Imperial Smoked Porter - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

jrallen34

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

650 counter pressurized bottle from BierKraft, another huge thanks to hoppy...A dark black pour with about four fingers of head, falls pretty quickly. The head is a bright light tan, ok lacing...A super strong aroma of salty bacon and smoke, its awesome...The taste is equally amazing, the salted pork comes through strongly with smoke, but what sets this apart is the complexity brought about by the addition of some sweet chocolate, which just takes this too a whole new level. Unreal smooth chocolately finish. An unreal feel and super easy to drink.

I really hate to throw this term around, but this beer is almost perfect in every way. Get this beer.

Serving type: growler

11-11-2010 02:44:58 | More by jrallen34

aerozeppl

New York

3.78/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The new base for the SFTO

A: Very black color. By very black I mean this thing let no light into it at all. A little bit of brownish head.

S: The beer smells like a rauch. Tons of smoke and even a little bit of the elusive bacon. More smoke. A little bit of chocolate but the smoke really dominated this one.

T: Smoke. See what I am getting at. Astringent. Little bit of chocolate. Smoke. Smoke. It was enjoyable but this is a smokey beer.

M: Medium body. Thinner than I would have thought. The carbonation was light.

D: Really different. This is going to be the new base for the SFTO so I do not know if this will be available as a regular beer. As a smoked porter it kind of falls. Too over the top. Now as the base for a barrel aged beer I am exited. This has enough smoke to keep some of the bad bugs at bay. I found it hard to get through a snifter by myself. Throw this in a wine/rum/bourbon/brandy barrel for a while and that will fix itself.

Serving type: growler

10-01-2010 23:38:52 | More by aerozeppl

billyshears

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: Black with dark tan head
s: Initial heavy smoke, dark malts and roast, chocolate.
t: Totally delicious and rich, but not overpowering, smoked malt, followed by a sweet, almost berry-like flavor and chocolate as it warms up (reminds me a bit of Hunahpu's chocolate profile).
m: Creamy and smooth with low carbonation that's just right.
d: Goes down really easily and alcohol is quite well hidden.

Terrific. One of the Captain's best and one of the best porters I've had. Scott is really stepping it up now.

Serving type: growler

10-01-2010 01:28:02 | More by billyshears

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Growler from DeCicco's into a Duvel tulip.

A: Black body with reddish-brown highlights and a finger of creamy brown head; decent retention and nice delicate lace. Very impressive, especially from a growler.

S: Rich smoke and sweet malts. It's straightforward, one-dimensional, and great.

T: Starts with nice, bacony campfire smoke, and quickly broadens into a tapestry of beautifully complex malt notes - caramel, toffee, chocolate, and coffee. The bitter coffee joins with booze and maybe even a bit of hops on the remarkably clean finish. The aftertaste is a bit too boozy for me, but that's the only fault to be found. Very, very tasty.

M: Substantial medium body with fairly low, but very smooth, carbonation. Lovely for the style.

D: As great as this is, I'm glad I had help with the growler.

Notes: Yet another great beer from one of my favorite breweries. I wish they would make this a regular offering, as I enjoyed it far, far more than their regular smoked porter - so much more depth and complexity. I'd love to try it side-by-side with Alaskan Smoked Porter - it would be a close battle, and I'm not sure who would win. I think the CL has a slight edge flavor-wise, but the Alaskan beer is eminently smooth and drinkable. It would be a good night of drinking.

Cheers!

Serving type: growler

09-24-2010 03:27:35 | More by woosterbill

afksports

New York

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

Fortunately, this beer has done me well. No life crises induced, no depressing beer fanatic moments, just some solid taste that makes me smile. I got it in a growler from Bierkraft in Brooklyn and poured into a pint glass. As the guy described it: "Man, the smoke in there is like a football field was filled with tires set on fire and then all at once put out... then they trapped that smoke and put it in this beer". So... yeah, it's bad ass.

Appearance: Dark and rich, very portly. (I have a small vocabulary). Rich lacing.

Smell: Smoke. And ... barbeque? I'm a vegetarian and eating, er, drinking this beer makes me feel like I've sinned.

Taste: Along the same lines. Sinful. There's a rich and creamy sweetness to it, plus meatiness, and some pleasant hints of chocolate and other good stuff.

Mouthfeel: Total.

Drinkability: High. And not overdone with alcohol, so you don't feel like you should apologize after drinking it (although maybe you should).

11/3/2010 Update: After having this a second time, it might be too smoky for me. I like barbeque, but this is like sitting inside of one.

Serving type: growler

09-18-2010 23:18:58 | More by afksports

koopa

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler purchased at DeCicco's.

Appearance: Pours super dark brown to black with a 1 finger dull khaki crown that displays moderate retention and lace.

Smell: Lots of smoked oak, black strap molasses, not quite bacon like but a hint of umami is present.

Taste: Dark roasted malt note up front that also bares a hint of bitterness along with a strong smoke punch. Now I'm not saying this is hitting Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock proportions (it isn't) but the smoke is defintely present. Smoke note finishes fairly long.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of heavy bodied with moderate carbonation. Fairly slick.

Drinkability: The mouthfeel isn't a huge hurdle but I couldn't drink this all night long either.

Serving type: growler

09-14-2010 22:34:56 | More by koopa

cosmicevan

New York

4.72/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

32oz growler > tulip glass.

A - Silky shiny black with a thin mocha head with sticky lacing.

S - Campfire. I've never smelled a beer that had such a deep smokey smell. Really fantastic. Also malty, a bit chocolatey and creamy with a touch of licorice or gummy bear. Overall though...smoky campfire!

T - The smoke is at the forefront. Chocolatey roasted malts. Very rich in flavor. Alc is pretty well hidden, except for the tingle in my mouth.

M - Alc bite although absent in the taste...is there in feel, but overall the smokiness dominates everything about this beer. Pretty silky as it goes down.

D - Possibly the best Capt Lawrence beer I've ever had and probably the best porter I've ever had as well. That being said, it is a really rich and thick beer as well which makes this one not big for volume drinking.

Serving type: growler

09-12-2010 01:39:16 | More by cosmicevan

Manoftyr

New York

4.78/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 64oz growler into 22oz snifter.

Appearance-This is the blackest porter I've ever seen right off the bat and it pours with that slick motor oil consistency I usually associate with an RIS. A small head rises but quickly bubbles away.

Aroma-Smoke upfront of an almost peaty variety but it's by no means overwhelming, coffee and caramel undertones with a clean roastiness. No alcohol that I can smell.

Taste-Dark chocolatey malts upfront followed quickly by roasty, peaty smoke, as a reviewer before me put it this 'isn't bacon smoke' but has far more in common with the kind of smokiness you find in a peaty Scotch. Some coffee notes as well but they're an undercurrent, the big players are the chocolaty malts and the smoke which last clean and straight forward all the way to the end. After the finish the smoke leaves a nice smokey aftertaste, again, like a good peaty Scotch. Amazing, just jaw droppingly awesome.

Mouthfeel-Rich, syrupy, almost chewy with low carbonation; a perfect blanket for the peaty smoke.

Drinkability-Zero alcohol presence plus additively sip-inducing flavors make this dangerous on the drinkability scale.

Notes-Captain Lawrence was under the radar for me for awhile, none of their brews ever really 'wowed' me...until now. This beer is amazing a peat-lover and a dark malt lover's dream beer.

Serving type: growler

09-10-2010 22:34:09 | More by Manoftyr

pmlondrigan

New York

4/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Black as night with a one finger light tan head that receeds to a small ring. Tiny little specs of lacing. Aroma is really heavy on the vanilla and chocolate, oats or oatmeal, there is a little alocohol mixed in there too. This beer tastes rich and heavy. Strong roasted and toasted flavors with heavy chocolate, vanilla, and oatmeal flavors and tones. Some rich over ripe berry fruit flavors too. Coats your mouth on all sides with its thick and luxurious texture. Although this beer is fantastic it is a little powerful to garner a high drinkability score, but its pretty tasty.

Serving type: growler

09-05-2010 03:18:31 | More by pmlondrigan

cavedave

New York

4.38/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler from DeCicco's. Into a long stemmed tulip.

Pours a deepest dark brown, opaque, topped by a one finger head which fights the good fight, but ends up as a skim, then finally to a bare cap and thin ring, atop this thick looking beauty.

Not a strong smell, but full of dark fruit, smoky roast malt, dark caramel, hints of tart yeast, and some other sweet aromas hard to define.

Full flavored, and once this baby opens up it is a feast for the palate. It starts tart and sweet, almost vinous, but the malt and smoke kick in, some really nice yeast balances it with tart. Dark fruits come into the sip, plum, ripe cherry, some figgy flavor kicks in, some coffee, the smoke just carries it, never overpowering like in some rauchbiers, finally ending in a juicy finish that is the sweet of the fruit, the drying flavor of the smoke, spicy yet subdued alcohol, along with hints of floral, earth, and herbal bitter. As it warms this becomes a pleasure that is rare, a delicious taste unlike any others I've tried. What a shame this is listed as a porter, it should have its own category.

Mouthfeel is just short of stoutlike, highly viscous, very low carb., and a superior and complex finish.

Drinkability is dangerously good. Besides for the lack of alcohol presence, the flavors beg for another sip.

Impression: Get this if you can, absolutely stellar work by the HudVal's other great brewer.

Serving type: growler

09-04-2010 18:35:14 | More by cavedave

dasenebler

Maine

4.68/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Growler (small bottle) filled at DeCicco's. 12 percent ABV.

Dark, voluptuous, opaque black with a tight, but lasting creamy tan head.

The nose has a rich, earthy smokiness reminiscent of old fireplaces and slow-cooking bacon. Bit of dark, ripe fruit. Exceptional.

The flavor is awesome as well. Sharp smokiness a la Schlenkerla mixes with chocolate and molasses, creating a delicious marriage of styles. Not so much coffee or roast as peaty, smokey notes. Surprising amount of fig and prune, too. Thick mouthfeel with smooth, low carbonation. I could taste the alcohol but would never have guessed it to be 12 percent. Quite the beer.

This is one of the most delicious smoked beers out there. Gotta love the Rauch!

Serving type: growler

09-03-2010 04:11:00 | More by dasenebler

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'm going to have to follow in line with Billolick on this one. I think his review is spot on. I picked this bad boy up as a 22oz. counter-pressure filled bomber at Bierkraft in Brooklyn. Poured into a Trois Pistoles goblet.

A: Dark brown teetering on black with a fine looking 2-finger beige head.

S: Smoked wood, molasses, and oak barrel. This beer smells fresh.

T: Starts with a mellowed-out oaky flavor that turns into a dark chocolate bliss and has a smoky finish.

M: Liquid gold. As smooth as can be with the perfect amount of carbonation. This beer has the perfect amount of body too.

D: 12%?! I think not. Nevertheless, this is also not a filling beer as I find most smoked porters are.

Overall, I can't wait until this comes out in bottles! Cheers Scott!

Serving type: growler

08-17-2010 02:48:02 | More by hoppymcgee

Billolick

New York

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16 ounce "Growler" filled at DeCiccos in Ardsley, NY. An always welcome new one from the captain. Pours black, under a dark mocha head, that is dense and lasting. Turns to a thick tiny bubble film, collar and leaves plentiful fine bits of lacing. Rich smoky nose, with some undertones of dark chocolate. Thick and viscous brew, allowed to warm up quite a bit, this one is loaded with chocolate, bacon infused smoke, rich dark/roasty/burnt malts, espresso, ripe dark fruits. Dark mocha/dark chocolate beer shake. Simply yummy stuff. Hoppy and drying in the finish, all through the mouth and down the throat. Enjoy with some smoky BBQ or as a desert beer with a chocolate after feast treat. Great new one from Scott V/CLB

Serving type: growler

08-03-2010 00:20:26 | More by Billolick

mltobin

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on draft in Westchester NY.

This is the base beer for CLs Smoke From the Oak series. It pours a near black color with two fingers of a light tan head. The nose on this imperial smoked porter begins with a smokey quality, no big surprise there. There is also some coffee with roasted malts. For the taste, more of the roasted malts, dark, a bit of chocolate presents itself. The smoke continues to make itself known, in a balanced manner. Its`s body is medium with a similar carbonation level. Another solid offering from the crew over at CL.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2011 02:52:52 | More by mltobin

DNICE555

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Lazy Boy Saloon. Owner is such a cool dude. He gives Jlynn a free pint of bluepoint blueberry and me a free la choufee tulip with my KBS to go in a bottle. Really knows his beer. Recommended me a Keedhan Ale Jo Mama's milk stout that was bangin. He also hand out a nice Brooklyn Bottle opener. On to the review. Poured into a 12 ounce glass.

A Black body with a nice brown head. This porter looks like me with my shirt off... BigTyme.

S Smoke, Roasted Oats, Sugar, Chocolate, smells like roasting marsh mellows around a campfire with a bowl of oatmeal.

T Smokey, chocolate covered roasted oats. Wow this flavor is intense. I haven't had many smokes porters besides the stone smoke porter. The smoke in this one blows the stone away. I feel like I'm hanging out by a bonfire with this one. Very interesting.

M Huge flavor profile. Overwhelms the palate in a good way. Very full bodied especially for a porter.

O Easy to drink for the huge smokey flavor and high abv. I was definitely feeling it after this one. CL has really gotten me interested in smoked porters. I'll have to see more out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 19:05:44 | More by DNICE555

jpoder

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a tulip at Bridge View Tavern, Sleepy Hollow, NY.

a: very dark with nice dense head that fell away within minutes

s: roasted grain, smoke

t: very nice. very very smokey (I would actually like it a bit better if it were not so heavily smokey, but I guess that's the point of this beer). complex dark fruit appearing in the background as it warms.

m: not too heavy, which was nice. well balanced

d: pretty good especially for such an in-your-face beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 13:49:15 | More by jpoder

jrbuch

New York

3.98/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Duvel Green tulip at Bridge View Tavern, Sleepy Hollow, NY.

A: Very Dark, 35+ SRM for sure with a nice coffee colored head.

S: Very smokey; A pretty dry toasty flavor. Not a very sweet nose.

T: Roasty with a good BU:GU ratio.

M: Carbonated to style. Not too heavy.

D: Roastiness and the high ABV do not make this a light drink. Smooth and heavy, great for cold weather.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 01:05:38 | More by jrbuch

drewd0g

New York

4.38/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another good one from CL. From what I understand this is the base for the SFTO beers (before the barrels) Appearance is nice and black with a couple fingers of head on it. Smell is super smokey, reminds me of a barbecue. The taste is phenomenal if you like smokey beers. Really really nice smokeyness in the nose and the mouth, lots of roasted malt. Mouthfeel is slightly creamy with a nice smokey aftertaste. This is a big beer but I consider it pretty drinkable, althow im sure a lot of people will consider this one a slow sipper. Very enjoyable

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2010 00:03:01 | More by drewd0g

SkunkWorks

New York

4/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

Had on tap at Mirabelle Tavern, Stony Brook NY on September 17. Served in a chalice.

Look: very dark brown, almost black (albeit kinda hard to tell because of the lighting in the place). Thin, dark head that leaves a lot of lacing.

Smell: kinda boozy. There's some woodiness, molasses and smoke.

Taste: roasted malt up front along with some smokiness and a little alcohol bite to it.

Feel: heavy bodied for a porter (if I was blind tasting this I would've thought "stout"). Carbonation was almost non-existent.

Drink: this is the weak point of the beer. The heavy body and bite of the alcohol makes this an impossible session beer.

Overall, it was fairly enjoyable and I'm glad I had it but I would probably not have again. Worth trying if it is available to you.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2010 05:46:32 | More by SkunkWorks