Nor' Easter - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

route66pubs

California

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to torps for the trade. Tasting batch no 4.

Pours a deep black with the slightest purple tint to it, with a nice brown head that subsides after the pour. Some head retention with tiny bubbles sticking to the sides of the glass, but mostly it dissolves well.

Some grape-like, very fruity aromas in the immediate forefront of the nose upon the first smell. If I did not know what elderberries smelled like, I would never know after smelling this beer, but that fruity grape (not to be confused with grapefruit) is certainly it. Sweet chocolate aromas soon follow. This beer claims to have finished aging in bourbon barrels, but there is no hint of this in the aroma at all. Very, very delicious smell.

This is just an amazingly, intensely, flavorful beer from the get-go. Elderberry is certainly there at the front, with a thick, rich, sweet flavor pushing past all of its counterparts. (Aging should pull this back nicely which makes me want to get another bottle!) Some sweet chocolate from the aroma follows, along with maybe a tannic tobacco, almost like a good Pinot Noir might give off. Hints of bourbon are there, most in the mouthfeel than the actual taste, but definitely there.

As mentioned, the bourbon comes through in the mouthfeel, primarily with an alcohol burn that is unforgettable and unmistakable. It's a bit of a distraction, though, but again, aging this would certainly ease that back quite a bit, thus my score will give an extra half point more than I would have for that cellar-able quality. Otherwise, this a smooth, lightly carbonated wonderful experience in the mouth, leaving just a hint of dryness (tannic tobacco again?) which clamors for more exposure.

Small marks off for drinkability only for that alcohol burn. As much as I love bourbon flavor and bourbon aroma, the burn that many bourbon barrel aged beers have as a result just leaves me wondering why I like them fresh. This again follows suit, but again leaves me wanting to get some age on here. Elderberries are not something I enjoy a lot of either, but they work extremely well with this beer in my opinion, and provide for a raised drinkability quotient and an overall enjoyable experience.

Definitely something worth coming back to for me. A very enjoyable beer that I would love to experience with the right food (a vibrant goat cheese comes to mind!) and right people!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 03:48:51 | More by route66pubs

jkane101

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-15-2013 00:53:57 | More by jkane101

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

Rhettroactive

Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -33.1%

03-07-2013 03:04:28 | More by Rhettroactive

jjheinrichs

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

02-26-2013 19:35:02 | More by jjheinrichs

thebigredone

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%

02-25-2013 17:33:41 | More by thebigredone

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%

02-25-2013 01:05:58 | More by rolltide8425

jbuddle

New York

3.25/5  rDev -20.9%

02-20-2013 17:45:15 | More by jbuddle

st9647v3

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.7%

02-10-2013 03:08:17 | More by st9647v3

vande

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

02-09-2013 22:55:11 | More by vande

ipc2000

New York

4/5  rDev -2.7%

02-09-2013 04:29:50 | More by ipc2000

nh2032

New York

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

02-09-2013 02:20:07 | More by nh2032

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

afksports

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

01-22-2013 16:06:56 | More by afksports

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -2.7%

01-18-2013 01:49:00 | More by yourefragile

Archemedies

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

01-13-2013 19:53:49 | More by Archemedies

GFD400

New York

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%

01-12-2013 22:36:35 | More by GFD400

vonnegut21

New York

4/5  rDev -2.7%

01-10-2013 14:58:25 | More by vonnegut21

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

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.7%

01-05-2013 17:11:00 | More by oldp0rt

dtx00

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

12-30-2012 20:01:58 | More by dtx00

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