Golden Delicious - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

smakawhat

Maryland

4.51/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Much thanks to DaSolomon. Brandy barrels from one oldest US distiller? I call Lairds duh.

Minor gush off the pour, very bubble bath foam shocking white, but lots of retention. Extremely soapy but manages a thick 3 finger head. Body is a muted dark apricot and brown peach, a bit opaque with some good thin streams of carbonation, and a roaring middle column. Very nice looking, with an impressive aggressive head.

Nose has spicy apple and cinnamon, with some buttery oaky qualities. Real nice fruit sense to this which matches nicely with the Belgian character, going to pear and flesh white fruit. Got some good thickness to it, and a nice sweetness but not too much. Not boozy heat either.

The mouthfeel is exquisite, it's big thick and creamy which matches the nice sweetness. Lots of oaky tannic aftertaste, but there's classic buttery sweetness to match. Controlled heat and warmth with a nice control. Definitely big, but not overpowering. Some of the Belgian character and sweetness is a little slammed down, but it's expansive thick mouthfeeel provides lots of flavor exploration. Fruity, creamy, dense, heavily oak, nice combination.

The finish is just a bit too tannic and woody, but this is still very impressive taste wise glad I got to try it. I'd be curious if they used barrels that housed the real brandy or just ordinary Applejack. Either way it made a memorable tripel.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 03:13:39 | More by smakawhat

dogfishandi

New York

3.74/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml capped bottle at fridge temp poured into a snifter. No freshness info.

Pours out a slightly hazy golden color. Nice 1/4 inch or so of white head shows decent retention, decent lacing as well.

Smells really off at first, kind of like a vinious, oxidized concentrate apple/ grape juice. As it warms this diminishes a bit bringing out some nice caramely brandy booze notes and a bit of barrel. A bit of tart green apple comes in as it warms even further.

Concentrate apple juice with a bit of concentrate grape juice, a touch vinious, a bit of tart apple and brandy barrel. Carmel candy green apple. Still tastes a bit oxidized and old, however maybe not as much as the aroma suggested.

Crisp carbonation and just a touch dry, but there is some sweetness mid sip.

I was really planing on liking this beer a lot before I opened it, but it was a bit of a letdown. Most likely an older bottle. It would probably be great if it wasn't for all the oxidation type flavors, right its just topping out as good to OK. I'll have to seek out a fresher bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 16:42:41 | More by dogfishandi

joefuzz

New York

4.45/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours golden orange with a small off eggshell white head. Smells like a belgian triple should...candi sugar with bready malts. Tastes like apple pie! Absolutly amazing starts off as a classic belgian triple bananna, clove, belgian sugar and ends with a very nice apple brandy finish...really reminds me of liquid apple pie. Mouth feel has the high carbonation of a triple and a light mouthfeel with a semi dry finish. Overall amazing beer on this first warm night in front of a fire.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 01:48:26 | More by joefuzz

beagle826

New York

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Golden blond appearance, barely any head

S-Smells like autum harvest. Fantastic apple aroma

T-Great fresh fruity taste mixed with a really nice malt balance

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:58:00 | More by beagle826

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

I did get this bottle at the brewery. Either this is just a sub-par beer, or the bottle they sold me was past its prime. With no printed bottle date, it's hard to tell.

Poured a slightly hazy golden color, with a small white head that fizzled out pretty quickly; minimal to no lacing. Aroma was woody, toasted grains, pale malts, vaguely floral with a hint of peppery spice. Taste was pretty bland and uninteresting, woody like the aroma, fusel, boozy, floral notes, fruity esters and stale cinnamon sticks, but really nothing "apple" coming out in any significant way. Mouthfeel was pretty dry and on the metallic side, light-medium body, and moderate carbonation. Not a very good drinker, and a taster was more than enough of this one.

Bad bottle or bad beer? I don't know, but I'd like to try it again to be sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 08:02:34 | More by Rifugium

flagmantho

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 750mL bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: light golden-yellow hue with a light haze and a moderate effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy white foam which didn't stick around particularly long and left a little bit of lace on the glass. Not bad, but it's not particularly inspiring.

Smell: sweet malt with a rich apple aroma and a good, but not overdone, dose of herbal, aromatic hops. There's a hint of perfume here, but I think it's subtle enough that it helps rather than hurts. I like it.

Taste: sweet malt, apple, alcohol and, if you can believe it, pecans or possibly hazelnut. The malt and the alcohol together work to form this bizarre nuttiness. This could also be due to the barrel-aging: some tannins along with vanilla could create this same character. Bizarre -- but worthy.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a bodacious carbonation that I would not have guessed based upon apparent effervescence. Great creaminess -- shazam!

Overall: I like this beer. It might be a little bit on the outside of the tripel definition (barrel-aged Belgian Strong Ale maybe?), but I am enjoying it. It's definitely something to try again, albeit maybe a year or two down the road.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 17:40:18 | More by flagmantho

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy golden-orange color with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet malts, apples, Brandy, oak, Belgian yeast, coriander and other spices, lemon zest, and some booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet pale malts with some tart apples, lemon zest, some light spices and a bit of vanilla. Through the middle, the oak and Brandy come through with some more Belgian yeast flavors with some coriander and other spices. The finish is a mix of apple Brandy, oak, sweet malts, lemon zest, Belgian yeast, and some booze.

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

D - Very drinkable. The apple brandy goes really nicely with the big Tripel base.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 04:27:45 | More by ngeunit1

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another new one from a brewery I haven't tried nearly enough of. Courtesy of Msquared2, thank you!!

Appearance. Pours a hazy yellow gold with almost two fingers of frothy white head.

Smell. Sweet apples and a little spice, some fruity belgian yeast and light grains.

Taste. Fruity belgian yeast and golden apples, imagine that! A little light grainy malt and some fusel alcohol.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body with medium+ carbonation. A little astringent alcohol, but not all that hot considering the high abv.

Overall. The apple flavours go great with the style, but the alcohol taste wasn't very welcome. Glad to try it.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 03:26:25 | More by Rutager

Durge

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This unique brew is a cloudy yellow tan color with a fantastic creamy white head and blanketing lacing. The aroma brings a wild apple clove and flaky pie crust nuances. Very nice and intriguing. The flavor offers a definitive sweet clove and vegetable hop with a mild corn whisky vibe and orange caramel. There's a little alcohol but it blends well. Medium light bodied with a smooth but spritzy feel with balanced carbonation. Unusual but an enjoyable blend of apple and a trippel. Bravo!

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 05:28:48 | More by Durge

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

There's no vintage date on the bottle that I can find, but I believe this is from 2008 Batch 2 its in a green bottle, and thanks to McAllister for the opportunity.
Opened over the sink just in case. Pours a deep clear golden color with a decent white head that dissipates almost instantly. Smells of apple, oak tannins, vanilla, ethanol, sweet fruit, and light sugars. The flavor is a little hot There's lots of sweet fruitiness up front mixed with a bit of sweet brandy then a solid shot of alcohol and oak. Then we get some non descript spices and an earthy flavor. Yeasty esters and sweet light sugary malt fight against a lingering alcohol burn in the finish. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet hot mouthfeel. This is kind of a hodge-podge of flavors and its a bit hot even after a few years. That being said, I really enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 00:22:54 | More by johnnnniee

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle. Not sure of the date, but purchased at the brewery in July '12. Poured this one into an unmarked snifter.

A: Pours out a pretty clear light orange yellow color. Head is only a slight ring of bubbled white. Some lacing bits are left when you swirl. It's a pretty looking tripel.

S: Pulling that brandy barrel. Nice oak notes giving off some light vanilla. I think I am getting some of the apple sweet notes? Some Belgian yeast notes: peppery spice, breadiness. You also get a touch of hops.

T: Up front you actually get some hop bitterness. Must be from the Amarillo dry hopping. Then you start to get the barrel character: light vanilla, some wood, etc. Sweet apple goodness in the middle. Delicious for sure. More of the traditional tripel characteristics towards the back end. Sweet, dry finish.

M: Medium leading to full.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 13:51:37 | More by inlimbo77

rdilauro

Connecticut

2.88/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Almost from the time I opened this bottle, I knew I was not going to find it that appealing. So true,the bouquet to me was masked with aot of malt. It was hard to distinguish other attributes.

The taste was someone un-easy. Almost like an apple that just isnt right.

This type is just not my type of beer. I generally love anything that they make there.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 19:13:15 | More by rdilauro

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pale straw yellow with a small amount of white head.

S - Belgian yeast, apple cider, brandy, oak.

T - Lots of oak up front that is complimented by Belgian yeast, candy sugar, apple (faint) and bready malts. The alcohol is slightly noticeable.

M - Medium body, light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 01:11:00 | More by TheSevenDuffs

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-How could this not pour golden? Cloudy body. Head fizzles off to almost nothing. Minimal lacing.

S-Yikes the booze sets in quickly. Apple brandy. Light woodiness. Behind the unique characteristics is a Tripel. Pronounced yeast and liquor-soaked bread. Decent touch of honey as well.

T-Starts off pleasant. The apple brandy is very defined. Then the Tripel components kick in. Yeasty and spicy. Unfortunately, the booze sets in and melds with the brandy flavor to make a stinging artificial apple alcoholic finish.

M-The booze burns the tongue and leeches out all the moisture. Syrupy with a bit of carbonation. Body is not huge but its hefty enough. The apple brandy lingers for days.

O/D-The first few sips I enjoyed. The last few I really did not like very much. Too bold with the apple brandy flavor and quite boozy. Started off well then deteriorated quickly. I respect the effort to make something new and unusual.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 23:16:06 | More by VelvetExtract

bnewall3

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

App-Lighter than I expected from what the people at the brewery said. Golden Straw like color with a small white head, very appealing since I knew although it looked like a american light lager it wouldnt taste like one.
Aroma- Awesome, pure greatness. Apple brandy and slight yeasty bread with a hint of american hops
Mouth-Slight carb which I love and thin enough to make it easy drinking but full enough to prove its quality.
Taste-Well Rounded awesome apple taste, balanced with good malt and american hops. The base Xtra Gold is still there with a solid apple tartness. Kind of a sourness to it which makes the beer complex while still drinkable.
Overall- I just love it and everything Captain Lawrence has done thus far. There DIPA is one of the east coasts best if you ask me and this is the first apple brandy beer I've had and I cant see it being second to any other.

Side Note- Should def not be classified as a Triple, The base beer is an American Triple and this is and american sour aged beer. New category should be made lol if not switched cause ppl may get the wrong idea and not want to try this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 04:07:36 | More by bnewall3

merc7186

New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had ths beer poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

A: Golde Straw Hue, Passes Lots of Light, White Head, Some Lacing

S: Boozy, Mild Apples, Mild Yeast, Mildly Spicy

T: Apples, Buttery, Brandy, Boozy

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Boozy, Semi Cloying

Overall, it has a definite presence of apples and the brandy barrels but that 12% packs a lot of punch and is definitely there to let you know it packs a punch too. Glad to have tried but probably wouldn't revisit.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 03:21:50 | More by merc7186

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up at Captain Lawrence.

The beer is indeed golden colord with a thick whit head. The aroma offers yeast, light spice, malt, booze. Brandy emerges more in the flavor, as well as prominent apple and pears throughout. A bit hot in both the aroma and flavor. Oak character emerges more as the beer warms. Lingering alcoholic warmth with a touch of spices and yeast. Slightly sweet and fruity. Medium bodied with plenty of carbonation. Overall, this was a fun beer to try, but not among my favorites of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 02:57:15 | More by Huhzubendah

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours...both golden and delicious. There is a half inch of a fluffy white head that leaves behind some sticky lacing and a perpetual, thin white halo. The nose is slightly tart and boozy reminiscent of apples, but certainly not screaming apple pie. Almost no yeast detectable in the beer's nose. The taste is the same with a big hit of brandy followed by a dry apple finish. The mouthfeel is slightly buttery and tart, and it's definitely boozy, but still drinkable. Guaranteed to burn with a 12%abv, which is much more prevalent as the beer warms. Overall this beer was quite taste and different, but didn't win me over.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 01:56:56 | More by ThePorterSorter

davey101

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into a tulip. Long time want of mine, thanks for the trade OsNJCB! No idea on the age on this beer but I assume somewhat fresh.

A - Nice and clear amber body. Lots of rising carbonation. Initial pour yields a three finger high white head. Settles down to a neat cap with thick edging. Really tiny bubbles. Decent lacing with great retention. Has some alcoholic legs after swirling.

S - Huge Calvados presence. Tart and sweet apples, a layer of spice, oak and vanilla tannins. A bit of an earthy and lemon presence from the base beer, but it seems like the barrels are taking over here. Some burning alcohol. Smells like a barrel aged sweet apple liqueur.

T - Tart apples and some earthy spice followed by a large alcohol presence. Notes of oak, vanilla, hay and Belgian yeast. Rich butterscotch and caramel in the aftertaste. Mouth feel is silky, creamy and coating with a high level of carbonation.

O - Wow. This beer is out there. The rich butterscotch flavors in the aftertaste just plays so wonderfully off of the initial tart and sweet apple flavors. The spice and yeast from the base beer just adds to the complexity. Its boozy, but in the best way possible. Major props to Captain Lawrence for making such an interesting and unique beer. Crazy delicious.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 03:56:45 | More by davey101

danedelman

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-overflowed after opening. Seemed like it was an old bottle due to the dust on it and the sediment floaters and head. Laced nicely as I drank.

S-lemongrass and a bit of funk to it. Apples/pineapple/grapefruit are strong inthe smell. Great idea for this style.

T-same as the nose. zero booze for the 12%abv. Apple and pineapple are strong overpowering any signs of belgian yeast. Very tasty.

M-medium body and full of carbonation. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 01:39:32 | More by danedelman

brstls4drmrs

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-pours a golden blonde color that's partly cloudy. The head is small and white and good lacing occurs after the pour.

A-Lots of fruit such as apples, grapes, hints of pineapple, orange and a little lemon zest. Sme malt overtones along with some wood character as well. Little brandy in there but I had to really search for it.

T-like taking a bite off a fresh fruit of eclectic flavor. Just a bodacious fruit explosion in your palate. Gapes and apples there again with some hints of malt and honey. Slight hints of brandy too but not an overwhelming alcohol taste.

M-crisp and a little dry on the finish. But the brandy really sneaks up on the aftertaste with a nice fizz.

O-this is one nice brew. Would love to have more. The apple brandy is just a great combo with this style.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 02:06:26 | More by brstls4drmrs

scottfrie

California

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to codewarrior for this one! 750ml bottle split with friends.

A: Pours a hazy bright apple juice/apricot color with a short lived white head that faded into a fuzzy scum that left spotty lacing down the glass.
S: Sweet notes of fruit juice, boozy brandy and a little bit of honey. Smells like it sounds.
T: I get flavors of the juice from sweet golden fruits, honey, white grapes, brandy, green apples and a pretty crisp and clean apple finish. Brandy is warming in the aftertaste.
M: Fizzy but soft carbonation with big bubbles. Medium thick body. Greasy and slick mouthfeel. Warming alcohol, but for 12% this is very smooth.
O: I was a bit skeptical but I thought this was really well done. Crisp tripel flavors with an interesting apple brandy complexity. Sweet but drinkable. I would drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 16:40:41 | More by scottfrie

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a Lost Abbey tulip.

Pours a dense, hazy golden hue with a tinge of apricot. Translucent. Head is very effervescent and recedes with the quickness. Remaining lacy is spotty at best. Nose has a nice blast of apple with the traditional Belgian yeast associated with the style. While I'm not a fan of of Belgian beers even a little, this one is palatable, as the barrel characteristics are pretty dominant. The taste has a nice green apple kind of tartness to it, while simultneously having a caramel type of sweetness to it. This works well. The mouthfeel is a bit hot, but I like it. This has a genuine beer/alchohol hybrid feel to it. It's hard to tell what it is you're drinking at times, and I guess I enjoy that. There's a lingering tartness on this that just works so well. Overall, this is a damn fine beer. Especially since I hate Belgian style beers. Very pleasant surprise indeed.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 23:54:12 | More by Retail1LO

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle poured into tulip

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with some brighter yellow colors. A froth of bubbly white head slowly dissolves, leaving a couple patches of lacing on the glass.

Fairly boozy up front with a mix of apples and pears. Belgian yeast and a soft funk mixed with brandy sweetness and a hint of caramel. Oak and vanilla with warmth.

A kick of vanilla and booze up front, quickly softened by some fruity tones. The apple brandy is pretty prevalent, but really tasty as it combines with some lighter fruit flavor. Yeasty with some bready tones and very faint funkiness. Oak and vanilla creeps into the back end along with another dash of the apple brandy.

Fuller medium body, decent carbonation, sticky and coating on the tongue. I know this beer has some mixed reviews but I've always liked it, especially the somewhat aggressiveness of the apple brandy.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 01:20:04 | More by xnicknj

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into sampler.
Pours a hazy light golden with a good amount of head. It doesnt look very out of the ordinary.
The smell is fantastic. You really smell the apple, but its mixed well with bready belgian malts and yeast, and some nice floral hops.
Taste is also of belgian yeast and some slight hop notes. Apple isnt as in your face in the flavor as the aroma, but it is still there.
Its a bit "light" or mild, especially for a tripel and the alcohol is hidden extremely well. You would never know it was 12%!
Overall, really nice unique brew from a great brewer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-29-2012 13:51:49 | More by DrinkSlurm