Nor' Easter - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

sevenarts

New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Dark purplish black. Decent sized tan head that soon fades, with no lacing.

S: Rich sweet bourbon, berries, a wine-like acidity, some underlying yeastiness.

T/M: Sweet berries and bourbon, quickly giving way to more of a tart, bitter fruit character. Belgian yeasts, dark fruits, sugar, slightly acidic. Nice and complex, something like a blend of wine and beer flavors.

O: An excellent twist on a Belgian beer. The added berries and barrel aging add a great deal of complexity and completely change the underlying Belgian-style brew. Very tasty and rich.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 19:20:26 | More by sevenarts

devilheels

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fantastic beer! I was a big fan of the berry undertones, which were not too overpowering, and hit the tongue just right. The aging in bourbon barrels was a nice choice, as the beer is smooth, and has a lovely alcohol content. This is the perfect beer to be snowed in with (particularly if it's with someone you love!)

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 22:42:27 | More by devilheels

beagle826

New York

3.78/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Beautiful color, deep brown. Smells maltier than anticipated, mixed with a strong hint of fruit, a bit like merlot grapes. Initial taste was nice, with a nice mix of berry and bourbon characteristics. Finish slightly astringent. Overall a truly unique brew, a bit to roasty/astringent for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 02:12:49 | More by beagle826

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bomber into tulip glass. Pours a dark brown/black mahogany color with a thin to medium, light brown head. Aroma consists of caramel and vanilla bourbon barrel notes along with roasted malt and subtle dark fruity and berry notes with cocoa in the background. Dark flavor profile offers some roasted malt astringency with soft chocolate, caramel, and vanilla notes followed by the elderberries characteristics. Alcohol flavors are delicately assertive with some oak aspects rounding out the finish. The medium body conveys an excellent malt and alcohol balance which is supplemented by a final fruity lightness. Overall, an interesting and somewhat complex beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 19:22:15 | More by CuriousMonk

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Batch four poured into a chalice type glass.

This beer reminds me of a red wine. You get a pretty strong amount of fruityness from the elderberries in the nose and body. There are some really strong wine-like qualities from the sour flavor and nose. I feel like those yeasts really worked hard over time.

I also get a decent amount of oakiness in the body. The bourbon comes in at the edges and when you play the beer across your pallatte.

This is a chalenging drinker. I get a lot of complexity coming on here. I'm glad I aged this for a really quality red wine-like beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:58:19 | More by ummswimmin

joefuzz

New York

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

batch 4

pours deep brown with small khaki

smells of sour berries sweet malts and some slight chocolate

taste is somewhat of a surprise very tart upfront that moves onto a smooth belgian candy sugar and slight bourbon abv is very well hidden

mouthfeel is thick with enough carbonation to carry this huge beer

overall i absolutely loved this beer. its on shelves all year here i am going to have to pick up some more

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 05:52:52 | More by joefuzz

Phelps

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to Cuzco, who sent this bottle as part of the Blind Beers BIF. Poured into a wine glass.

Deep, dark-chocolate brown, fading to the milk variety at the edges. One inch of frothy, sticky tan head.

Lots going on in the nose. Sweet bourbon, cocoa nibs, and some kind of tart fruit, which I later realize must be the elderberries.

The tartness carries over to the flavor, providing a touch of sweetness up front and a citric flash at the swallow. Alongside it are notes of whiskey and chocolate. Smooth blend.

Medium-light body, a touch thin. Nearly-not-there carbonation. Hardly any alcohol heat.

What a great beer for this BIF! The bent styles had me puzzled the whole time.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 19:21:44 | More by Phelps

sitarist

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Batch 5, bottled Jan 2011.

Pours a deep brown color, with hints of purple. 1/4" coral colored head falls quickly to a light top coating. Leaves rings, and webs of lacing that slide back in to the drink.

Wow, its aroma is not what I was expecting. An olfactory orgy is going on in my brain. I honestly do not know how to begin defining this beer. Im not saying its vinous, but Ive had $150 a bottle Cabernet Sauvignon, this is as balanced, and as complex. I smell some oak, but not much if any bourbon, cherries, light smoke, grapes, chocolate, white & green peppercorns, horehound, a little bit of earthy funk, etc... Artfully balanced.

Its flavors fall in line, and are even better. Just like its nose; I taste oak, but not much bourbon, cherries, vanilla, the peppercorns, grapes.... Amazing balance between tart, and sweet.

Mouthfeel suits itself well, it has a Medium body, with light fizzy carbonation. It has a pleasant medium, dry finish. Light body for a winter warmer, but perfect for its flavors.

What a pleasant surprise this beer was. I was expecting a heavy sipper, instead I found a perfectly balanced beer. Not sure how this brew was fresh, but with almost two years on it, its doing pretty dam good! Do beware, alcohol is hidden very well.

ISO more!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 04:56:33 | More by sitarist

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark black with just a hint of brown and a finger of frothy khaki colored head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted caramel and chocolate malts, vanilla, oak, Bourbon, berries, dark fruit, a touch of spices, and some booze.

T - Starts off with some caramel and chocolate malts with some vanilla, dark fruit, and berries. Through the middle, the oak and Bourbon come through alongside some more berries and dark fruit and a touch of spices. The finish is a mix of sweet dark fruits and berries, vanilla, oak, Bourbon, caramel malts, a bit of spices, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. The bourbon adds some nice complexity around a bit malty base beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 07:27:07 | More by ngeunit1

mdfb79

New York

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought this about 3 years ago and have been holding onto it since. Have had this once or twice at NOTB/EBF up in Boston over the years, but now reviewing it for the first time. This is batch 3, which was released December 2008, so it is a month shy of four years old. Poured from a 750ml bottle into my Bruery tulip.

a - Pours a very dark brown color with a slight reddish tint, light carbonation evident, and two inches of light tan head that leaves quickly.

s - Smells of bourbon, apple, dark fruits, light spice, roasted malts, sweet dark fruits, light tart dark fruits, oak, and light vanilla. A nice mix of dark fruits and bourbon, and the bourbon is definitely not overpowering.

t - Tastes of bourbon, sweet dark fruits, molasses, licorice, oak, roasted malts, toasted malts, slight twinge of sour fruits, figs, and raisins. Very nice again.

m - Light to medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Body is a little bit lighter than I
was expecting, and not hot at all.

o - Overall a really nice beer that seems to have held up pretty well. Not hot at all, but there is nice bourbon and sweet dark fruits throughout it. Worth checking out, and ages well.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 01:44:08 | More by mdfb79

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

***Batch 5***

Thanks to Masterski for this one.

Poured from a 1 pint 9 fl oz. bottle and split with my wife.

Appearance: Pours a thick dark body with a good 3 fingers worth of creamy head that likes to coat the sides.

Smell: Sharp, tart berries mixed with bourbon. Pretty straightforward.

Taste: Real nice blend of berries and bourbon with some vanilla notes floating around. Never veers too tart or too boozy. Nice aftertaste of oak.

Mouthfeel: Very low carbonation with a nice long feel.

Overall: A different and tasty ale that we both enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 12:02:02 | More by papat444

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.8/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a CCB snifter. Batch 3. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - No real head. Some bubbles on the surface. Ring around the edge and some lace.

Smell - Wow, it smells tart, which I didn't see coming. Vinous, almost infected. Vanilla and red wine notes.

Taste - Hardly tart at all here. Vinous, at most. More bourbon. Dry with red wine and some astringency. Interesting. Vanilla comes through with a distinct Belgian yeast and candi sugar flavor. A little bit, at least.

Mouthfeel - Dry, vinous, and just a touch tart. Medium carbonation. Medium body, despite being quite dry.

Overall - Very interesting. I'm surprised by the vinous aspects, despite what the label told me. More bourbon would be nice, but it's a fascinating beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:08:48 | More by Alieniloquium

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not sure on year? Batch 5. Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a 8 oz snifter.

A- pours a dark brown with a 1 finger tan head. Big walls and leopard spotting of lacing remain on the glass.

S- dark fruits, oak, bourbon, slight roast or chocolate.

T- chocolate, slightly sour dark fruits, vinous, tannins, big oak flavor and bourbon.

M- medium body and carbonation. Effervescent with a dry finish.

O- very enjoyable beer. Does not drink like a 12% beer and has lots of vinous notes. Edelberries give nice dark fruit notes and has a slight sourness to it as well but works in this case.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 02:28:15 | More by kawilliams81

homebrew311

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: appears like dark cola with almost no head, no lacing to note

S: waves of berries come through with hints of vanilla, leather and oak among other earthy notes

T: starts very sweet with dark fruit and becomes somewhat acidic and tart, some cloying sweetness in there, bourbon comes through at the end along with a considerable amount of anise

MF: minimal carbonation, very sticky body

O: this certainly doesn't lack flavor, it is very intense and is in your face with sweetness

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 07:19:29 | More by homebrew311

billab914

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage poured from a 750ml bottle into my Lost Abbey stemware. It poured brown with a bit of a ruby tint to it. A thin but frothy head barely covers the top of the beer. Decent lacing as I drank it.

The fruity elderberries are very apparent in the aroma. There is a good amount of brown sugar, vanilla and bourbon to it as well. The fruitiness has a bit of a tart, slightly sharp presence to it. The elderberries work very well in it.

The taste also shows a lot of the tart, fruity elderberries. The bourbon is a little more reserved but it does give it some nice brown sugar and oak flavors. It's got a little bit of a red wine quality to it in the finish that I'm really liking. The tartness of the fruits give it some nice balance as well.

The mouthfeel is full bodied with carbonation being a little above average for the style. The carbonation fits pretty well with the tart fruits. Overall I thought it was a very nice beer to sip on this evening. It had a lot of flavors to it but managed to bring them together pretty well. The tart elderberries worked well with the sweeter malts and bourbon. Very nice beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 22:29:57 | More by billab914

b3shine

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle to snifter. Thanks to ksurkin for this one! This is not your father's winter warmer! Looks good; dark and deep. Smells good too; the bourbon is present, but it smells tart like a sour (probably from the elderberries). Tastes great, but it's a sour, not a belgian strong dark. IMO, they're doing the beer a disservice by marketing it as a winter warmer - it's a damn good sour! Mouthfeel is good too, although not what I expected when I read the description on the bottle. Sour qualities subdue the high abv nicely. Overall, a real treat of a beer that I hope to come across again!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 21:12:49 | More by b3shine

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I think Deuane brought this one for us to try. Batch 5.

A - Pours dark brown with a small half finger tall off-white head leaving spotty lace down the glass.

S - Smells of elderberry's dominate the nose initially slowly giving way to hints of wet oak, dark fruits, toffee, and some light spice. Not much booze initially but it grows as it warms up.

T - Starts off with a bright berry twang slowly giving way to hints of raisins, toffee, oak, vanilla and warm bourbon. This one has a lot going on at once, leaving you guessing what is going to come through next. Finish is pretty dry, lingering for some time.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Smooth feel initially getting a tad watery toward the end, finish is pretty dry.

O - This one was pretty good. It had plenty of flavor, which was both a good and bad thing. I liked some of the older vintages I have had more but this one was still pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 00:30:57 | More by orangesol

kscaldef

Oregon

2.08/5  rDev -49.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Batch 5. poured a murky red-brown. During the pour, there's a nice whisky aroma. In the glass, the elderberry dominates. The taste just off, sour in a nasty way, more like rotten fruit than any sort of pleasant tartness which might be expected from the berries. We gave this a decent try to see if it would get better, but in the end just couldn't drink it.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 02:44:29 | More by kscaldef

mltobin

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on draft in Westchester NY.

Appearance is a deep, ruby brown with a frothy tan head. Its` nose has raisins, toffee, elderberries, a nice smell. Taking a sip of this big beer and I taste some bourbon, caramel, some more berries. All of it blended well together and it was not overpowering. MF is what I would consider full bodied, the carbonation is soft. This is a great beer for a cold night or to enjoy anytime you want a rich, slow sipping brew.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2011 02:39:01 | More by mltobin

Boto

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle (batch 4): This one pours an opaque, ruby tinged brown color. There was almost no head and left no lacing. Nice nose. There is a heavy, fruity aroma to it: that must be the elderberries. Also some faint hints of oak and bourbon. Interesting taste. Elderberries, with a bit of sourness. A fairly full malt bodied in the background. Hint of bitterness and chocolate in the background. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 21:32:31 | More by Boto

bbeane

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Poured into an oversized snifter... Starts with a finger thick light brown head with ok retention and leaves some spotted lacing. Beer is dark in color turning shade of red when held up to the light

S- Mostly the fruity sweetness of the elderberries coming through followed by an oaky aroma

T- Has a sour flavor that is evident from start to finish, combined with a dry oaky taste, and maybe a tinge of coffee flavor. I honestly don't get much bourbon flavor, though there is a hint of boozy heat in the finish

M- Pretty thin, lightly carbonated

O- All in all, not that impressed. Sounded like a great idea on the label but didn't really think the flavors meshed well... Just my .02

CHEERS

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 02:51:20 | More by bbeane

Durge

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A pitch black colored brew with a healthy tan froth on top and plenty of lacing. The aroma is full of tart berries and mild bourbon with a touch of medicinal malt. Very nice. The flavor brings an elderberry wine with bitter rhubarb and a mild charcoal oak edge. Very tasty and warming. It’s medium bodied with a somewhat thin feel. Carbonation is subtle but adequate. Very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 04:34:01 | More by Durge

DrewZ926

New York

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Deep brown shading on black with an inch of hazelnut head

S- Really deep woody smells, a whiff of bourbon, slight tartness, and some banana and clove

T- Cooling bourbon undertones, sweet roasted caramel malt, millk chocolate, a hint of some tart lemon and elderberry, finishes with vanilla and oak.

M- Warming and coating, all I could ask for out of a BSDA. A drop thinner than expected however.

O- Exceeded my expectations, the bourbon barrels did this one well. Great for a cold winter. Very complex body and evolving, lasting flavor

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 01:33:44 | More by DrewZ926

mulder1010

Australia

3.6/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Forgetfu for the bottle

Poured into a Lost Abbey Tulip

A-- Poured a clear, nearly opaque dark brown. One finger to half finger of light brown head. Good head retention and good lacing associated with this as drinking. Lots of spotty lacing.

S-- Did not expect tartness to this at all. Quite odd. Little bit of a sour/ tart smell to this. A bit like a sweet tart. Elderberry evident off the bat and in the back of the nose get touches of bourbon. Grape and bubble gum in the nose as well.

T-- More sour and tartness. Grape, bubblegum, oak, bits of bourbon in the back but very soft. Thought a La Chouffe but a sour version of it. Interesting.

M-- Light and bubbly, has a very clean, crisp and dry finish to this. Medium feel and medium carbonation. Pretty easy to drink really. Once got over the tart smell and taste a pretty easy beer to drink. Alcohol well hidden.

O-- Not what I expected but good. Well hidden 12% beer. Rich and full but light. Am guessing the triple fermentation to that. Touches of grape and bourbon make this quite interesting to me.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 13:44:37 | More by mulder1010

CruisaC

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch #5. Poured from 750ml bottle into my DFH glass

Pours a dark, nearly opaque brown with an inch of mocha head.

Smells tart, in a good way, and a surprising first wave given the color. A little bit of bourbon works its way in as well

Tastes of the same. I'm primarily getting a bit of tart berry rounded out by the bourbon. To me it's similar of Dominique in that way but a little less bourbon forward.

A bit creamy initially but finishes dry and tart

Overall tasty, not sure I think BSDA first when I taste this. Not much sweetness or raisins. Very good both times I've had this, both on tap and out of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 23:30:21 | More by CruisaC