Carton Brewing O77XX Double IPA

What's this, a growler of New Jersey beer, sent all that way from an old BA trading pal, merely because I helped him upload an avatar of the HopSlam logo? Now, that's BeerAdvocating! And it's from Carton Brewing, whose name confused me at first. What, is it located in a former box factory? No, the brewer/owner's name is actually Carton. All that box imagery and punning came later.

So, this is 077XXDIPA, from Carton Brewing, of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. 7.8% ABV.

Clear, bright golden coloring, tidy and trim white head, leaving a little lace.

Aroma: fresh citrus fruit, mango, pineapple, pine needles, juicy and vibrant. Zesty. Lively. Love it.

Taste: Bam, bam, bam! Loads of bountiful hops, loading the palate smoothly, with a final drop as astringency, aspirin-like. Another sip and the juicy-ness continues, tons of fruit and bittersweet hoppy flavors. Medium mouthfeel and maltiness. Note-perfect, practically flawless, right on the money double IPA.

So there. Something good about New Jersey.

Here's a little gobbledygook from the website: Like all things truly Jersey, 077XX makes the most in balancing through its accentuation of extremes. Inspired by the west coast IPAs we love, we added a thump of hops to a dynamic malt profile and chose a yeast to drive these two further than they wanted to go. Throw our water into this mix and you will find dank green resinous hops popping over orange, mango and papaya aromas, with just enough sweetness of body to make the long finish a pleasure to have around. A double IPA perfect for adding fuel to the fire of a dinner, a game, or an idea, drink it when your night matters. (Available only in NJ)