Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a hop story all around, found on tap at The Ginger Man in NYC. Hop aroma, hops in taste, full mouhfeel, with nicely done balancing and creaminess in the mouth making it fairly drinkable. Good representation of the imperial style. All kinds of hops, some lace in glass.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2007 14:50:09 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brand new bottles and I was able to score one with the quickness. I decided to bust them out last night for everyone to get a quick try. Served cold and poured into a pint glass.



So clear. That was the one thing I really took away from this one. It had an amazing amber color to it and the clarity was really just spot on. I was shocked by the color on this one as it really just shined through beautifully. Nice big head of white on the top settles down nicely over the top of the glass. Aroma is huge citrus hops. Tons of grapefruit and orange flavors are all over the one. Really nicely done I have to admit. Solid malt backbone starts to come into play as it warms, but the pungent hop notes really just dive straight forward here. As I take the first sip I notice the body is fairly light on this one, not bad at all, just a little light. Rich flavor though quickly puts any of those thoughts aside. Wonderful touches of grapefruit and orange peel just tear at the palate, dry as could be you are quickly immersed in this wonderful brew. Smooth with all the ABV more then well hidden, I am easily able to continue down the road and enjoy it time and again.



Overall I had this one tap a while back and I have to say I am enormously impressed once again. After being disappointed in the dubbel, this was a welcomed change.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 00:53:26 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.7/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mike for sending me a bottle of this.

A: The pour is very pretty. A clear amber color with a massive white head and tons of sheeted lacing on the glass.

S: A really sharp pineapple, grapefruit, and slightly piney aroma. There is a touch of alcohol too, but it melds in with the pineapple sweetness.

T: A very strong bitterness to the flavor, but not really all that much else. Certainly piney, but the same fruitiness is not present here.

M: The body is medium with a medium carbonation and a bit of alcohol warmth, especially as the beer warms up a little bit.

D: Not a bad IPA from the east coast. I would prefer a bit more contrast in terms of the hop flavors, but this one is pretty easy to drink, especially at 9%.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 06:48:42 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Poured into a tulip. Appearance is an orange apricot with a brown streak in there. Mild head and not much lacing. Nose is fairly sharp with some really nice floral and citrus notes. The taste features the floral and citrus hops, costarring some light caramel in the background. Feel is fairly bitter and a bit dry. Drinks fairly well but doesn't hit all the right spots.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 14:39:02 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the table with a hazy amber color and a one finger head that sticks and sheets

Smell: Smells like a San Diego Pale Ale; lots of tangerine sweet citrus aromatics

Taste: Am I on the west coast? I am tasting the tangerine, with a balancing malt backbone right through mid-palate; nice and bitter after the swallow, but always balanced

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A superb DIPA; may well be the best example I have come across on the east coast and would compete with the best of San Diego, too

(I don't plan to re-review this beer in the bottle, but I will note that I much preferred this beer on tap. In the bottle, though it is still a bitter beer, I find the malt a bit too dominating and the hops a bit too metallic to garner the scores it achieved on tap.)

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2008 03:40:56 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a clear golden color ale with a nice foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of dominant citrus hops with light malt backbone. Taste is also dominated by loads of citrus hops with some definite bitter notes and a weaker then anticipated malt backbone. Body is about average with good carbonation. Well made though more malt presence would have benefited this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 04:17:38 | More by Phyl21ca

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scott has done it again! This is one of my favorite double IPAs! It's like a refreshing west coast IPA that's been hopped up on steroids... all muscles, rather than the all too common, flabby, doughy-sweet and candyish malt ball that's been over-bittered and over-infused with hop flavors to compensate. Or, just not that balanced. But this one is!

It pours an expectedly hazy, amber-orange and copper body beneath a frothy head of off-white foam that holds really well and leaves creamy rings of lace about the glass.

The nose is loaded with citrusy and sweet notes of pineapple, grapefruit, apricot, and papaya as well as a touch of pine.

The flavor is malty without being overdone, and it's lightly caramelish and a touch biscuity. It's got some body to it as well, and although it's a bit sweet, it's not candyish or cloying; but it does take it right to the edge. From there a whallop of Pacific Northwest hops (Cascade, Centennial, perhaps some Amarillo? I dunno...) reigns down on it, thinning it with citrusy, lightly-tart fruity goodness! But that's not all, there's also a touch of mintiness, grassiness, and light pine/spruce that gives it a sharper edge. The bitterness then comes in, solid and brisk, but not overly bold. I hate it when an IPA offers you a lot of malt and fruit to start off with, and then smacks down your tastebuds with raspy, heavy bitterness; but there's none of that here. It's very well-balanced, and retains a great amount of drinkability. The alcohol is very well hidden, and I think what actually is there might just add a welcome touch of spiciness.

If you haven't tried it, it's worth seeking out. Very well done!!!

Serving type: growler

10-05-2006 20:34:49 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Lancaster shaker pint glass.

Thanks to Florida9 for sharing this beer!

A nice unexpected preamble to our little tasting/packing expedition. It pours a clear amber-brass topped by a half-finger of white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit, lemon zest, mandarin orange, caramel, and kiwi. The taste follows generally the same pattern, though the fruits are all accompanied by their respective rinds, lending a good amount of bitterness to the fruity situation. The caramel is joined by a light bit of biscuit, which helps balance things out with a relatively strong malty backbone. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly gooey feel. Overall, a pretty nice DIPA, one that doesn't go overboard on anything but goodness.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 17:51:01 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Captain Lawrence Imperial IPA, Pleasantville, NY

Hazed, golden hued appearance, thick, puffy white head, lace-leaving, looking good.

Aroma dominated by citrus fruit esters...bright and lively, orange and lemon, floral, and bitter. Very nice.

Taste: big citric blast, a flash of bitterness that lasts and softly fades off the palate. Medium-bodied, easy-drinking, very accommodating. So drinkable, and such a nice hopped up slap. Some double IPAs are scary and brutal.Not this guy.Smoo-oo-oooth.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 05:44:36 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a beautiful gold color with a thick rocky white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is awesome. It's big on pale and carapils malts along with a large hop scent that really gets your attention. The taste is just outstanding. It's well balanced and highly drinkable even at 8%. It goes down so damn smooth and finishes bitter with a slightly warm malt feel. The hop flavor is exceptional. It's clean and fresh smelling, like it was just tapped today. The mouthfeel is great. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a damn fine imperial IPA. I love the hop content here. It's bold, but balanced; an excellent drinker. Thanks to JJ for this one.

Serving type: growler

08-19-2007 20:11:32 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Exiled for sharing this beer.

500ml bottle. The beer pours a clear golden-yellowish color with a white head. The aroma is strong orange peel. The flavor is tons of citrus hops and medium bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 02:52:35 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours clear yellow with a little head. The level of carbonation is very active and a layer of bubbles consistently covered the surface revealing lacey patterns.
S: There's a huge aroma that smells like a bouquet of flowers intermixed with piney hops.
T: The initial flavors are a mirror image of the smell, with a decidedly hoppy finish that leaves some bitterness on the palate. There are some underlying malts in the flavors but the flavor of hops is rather dominant, as it should be for this style.
M: The beer feels medium-bodied on the palate and the level of carbonation is perfectly matched.
D: This is very easy to drink. It packs a lot of punch in the way of flavor and the alcohol is very well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2010 03:36:22 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to nyrangersfan for bring a couple bottles of this brew on his trip to Chicago. Served in my Kuhnhenn tulip.

A - Three fingers of slow dissolving off-white cream foam with glass-coasting lacing. Super transparent golden yellow color with a few bubbles lazily rising upwards. I like a little haze in my DIPAs, but otherwise this is superb.

S - Big pine, a bit of tropical fruit, some zesty ripe grapefruit, and some dank earthy notes as well - definitely some Simcoe character. There's a strong grainy malt backbone in this one with lots of bread character to it and a touch of spice. I wish this had a little more sweetness to it, as both hop and malt profiles veer towards the earthy savory side of things.

T - Taste has a tiny bit of biscuit sweetness to it, but it's largely the same mix of multi-grain and hoppiness, with the malt character strong at first and then a piney, zesty, and somewhat grassy finish. Moderately bitter aftertaste, but not a palate-bruiser. Again - it's pretty good, but doesn't have that candy and fruit character I really love in a good DIPA. There's only the slightest hint of caramel or orange.

M - Medium body, lower carbonation, soft texture, a bit of alcohol heat, a bit of residual hop resin. It's pretty much what I like in a DIPA, but could use a touch more of the hop oiliness.

D - 500ml of this was fine, but I'd much rather have a Pliny. This was decidedly East Coast in the malt presence, and reminded me of Apex or Scratch 20 in that it uses a collection of hops that I'm just not that into. Still - one could do a lot worse.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 01:47:27 | More by MasterSki

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.3/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served lightly chilled at about 58ºF (14ºC); Five days since being filled
Pours from the growler a brilliantly clear (so brilliantly clear that it is almost ridiculous or even suspect), deep, cranberry color. It is topped by a frothy, initially fat-two-finger thick, tan colored head that leaves a thin layer of lace as it falls back into the beer. The beer is quite noticeably hoppy; as I pour this brew the sweet smell of hop-induced fruit & citrus is easily noticed. Aromatic notes of candied orange peel, candied peaches, tangelo, lychee, apricot concentrate / preserves; there is just an über fruitiness to this brew that is so typically American. Behind the up front fruit notes is a backdrop of lightly herbal notes and a touch of sharp pine. Lest we forget about it completely, there is even some malt character noticeable in the aromatic finish. Aromas of toasty, freshly milled biscuit malt, caramel malt notes and a quite noticeable, crushed soda cracker aroma let me know that the brewer put enough malt in this brew to stand up to the hops, but also be noticeable (though not enough to lessen the overwhelming hop focus of this brew).

The taste is somewhat sweet, yet bracingly bitter from the get go. At first the bitterness is balanced quite well by the malt character, but it quickly starts to bite, with an astringent, slightly rough, yet mostly clean bitterness that becomes more prominent as the beer leaves my mouth and slips down my throat. Quite malty still in the taste, with flavors of caramelized malt sugars, a solid soda cracker maltiness and even has a touch of lightly toasted grain flavors to it. This beer is of course all about the hops though, and even though I have not mentioned the flavors yet, the hop flavors clearly are the main course here. The flavor is not quite as fruit focused as the aroma, yet it is still the most noticeable aspect of it. Fruit flavors reminiscent of lychees, tangelo, ruby-red grapefruit, Curacao orange peel are all noticeable. Actually the fruit notes leaning towards concentrated apricot and peach notes is quite a bit more muted than it was in the aroma; really the citrus-like notes play a much more prominent role in the flavor profile. The alcohol is held pretty well in check, a touch of warming flavors intermingle with the sharp hop notes in the finish. The beer certainly has some heft to it, a fair amount of body, but no where near what I would characterize as a Barleywine. Still with the ample malt, and over the top hop character, this is definitely not quite a quaffing brew.

A sharply herbal and even a touch of pine tar flavors, adds to and melds into the bitter finish of this brew. Aggressive, with enough bitterness and astringency, a bit of an exercise in self flagellation, scathingly hoppy, yet still overall balanced towards the smoother, this is a great example of a Double IPA. This is a damn fine brew, it is very well balanced for a Double IPA, drinkable, yet engagingly hoppy.

Serving type: growler

10-13-2007 03:49:21 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired via trade from JoeyBeerBelly so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright gold color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malts, tea, citrus and floral hops.

T: The taste starts out with a strong hops bitterness up front. Despite knowing that this is a 2IPA, the strength of the hops caught me a bit off guard as they were that strong in the smell. However, I consider that a good thing. There are mildly sweet flavors of citrus and caramel that come in next. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly bitter.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, while there a few 2IPA's that I would choose first, this is a very good beer to drink for a whole evening.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 04:18:57 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured out as a hazy looking golden copper color with a fluffy white head on top. The lacing was pretty good here and the retention wasn't bad either. The smell of the beer gives off some really nice hoppy aromas. The taste was very good at first but it seemed to get a little strange in the aftertaste. I'm not entirely sure why. The mouthfeel of the beer was pretty good, it was thick and oily which I enjoyed. Overall everything but the aftertaste on this beer was good to me.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 18:54:30 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review based on notes, got this one from HopStoopid120, cheers Tony!

Pours an effervescent apricot with 2+ fingers of cream colored head. Nice lacing & outstanding head retention

S: Slight pineyness, plus a ton of citrus

T: Follows the nose, nice tangerine & lemon flavor up front, plus some caramel sweetness. Earthy hops & breadyness as this warms, along with a bit of boozeyness. Finishes with leafy hops & tangerines

MF: Medium bodied, slightly sticky with assertive carbonation & good balance

Drinks easy, a solid DIPA

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 04:46:07 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: hazy orange in color. One finger head sticks around a while. Light lacing develops.

Smell: grapefruits and pine are bold and very pleasant.

Taste: nicely balanced malt sweetness with grapefruits, pine, lemon, and a hint of alcohol. This is a great DIPA since the hop bitterness is not over the top.

Mouthfeel: smooth and dry throughout. Medium-heavy in body. Long bitter and caramel sweetness aftetraste glues itself to the tongue.

Drinkability: for a DIPA, this was very easy quaff. If you are tired of the over hopped DIPA's but want more punch than the standard IPA, this beer will make you smile. I found this easy to drink more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2007 00:22:16 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours slightly chilled hazed amber with a thin creamy off-white head that leaves some thin, broken rings of lacing on the glass.

The smell is of citrus and pine with slight tea-leaf and light lemon.

The taste is of citrus and pine with a touch of tea-leaf. Caramelish backing gives it a rounding, supportive sweetness. Slight touch of alcohol lends some peppery fruitiness, but is not nearly overwhelming.

Full-bodied and chewy, it has some rawness to it, but not in a bad way.

This beer kicks ass! Nice hop profile with enough balancing malt for the style. Nice complexities...I like it!

Thanks to jcwattsrugger for sharing his growler of this gem with me!

Serving type: growler

08-25-2007 15:59:29 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 16.9 oz bottle. It appeared a clear amber with an inch of white head. I found it to be a rich, but not over-powering DIPA. The chewy caramel and bread malt character isn't hidden behind the hops, but instead compliments the juicy berry and citrus hop character. I guess I'd just want the bitterness kicked up a notch here. Otherwise it's a fine example of the style

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2010 02:29:37 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber/orange/brown with a nice creme head. Nose is piney hops. Flavor is pretty robust. The hops are a bit too strong and provide a very thick piney flavor with a salty edge to it. Feel is sticky and thick with a low carbonation caressing the tongue. Overall pretty drinkable. Just seems a bit too heavy handed at first, though it mellows out over time.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2008 16:07:42 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured a deep yellow color with good carbonation, nice white head, leaving plenty of bubbles

S: Caramel, bread, pine and passion fruits

T: Sordove blah. Tropical fruits, hints at pine on end, caramel, bready

M: Lighter to medium body, light booze sting

D: Average

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 04:29:39 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Large, fluffy head that leaves a tremendous amount of chunky lace. The broth is pale gold and very cloudy.

Very pleasant blend of pale malts and soft, floral hop. This is a refreshing smell with a touch of grapefruit. The alcohol is muted behind the hop, but still present.

Classic DIPA flavor--pale malts upfront, peppery hop in the swallow, a good dose of alcohol that warms the throat. Very rich body with a moderate level of effervescence. Long lasting aftertaste of grapefruity hop.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 22:08:35 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to cavedave for this brew.

Pours a nice very slight hazy golden yellow color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some very nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, with a nice malt balance, citrus, and some pine notes. The taste is sweet, hoppy, malty, bitter, with some citrus and pine notes. Medium body. Very Drinkable, a very tasty DIPA, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2010 00:22:03 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

16.9oz brown bottle with no freshness date. A case of this was leftover from our latest EBF, how the attendees did not blow through this beer is beyond me.

Pale golden straw color, crystal clear. Head retention leaves a sticky lacing on the glass. Grapefruit rind and rustic pine truck and sap with a peppery alcohol and hint of grain in the aroma. First sip reveals a quick smoothness and a rapid jump to the hop character. Tobacco, oily resin, citric rind and leafy pull ... a hard pull on the palate. Alcohol weaves in a growing warmth. As the hops let go of the palate a bit a dry cracker maltiness comes through. More of that tobacco flavor in the dry finish. Lots of hop flavor without a massive bitterness.

Why have I not had this beer before and how can a get a steady stream of it sent to my local area / piped to my house. East coast brewers throwing it back at the west coast here ... this beer touches perfection on a lot of points.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 05:57:37 | More by Jason