee or none left), and the following beers should be honorably mentioned:
Carton Lime Rickey: I wasn't a fan of the smell, but it tasted great - nice cherry/lime flavor; Overall Rating: 4/5
Carton 077XX: Overall Rating: 4/5
Carton Swisher: Overall Rating: 4.15/5
Carton Decoy: Overall Rating: 4/5
Carton Comma: Really nice black pepper taste, delivers exactly on the description of the beer as a black pepper saison - my biggest issue with this beer is that I couldn't see myself wanting another one, even though I was extremely pleased that it delivered on the description; Overall Rating: 4.15/5
Carton GORP: Good ol' Raisins and Peanuts, again, another beer that delivers on the description. Overall Rating: 4/5
And some non-Carton Beers so it doesn't look like they paid me to write the above:
Lancaster White Ale Brewed with Apple and Curry (On tap at The Dog & Cask, Rochelle Park, NJ): Nice apple sweetness and tartness with a kick of curry spice. A really interesting, flavorful beer; Overall Rating: 4.15/5
Bell's Two Hearted Ale (On tap at The Growler & Gill, Nanuet, NY): Overall Rating: 4.2/5
NJ Beer Co 1787 Abbey Single (On tap at Buffalo Wild Wings, Secaucus, NJ): Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Captain Lawrence Sweet Chick (On tap at Captain Lawrence Brewing Co): Overall Rating: 4/5
Captain Lawrence IPA (On tap at Captain Lawrence Brewing Co): Overall Rating: 4/5
And my last honorable mention, as much as I hate to do it:
Amstel Radler: I don't know if I should really rate this here, because it's, as I was told, 60% Amstel and 40% lemon juice, but I do have to admit that it is incredibly tasty. I debated rating this beer because Amstel is owned by Heineken, but in the end, obviously decided to include it anyway. At 2% ABV, it tastes like there is zero alcohol content and even the most lightweight of your friends will get full before feeling it's effects, but it is delicious. Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (And only because I had trouble rating it as a beer).
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