Freshchester Pale Ale - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Barcade. Dark sun colour, decent head. Floral citrus aroma, hoppy and IPAish. Three C-hops.Well malted. An American take on an English IPA this one is. Good medium mouthfeel, active carbonation. An easy drinker. Not the best pale, more or less average nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2008 04:19:12 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

another gem in a little growler, i wish more places did this!

amber color that had a good bit of cloudiness to it that helped give it that solid an really full look i wanted. nice head of white capped it off nearly perfectly.

highly hopped aroma with a ton citrus coming though. light buttery an biscuit like middle is well placed and gives it a certain depth that is welcomed for sure. really just ideally placed i have to say. smooth sailing from here on in as the nice bite from the hops dries out the palate and leaves me sitting with a really nice and full flavor that was just spot on and a great dry finish,

Serving type: growler

07-11-2011 03:12:50 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at bmanning's wedding. Many pours into a pint glass.

Pours a moderate orange-copper color with a good white head and nice retention. Spotty lacing on the glass throughout. The nose carries some light bready notes plus a plethora of hop character. There's some citrus and pine hops and the overall character is mildly floral. The flavor is along the same lines, though the bitterness comes through more than hop flavor. Medium body with good carbonation and a nice bitterness. Overall, a very well made pale.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2011 15:36:30 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a cloudy amber color and a sturdy head that sheets the pint glass with lace

Smell: Fruity aroma with grapefruit and a hint of pineapple

Taste: Biscuity up front, but that is quickly surpassed by a piney bitterness that abounds; after the swallow, the bitter flavors become more fruity with the grapefruit and pineapple joining the fray and persisting through a long-lasting finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate but prickly carbonation

Drinkability: Refreshing and aggressively bitter for an APA; nicely balanced by the malt

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2007 12:22:52 | More by brentk56

oberon

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured an orange tinged lighter golden with a thin white head atop.Aromas of apricots and mild citric hops,more fruity than bitter,a sweet biscuit malt base is there as well.Again more fruitiness imparted from the hops than bitterness,apricots again show thru as as a light herbal/grassiness,a firm biscuit maltiness lingers in the finish.A solid APA and I like the fruitiness from the hops.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 22:43:40 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Fresh Chester pours a clear orange-amber body beneath a creamy head of white that holds well and leaves some thin-but-nice lacing about the glass.

The nose is welcomely restrained in its use of over-the-top, juicy/citrusy Pacific northwest hops; and it's softly citrusy (expressing mainly lemons and dull grapefruit), as well as lightly piney, grassy, and gently floral aroma is quite seductive.

The flavor is malty and sweetish, lightly honeyish and caramelish, and balanced by lemony, spicy, grassy, softly piney, and floral hops. The bitterness is solid, but sublime, and acts as ballast so that the malt and hops can shine without shakles... very nicely balanced and well-rounded! It finishes dry, but with a short-lingering note of sweetish malt, and then more long-lingering notes of spicy/piney, and citrusy and grassy hops.

In the mouth it's medium bodied and gently crisp with a fine-bubbled median carbonation.

Very easy to drink! Quite possibly the most refined and balanced beer to come out of Captain Lawrence so far. Very nice indeed!!!

Serving type: growler

03-20-2007 21:46:31 | More by NeroFiddled

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear amber in color and has a very slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense off white head that has good retention properties and consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of citrus hops in the nose.
T: Citrus flavors from the hops stand out in the taste; however these are well balanced by the underlying malts. There is a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a slight amount of dryness.
O: The beer is very easy to drink and the good balance in the flavors makes it an excellent accompaniment to food.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2011 14:19:55 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured out as a nice yellowish gold color with a strong looking white head on top. The smell of the beer gives off a nice amount of hops and grainy malts. The taste of the beer is pretty good, it's got a nice balance of hops and malts in there. The mouthfeel of this beer is easy going and smooth. Overall this beer is pretty good, I would like to have it again one day.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 18:58:06 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: clear orange in color with a nice two finger head that lingers awhile. Thick lacing paints the glass.

Smell: floral and piney bitterness along with some orange citrus is bold an easy to detect.

Taste: pine, oranges, lemon zest, and caramel candy sweetness make up a very well balanced and impressive pale ale.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp at the start and finish with a bit of dryness at the end. Short aftertaste is dominates by the pleasant bitterness. Medium bodied.

Drinkability: since this was a newly tapped keg, the freshness and simple flavors were exciting for the tastebuds. This is a great session pale ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2007 00:14:47 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on-tap at The Ginger Man in NYC

Pours light amber with a creamy head that descends to a lasting thin cover. Some traces of lacing stick to the glass.

The smell is of citrus - grapefruit and orange with sweet grains and a hint of caramel.

The taste is of citrusy, piney hops followied by a balancing sweetness - caramel almost a hint of chocolatey sweetness. Bitterness stays just ahead. Very well-balanced - hops and malt blend nicely.

The body thins just a tad, but holds on in a light to medium body. Smooth. Leaves a nice aftertaste.

An easy, flavorful "session". A very nice example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2006 04:07:06 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler 24 hours after being filled.

I'm not often impressed by pale ales, but this beer got me. All the flavors were familiar, but it was like they were turned up to 11. The malts are a big bready mix of biscuit, toast, and all-grain crust. Pizza and sandwiches need to be paired with this beer.

Then there's the hops. A great profile of American citrusy hops with grapefruit and a harsher fruit zest finish. All very tasty and in a nice balance to the malts.

Basically this pale ale is big on flavor and bitterness while still maintaining bitterness. A must-try for pale ale fans.

Serving type: growler

04-27-2008 21:23:34 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours amber brown. Minimal head. Nose is mild. Slight pine tones. Flavor is unbelievably smooth. Move aside hop bombs. Smooth hearty and meaty tones of hops. Feel is nice and thick on liquid with a good carbonation. Oh so drinkable. I feel like this is what an APA should be. Stellar.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2008 12:04:02 | More by RblWthACoz

Billolick

New York

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

Fresh from the brewery, this sample from the second and slightly more hoppy batch of P.A. from C.L. This ale pours slightly cloudy, medium golden amber, with an off white head, that initially is loose and creamy and then morphs to a tiny bubble film. It leaves some fine lacing. Nose is pleasantly hoppy. This is a well balanced, immenantly drinkable and easy quafing Pale, moderatly hoppy with a smooth finish,went very nicely with some aged cheddar and nuts.

Serving type: growler

02-12-2006 17:27:13 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 6/2/10 notes. Had on tap at Paradiso in Dupont.

a - Pours a murky yellow-golden color with 1 inch of white head and no carbonation.

s - Smells of orange, citrus, and pine hops.

t - Tastes of smooth earthy malts, light citrus hops, and fruit.

m - Very smooth and creamy. Medium body and no carbonation.

d - A pretty good, east drinking pale ale. Would try again.

Serving type: cask

06-08-2010 01:19:10 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Screw-cap growler provided via trade by gpcollen1. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" off-white head over the crystal clear golden amber brew. Head falls sedately, pocks in the froth here and there, with good lacing. Aroma is lightly malty with lemony fresh hops. Taste also is well-balanced upfront, with citrus kicking it from the middle until the (pun intended) bitter end. Quick with the hoppy burp too. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both superb. Could see myself drinking this one again...and again...

Serving type: growler

10-26-2006 22:06:19 | More by ppoitras

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Captain Lawrence, Elmsford, NY

Poured a hazy amber color with a minimal white head that retained as a ringlet and laced the glass a bit. I didn't get much from the aroma actually, distant fruity hops, grass, light and grainy. Taste was better and more pronounced, sweet biscuit malt backbone overlaid with fresh fruity hop goodness, citrus zest, pine, and a bit of underripe pineapple, bitter and drying finish. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Quite the easy drinker, and not too deviant from "typical" for the style overall.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 02:29:07 | More by Rifugium

plaid75

New York

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium copper hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a good oily hop with excellent peppery and piney characteristics. There was a good light caramel malt as well.

The taste consisted of a strong peppery and citrus hop and a very good soft grain bill.

The mouthfeel was full and crisp with a dry finish.

Overall a very good IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2007 14:48:02 | More by plaid75

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Freshchester Pale Ale is an iridescent display of yellow, gold and amber tones and looks good from every and any angle. Its head generates enough fluffy foam to make a comfortable duvet stuffing. It sports bubbles like freckles and has a shimmer so bright as to almost induce squinting. It looks fab-u-lous!

The bouquet is a sleeping beast and swirling the glass is like poking it with a stick; oxygen invokes big tropical and resiny aromatics (as well as a good amount of toasted malt). It's well poised but definitely not undersized. The citrus notes are tied together by a string of leafy vine.

The flavour offers bitter orange peel, apricot and toffee-apple notes and an oily, grapefruit-flavoured finish. Despite providing ample toastiness, there is minimal restraint from the malt as far as the earthy/floral taste is concerned. Though richer for that sturdy caramel malt base, it wouldn't have been much poorer without it - the hops know what they're doing.

I always prefer my pale ales to come with a heavy side of hops. For some breweries, however, it's as if they have to rummage around a dusty attack to find them. Not Captain Lawrence. Though the IBUs are tempered slightly, the citric and floral hop flavours are unambiguous - this is nearly as intense and juicy as an IPA.

Freshchester Pale Ale is a beer that colours inside the lines but does a fine job at it (and having won my share of colouring contests, I consider myself an authority on the matter). It is arguably the archetype of the style and when something like this is a year-round standard, flagship offering, we can say with confidence that these are indeed the glory days of beer in America.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 22:27:59 | More by biegaman

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at GingerMan. The beer is clear, dark orange color, creamy looking head. The smell is a little hopopy, pine needle type. The taste has the bite from the hops, mostly in the aftertaste, with good malt balance. Almost an IPA, but keeps on the APA side of the line.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2008 19:25:14 | More by TurdFurgison

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 4/14/08. On tap at the brewery. Pours a clear dark red/brown with some white head. Aroma of floral hops. Flavor of floral and some citrus hops, bitterness. Tasty. One of the better pale ales I've had.
Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 7/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 14/20
3.7/5

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2008 04:02:48 | More by LilBeerDoctor

alexgash

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle.

Pours a clear, golden orange. Two fingers of cobwebby, light beige head. Some frothy lacing. Nose shows a balance of malt and hops. Pine and citrus play nicely with fruity, almost tropically, malt.

Toasted grains up front. Herbal, grassy bitterness picks up. Cookie and sweetish fruit malt build a nice solid foundation. Floral, citrus, and pine hop notes carry to the finish. Dryish and refreshing, with lots of lingering hop and sugary malt goodness. Medium-bodied, with a lively, yet natural, feel. Very nice and eminently drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 22:37:57 | More by alexgash

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Interesting pale it's a clear amber brown with a 1/2 inch of sudsy opaque colored head.

S - First smell is of some great citrus hops, a touch of caramel, toffee, and English malts. Rather unexpected to get more sweet than hoppy.

T - Citrus and mango hops carry the beer well into the finish with sweet English malts giving a mid bit of toffee and tea. Not very bittering and balanced.

M - Light to medium.

Overall this may be the best beer I have had by these guys. Way easier to drink than the DIPA and renews my love for hoppy pale ales. Will have to get this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 05:56:22 | More by DrDemento456

flagmantho

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer on-tap in a pint glass at Pete's Saloon in Elmsford, just a few blocks from the brewery.

Appearance: medium copper hue with impeccable clarity. Effervescence is minimal and there's a thin head of creamy tan foam, but leaving a nice lace on the glass. I rather like it.

Smell: bready, nutty aroma with a light dose of citrus hops. Mild but well crafted; again almost like a copper ale.

Taste: bready and nutty with good citrusy and earthy hops and a pretty persistent bitterness at the end. I like it.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a light and refreshing carbonation. Not terribly substantial, but quite nice when you're hot and thirsty.

Overall: a refreshing and tasty pale ale; it matches the traditional definition much more than the west coast APAs I'm used to.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 20:39:42 | More by flagmantho

Gmann

New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright golden honey brown color with an average off-white head that settled into a light ring. The aroma is of a subdued juicy hop, nice and fresh; the aroma could use a bit more strength. The taste starts off with a juicy grapefruit hop which is quickly balanced with a sweet caramel malt; very balanced. There is some spicy grassy hop in here as well. Light to moderate feel with tingly carbonation; finishes with a hoppy bitterness but still fairly balanced. A very solid APA, good hop flavors and a nice malt body. Good sweetness and no buttery flavors.

Serving type: growler

06-14-2009 01:33:52 | More by Gmann

Durge

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A friend of mine lives in Chappaqua, not far from the brewery and had a fridge full of growlers including this wonderful pale ale. It's a hazey orange amber color with a great off-white head and good lacing. The aroma is a light orange hop bitterness and sourdough bread. The flavor is crisp orange bread as well, with a light malt presence but the hop bitterness is very solid for a pale ale, and scrumscious. There is a slight butter and nut flavor in the mix, mellow and edible. Mid to full bodied, refreshing and very nice drinkability. This is clearly a great, tried and true pale ale if you lean toward the hop head side. If you rely on a milder brew for your pale ale, this might rate a bit lower for you.

Serving type: growler

06-24-2009 04:14:21 | More by Durge