Pleasantville Smoked Porter - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.54/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown with a thick, dark, sandy head. Consistent soap scum layer of retention hangs lace all over my glass. One particular patch looks like a rearing unicorn.

Smells like smoked aged meat like pancetta or salami. Smells salty? Tastes smokey but not as much as the aroma would indicate. The porter underneath is very nice, but I'd like all the smoke I was promised. A bit thin.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 13:55:41 | More by donkeyrunner

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at the Captain Lawrence tasting room.

A- Pours a super dark brown, topped with a thin tan head.

S- Roasted malt, a bit of chocolate and fruit, smokiness is subtle but spot on. Smells really nice.

T- Roasted malt, nice chocolatey flavors and smokiness, a bit of fruit and caramel. The smoke is subtle and doesn't approach jerky territory.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth feel, very drinkable.

O- I really enjoyed this, a very solid smoked porter.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2013 03:01:43 | More by WillCarrera

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle, no date

pours almost black in color, still some reddish highlights in the corners. off-white head that stays awhile. smell is roasty and smokey aroma. like charred wood. same with the taste, just enough smoke flavor without being too much. pleasant. toasty. body on the thicker side. coats the mouth, lower to medium carbonation.

overall -good level of smoke. I don't normally like that flavor when it's overpowering, but this beer is a good one.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 02:26:43 | More by jmdrpi

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.24/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a nearly fully black with a light brown head. Aroma was very meaty, smoky, woody, chocolate, roast, brisket. Meaty taste as well. Not bacon, but definite smoked meatiness. Light chocolate and char, roast and light fruit notes. Creamy, full body.

Love me a meaty smoked beer and this fit the bill! Than,s a bunch Shane!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 23:32:47 | More by EgadBananas

alexgash

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16.9 oz. bottle.

Dark chocolate brown body. Small, but persistent, light khaki head. Some nice lacing. Nose shows a nice mix of roasted, sweet, and smoke. Charred barley, light coffee, semi-sweet chocolate, light peat, and flinty campfire.

Roasted barley and mild coffee bitterness up front. Light molasses bittersweetness, chocolate, and more roasted malt mid-palate. Smokiness comes on toward the finish. Smoldering campfire and a little peat. Earthy, carob-y,licorice-y sweetness in the finish. Slightly drier with lingering roasted bitterness and smoke. Medium bodied, with a creamy feel. A nicely balanced smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 00:54:28 | More by alexgash

socon67

New York

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Mugs Alehouse

A - Black pour with a tan foam that settled fast. Some lacing and minimal carbonation.

S - Sweet sugary fruit smell is balancing some smoky heat. Smells like peppers grilling on the BBQ or the crackling peppers and onions from fresh fajitas.

T - Nice blend of sweet malt and fruit to go with some smoky peat malt. Leaves the right amount of burn on the tongue.

M - Very good balance on this beer. Does not go overboard with the smoke. would easily pair this with good cheeses.

O - I'd get this again. A good introductory smoked beer or an option for those that want some smoke but keep their palate intact.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 20:51:04 | More by socon67

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.09/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Haven't had this for a couple of years until now, and never in the bottle. Remember liking it pretty well on tap.

A: Very dark brown, with dark tan edges and a small light tan head.

S: A ton of smoke. Campfire smoke. A good amount of dark fruit. Not a lot of roast.

T/M: Smoked malt. Chocolate. Plum. The smoke is the main event but not completely dominant -- there's good balance. The mouthfeel's medium, with low but prickly carbonation.

O: Another great effort from Captain Larry in a style we should see more of.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 18:06:10 | More by CharlatanSin

StJamesGate

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Ruby black with craggy, purple-tan head that clings and trails.
Iodine smoke but also meat and red berry - gentle.
Prune and licorice, a roasty bite, smoky hit and then a bark and resin hop hit.
Cranberry finish and anise linger
Medium, chewy, some fizz, round.

Unusually, a solid porter on its own merits where the smoke supplements rather than overwhelms. Doesn't cloy, hops are restrained, and smoke appetizes at the end. Usual quality from Capt. Lawrence.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 02:09:55 | More by StJamesGate

macrosmatic

Florida

3.46/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 16.9 oz. bottle into a CCB pint glass.

A: Pours a nice dark brown, fairly clear, with a half-finger white head. Visible carbonation on the low side.

S: Smoky, roasty and bitter, with some bittersweet cacao.

T: Smoke, roasted coffee bitterness, toasted malt, a bit of Band-aid near the swallow. A mild bitter pine hop presence as well.

M: Body on the thin side for a porter, good carbonation sensation, moderate alcohol presence.

O: Not my favorite style. Decent for a smoked porter, but falls short of others I've had. Certainly not bad to give a try.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not certain that I'm reviewing the right beer. The label on this bottle simply says Smoked Porter, with no mention of Pleasantville. But it seems to be the only one listed on Captain Lawrence's website, so I'm running with it.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:04:35 | More by macrosmatic

MadScientist

New York

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: A very dark brown beer with a deep garnet hue, almost too dark to let light through. The head is long lasting, creamy, expresso colored bubbles that leave some lasting.

S: Smooth, moderately-strong coffee and cocoa aromas with smoke coming just a bit under those. A light note of earthy hops and a little bit of dark, dried fruit.

T: A somewhat sweet, coffee and cream flavor with a moderate chocolate and smoke. The hops give a moderately-light bitterness with an light earthy hops flavor. A little dark fruit flavors again. The balance is slightly sweet with a medium-sweet finish and a smokey, chocolate aftertaste.

M: Medium full bodied with a moderate carbonation. Very cream and smooth that works so well with the flavors.

O: It's like having a fire roasted cup of coffee with cream and sugar. The overall balance is great and somewhat rich.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 23:56:53 | More by MadScientist

metter98

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is nearly black in color—traces of dark red are visible near the bottom of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a finger high dense tan colored head that died down but left a coating of bubbles down the sides of the glass and a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of smoke and dark and chocolate malts in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the initial taste is smoky but starts to give way to flavors of chocolate and roasted malts as well as some hints of coffee beans. A slight amount of bitterness is present.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and a little smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish leaves your mouth with a slight amount of dryness.
O: While the smoky aromas and flavors of this beer can rival a rauchbier, this beer isn't overpowered by the smoky malts and still has a light-bodied nature and easy drinkability of a porter. I would have no problem drinking several of these in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:41:33 | More by metter98

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.99/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The beer pours an opaque black with an inch of creamy tan head that offers good retention and laces. The nose is chocolate-y, bacon-ey, cardboard-y, and hoppy. I didn't get as much distinct smoke as I'd hoped for. However, the taste coats the palate with smoked malt. It's still relatively sweet and bitter and the smoke is not overpowering. I'd place this beer as medium bodied with great interplay between the sweet and smokey malts and bitter hops. The aftertaste is more bitterness than smoke, but it still leaves a mildly ashy burnt caramel. I'm pleased with the beer, it's price/availability, and drinkability and think it should be a local go-to for that smoked porter craving.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 01:47:29 | More by ThePorterSorter

dogfishandi

New York

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

16.9 oz bottle at fridge temp poured into a snifter. Labeled just as "Smoked Porter" but based on the other reviews I'm thinking this is the same beer.

Pours out pretty much opaque black with a very nice full head, light beige in color. Good retention with a ton of thick sticky lace. Looks really good.

Nice smokey aroma, smoked wood, charcoal, ashy. Hard to get much else, some roast as it warms.

The smoke is more in balance with the rest of the beer, still pretty prominent. Ashy smoked wood, a bit of campfire, A nice dark chocolate roasted malt, bakers chocolate. Maybe a hint of an English yeast?

Medium in body, carb feel about right for style.

A very nice smoked porter, very true to style. I'd drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 23:21:12 | More by dogfishandi

CloudStrife

New York

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16.9oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown appearing black in the glass. Two finger dense slightly tanned head. Head becomes a little rocky as it slowly dissipates. Leaves some lacing on the glass/

S: Good smokey aroma with hints of coffee and dark roasted malts. A bit of carmel in the background and a hinting of hops.

T: Great smokiness up front without being too fake or overwhelming. Roasted malts in the background even this brew out nicely.

M: Medium bodied with a smooth creamy mouthfeel. Average carbonation for the style.

Overall a real impressive brew. I have never been crazy of the smoked styles but this one is legit. Pair this one with some good meats and cheeses.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:04:24 | More by CloudStrife

cosmicevan

New York

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

newly released 16.9oz bottles of "Smoked Porter" picked up locally. enjoyed from a capt lawrence tulip.

a - 8 ball black with a thin off white fizzy head that leaves some pretty solid chunky lacing and hangs out for a bit. when you look closely you can see carbonation bubbles slowly churning to the surface of the beer from below.

s - smoked malts and bakers chocolate with some peat. crisp and clean...almost soapy.

t - bitter baker's chocolate, porter char and a nice hint of smoke. smoke beers can be tough to take but this is very well done. almost milk stout like in smoothness and flavor with a glaze of smokiness. nice roastiness.

m - VERY lively...almost too much carbonation. lots of char.

o - overall nice hint smokiness on a great porter backbone. rather tasty and impressive. this is definitely one to seek out and one that i will gladly have again. if only the carbonation was dialed back a touch.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 22:08:24 | More by cosmicevan

harrymel

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle just says "Smoked Porter" not Pleasantville, but seems to be the same beer.
Bottled: unk

Nice dark brown with sanguine notes on the edges. Tan foam sheet is near complete. Smells of cocoa, light campfire, bread, and a touch of almond or peanut. Flavor is great, robust with a good dose of toasted malts, smoke, some bits of dark chocolate, some nutty character among the very well integrated and clean smoke flavor. The nose opens more smoke as it warms. Near full bodied with a soft carbonation that gives the beer a really good mouthfeel. Very well done beer, the smoke is assertive and nuanced enough to showcase the beer alongside the actual smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 08:21:20 | More by harrymel

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16.9oz bottle served in a glass beer mug.

L - black with a fluffy tan head that settled down some and left trails of lacing.

S - smoked and roasted aromas.

T - mellow smoke blends in well with a roasted malty flavor, very good.

F - medium bodied with a creamy, smooth feel.

O - a very good tasting beer that I will purchase/consume again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 00:50:21 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle, allowed to warm just a little bit before being poured into my petite Duvel tulip.

Captain Lawrence Smoked Porter pours almost completely black. One or two ruby highlights do manage to shine through though. About three fingers of khaki colored foam crowns the beer, and manages to stick around for quite a while. Lacing is left in a few good sized chunks, but there could stand to be a little bit more. The nose features a bit of roastiness, followed by a good helping of smoked malt. Similarly, the flavor profile leads off with some bittersweet dark chocolate and roast, but it's quickly overtaken by the smokiness that's present. I find myself wishing the malt profile was a little more robust and the smoke was more of a subtle accent. The body is just too dry for me. Not every porter has to be chewy and viscous (though I don't mind when they are), but this one takes things too far in the opposite direction. The carbonation is nice and mild though. I haven't been the biggest fan of Captain Lawrence's non-sour beers, but this smoked porter is a solidly above average offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 06:16:04 | More by axeman9182

cavedave

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thickly woven brown/tan head, two, lasting fingers worth, sits proudly for the ride atop this darkest brown, and thick looking beauty, whose dizzying appearance has incited a cascade of commas in this sentence.

Medium aroma of chocolate and coffee fronting lighter caramel, herbal bitter, and mild roast notes. Wrapping it together into a fine bouquet is smoke fragrance. Nice.

Less smoke in the flavor than anticipated, still it is a key component, alongside caramel, a bit of sweet to it, and medium roast coffee, dark chocolate, even some hoppy bitter to run with the roast. Medium strength, and less full than the look appears, it is a taste that lets smoke do the talking, but lets the other flavors do the walking. As it warms some tart yeast sorta flavors come in lightly. Really tasty.

Not as full bodied as it looks, quite refreshing, and less viscous than it looks, but carb. is perfect, and the finish is nice and clean.

Excellent beer, though hardly from the same Universe as the Imperial Smoked. Good tasty porter, one I am sure to get so long as they are available. Recommend you do same.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 17:47:51 | More by cavedave

Sean9689

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Mike through Ethan for this. 22oz growler into wine glass.

A - Pours darker brown, tan head, spotty lace, thin collar.

S - Excellent level of smoke, chocolate, burnt sugars, and roasted malt. The sweetness plays well off of the smoke, and just like the Imperial Smoked Porter, nearly perfect for the style.

T - Chocolate, smoke, burnt sugars, toasted malts, light roast. Again, the sweetness of the porter just works perfectly with the smoked notes. Nothing too overpowering and so easy to drink and enjoy. The alcohol is really well-hidden, I don't even know it's there. Finish is light smoke and chocolate, some roast too.

M - Medium body, good carbonation, smooth, creamy finish.

O - Captain Lawrence knows how to make a smoked porter, no doubt about it. Both this and the Imperial Smoked Porter are amongst my favorite American Porters of all-time, slightly behind Hill Farmstead Everett. Get some of this beer if you enjoy smoked porters, it's really excellent.

Serving type: growler

03-21-2012 15:46:29 | More by Sean9689

lovindahops

New York

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another new captin' brew that I'm excited to taste!

A- completely smoked out body with appearance of lacing on the sides of the glass. A side of foam collaborates along the glass

S- anticipated charcoal and roasted malt with some darkened fruit as well. Very lively with the chocolate and mild espresso theme showing up. It's a very inviting scent that I enjoy in these types of smoked porters

T- sweet roasted charcoal compacted with BBQ themes as well. The flavor is delicious with the combo of sweet/smoked malt. I'm enjoying this

M- mild yet prickly carbonation with coating flavor

O- smoked porters are fantastic and scott pieced together a mild brew that borders on drinkable. Enjoyable

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 22:57:14 | More by lovindahops

CaptDavyJones

New York

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This porter was served in a pint glass from a tap.
Pitch black in color with almost no light penetration.
One finger mocha colored head that dissipates very slowly.
Aroma is all smoke, literally. Nothing else but smoke comes through in the nose. One of the smokiest porters I have had. Lives up to it's name as a smoked porter.
Taste akin to the aroma feels like a bonfire on the palate. Sweet upfront with a hint of bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied porter that is easy to drink. However, the smokiness was just a tad overwhelming for my palate.
Definitely worth a try though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 05:07:59 | More by CaptDavyJones

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black and nearly opaque with faint mahogany edges and a half finger beige head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Nice smokey aroma with lots of burnt malt character balanced by some sweeter dark malt notes. Hints of charcoal, BBQ, meat and campfire dominating the nose but there are hits of dark chocolate, oatmeal and toffee underneath.

Fuller bodied than expected. Tastes very similar to the aroma and even though there is a heavy dose of smokiness, there are some sweeter malt notes underneath. Lots of burnt malt, smoke, charcoal, smoked meat flavor up front followed by hints of toast, oatmeal and dark chocolate toward the end of the palate. A good balance of smoke and sweeter notes lingering into a dry finish.

Overall I really enjoyed this beer. Most smoked porters are too tame for me but this was a bit of a smoke bomb without being one dimensional. Complex, very flavorful and easy to drink(for me at least). I would love to try the imperial version.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 02:24:31 | More by corby112

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours an almost ashy black color. Mild head is about tan in color. Quite dark. Mild lacing,

S-Quite smoky. Almost salty too. Coffee and bits of chocolate to accompany the smokiness.

T-Definitely pretty smoky. Lightly salty and hints of oak. Roasty and chocolatey. Smoke is the leader here in the taste.

M-Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation too. A bit slick on the tongue.

O/D-I didn't love this beer but was happy to try it. One glass was enough. Maybe a bit too smoky for me.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2011 22:11:51 | More by VelvetExtract

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Black with a substantial light-brown head. Not much lacing.

S: Mostly smoke with some sweetness.

T: Clean, ashy smoke that becomes increasingly less pronounced as I drink. The sweetness from the nose comes through much more in the taste, becoming a fruity sweetness with a hint of vanilla. The sweetness becomes a bit too much by the second glass and really hurts drinkability.

M: Medium and creamy.

O: This is basically a sweet porter with some smokiness on top. The flavors don't really come together, and the smokiness isn't enough to balance out the sweetness.

Serving type: growler

07-18-2011 03:12:38 | More by greybeardloon