Smoke From The Oak (Apple Brandy Imperial Version) - Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

smakawhat

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass at Smoke & Barrel. Batch 1, from notes.

Interesting hue here on the head. It's purple, with a light bit of tan, guess it's picking up that real nice hazy reddish brown body. Bit of a pour from the bottom of the bottle so it's got some yeast cloudy character, but it's still quite attractive on first glance.

For a barrel age, it doesn't come off particularly oaky for a bouquet. But the nose provides a mild bitter chocolate and sour berry tinge, almost crabapple sense, but it gets into under-ripe raspberry or some red berry, with some slight funk. Solid.

Palate is a strange mix of wet and creamy texture. A very light body for a barrel aged brew, with a mild sour bit of tart kick, and mellow milk bitter chocolate and sour cherries. The feel does provide even with the lightness a real good creamy texture surprisingly, the feel seems to be the best part. It's almost contradictory to how the flavors come out on the palate. I don't get much smoke off of this either.

Overall though, kind of mellow, simple, and alright. It's ok but I can't get a sense of style for what this is either.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 23:34:34 | More by smakawhat

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -1%

05-19-2013 00:11:38 | More by Photekut

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-15-2013 00:54:33 | More by jkane101

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-11-2013 22:24:24 | More by DIPAFAN

manutdfan

Florida

4/5  rDev -1%

02-26-2013 16:47:21 | More by manutdfan

dwoolley1

New York

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

01-26-2013 21:55:20 | More by dwoolley1

Florida9

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Batch 1

A: dark brown color. Fuzzy, frothy light tan colored head. No lacing.

S: apple brandy is the predominate aroma. Apple, tart green apple. Some dark malts, but not much.

T: More apple,light dark malts. And really nothing else.

M: over carbonated. Lighter medium body. No bitterness.

O: not very good and possibly infected. No smoke and no malts. The worst of the three.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 23:51:12 | More by Florida9

AlexFields

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -1%

12-28-2012 14:41:40 | More by AlexFields

SPRichard

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

12-24-2012 14:20:47 | More by SPRichard

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2010 vintage.

Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a two finger beige head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

The aroma of this beer is dominated by a heavy smoked malt presence that overpowers the brandy barrel character. I don't know if it's because they made this imperial, but the smoke presence is really strong and the apple brandy notes that are so pleasant in the regular version are almost undetectable. I'm a huge smoke head so I'm not going to complain too much but it would be nice to pick up some of the brandy. There is some toasted oak but the nose is overwhelmingly smokey with hints of campfire, charcoal, smoked meat, ash and burnt toast. Really nice but could use something else for balance, especially in a BA beer.

On the fuller end of medium bodied with a subtle brandy barrel character that is faintly integrated into the flavor of intensely smoked malts. There is a sweet calvados character that gives of vinous and green apple flavor but that is quickly countered by toasted oak and almost burnt malt. Pretty dry but never becomes acrid with luscious smoked malt and subtle chocolate cake sweetness. Hints of charcoal, barbecued bacon, burnt toast, liquid smoke and ash followed by oatmeal and dark chocolate sweetness. There is some nice brandy flavor but the high ABV is very well masked, and although this beer is pretty intense, I'm loving the peated, smokey flavor and find it very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 08:53:58 | More by corby112

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark black color with a finger of frothy chocolate-khaki colored head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some light lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted chocolate and dark caramel malts with lots of smoke, some vanilla, apple brandy, oak, coffee, dark fruit, black licorice, and some booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of chocolate and dark caramel malts, vanilla, apple brandy, and some black licorice. Through the middle, lots of smoke and some oak come through with some dark fruits and coffee. The finish is a mix of apple brandy, chocolate, oak, smoke, vanilla, black licorice, and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet, warming, and smokey finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice barrel aged imperial porter. The smoke is nice and the apple brandy is a nice addition.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 04:40:40 | More by ngeunit1

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

10-19-2012 19:23:56 | More by mendvicdog

kscaldef

Oregon

4/5  rDev -1%

07-02-2012 23:07:50 | More by kscaldef

Texasfan549

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

06-24-2012 11:59:57 | More by Texasfan549

BeerHunter76

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

06-22-2012 19:12:39 | More by BeerHunter76

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

06-22-2012 15:24:06 | More by kjkinsey

seeswo

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

06-15-2012 02:15:00 | More by seeswo

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-13-2012 23:59:43 | More by hoppymcgee

DovaliHops

California

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a lovely, dark black color with a medium-large tan head with a hint of red to it. Scent is SMOKEY as hell! Tons of smoke and BBQ-like aromas...it reminds me of the way this tri-tip smelled when I marinaded it in Shlenkerla. Lovely, with a bit of brandy and fruit-like characteristics as the beer warms up. Definitely some tart green apples. Taste is a bit off...or is it? I can't really decide yet. At first, it is quite tart...with some green apple flavor and booze. The smoke comes through in the middle, and being more mellow than the nose would imply (still VERY smokey). Nice BBQ beef flavors with some smoked malt and charcoal. Overall, very complex. VERY little brandy character...more Port-wine-like. Mouthfeel is full bodied and warming. Drinkability is actually pretty high. Overall, this beer has its ups and downs...making it very hard to rate it. It has some off-flavors that work to the beer's benefit at times. It's complexity is all over the place... I'll taste a dark sour beer, then I'll taste a rauchbier, then a smoked porter, then an imperial stout, then some pulled pork...it's crazy. I'm not saying this beer is top notch, but I would recommend every fan of craft beer to give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 05:24:10 | More by DovaliHops

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got all of these variants from STEG a while back. Thanks man!

From a 750ml into a snifter
Vintage: 2010

APPEARANCE: All the variants basically look the same. Pours our transparent brown and yields a small, medium looking, tan head with god retention. Head fades to a wisp and ring. Black, relatively transparent looking body with no carbonation evident. A ring remains until the end and leaves lots of lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Milder nose with some definite smoke, dark chocolate, oak notes, and booze. Definitely more enticing than the wine variant.

TASTE: Smoked malts up front with some dark chocolate and nice vanilla notes through the middle and a bit of booze at the swallow. A milder aftertaste lingers nicely with some smoked dark malts, oak flavors and vanilla as well. Brandy notes are there as well, but not overpowering.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Creamy enough on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes slightly dry. Alright here.

OVERALL: A decent beer for sure, but nothing worth writing home about. Not one you’ll remember I don’t think. Enjoyed the flavor here much more than the wine variant, though the rum treatment is the only one I’d actively ask for again. Thanks again for the trade STEG. This set was good times!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 20:33:27 | More by Jeffo

tfidler

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-17-2012 22:15:09 | More by tfidler

ehammond1

California

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle (2010, I think?)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, whartontallboy!

(Aged for 1+ year)

A big, thick, black stout. This pours without a lot of visible carbonation even after a fairly aggressive pour. It leaves the glass coated with an oily sheen.

The aroma is certainly smoke-forward with almost a pork-like character to it. There's a good amount of barrel character and a touch of vanilla once you can find something other than smoke. Per the style, it's very nice, though I'm not the biggest fan of smoked beers.

A very well integrated smoked/barreled beer. There's roasted malt character to be found underneath the smoke, wood, and slight boozy sweetness. Well rounded, moderately bitter, and very drinkable.

Medium bodied with low carbonation.

This beer is so big, expressive, and flavorful on its own, I think it would hold up nicely against some big assertive foods: funky cheeses, barbeque, or sweet chocolates.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 02:48:06 | More by ehammond1

nanobrew

California

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

03-07-2012 16:25:00 | More by nanobrew

brstls4drmrs

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks cosmicevan for this smokey brew.

A - Pours a flat, thin-like, dark coffee color with a thin, frothy snowflake on top. The froth has some brown/cinnamon tint to it and it disappears rather quickly. Lacing doesn't last long here at all.

S - Heavy on the bourbon & booze scents with hints of apple and just a splash of oak. There's also a small hint of a bacon fat scent in there too. Quite interesting.

T - Bourbon and some caramel in there as well. Could be some brown sugar too. Good mixture with some good balance.

M - Smooth with light carbonation. Almost no bitterness in there. Just silky smooth and goes down real easy.

O - A very tasty porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 03:02:54 | More by brstls4drmrs

tewaris

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Shared at a tasting by Sender. Thanks! Poured into a tasting snifter.

Had it immediately after the wine barrel version, perhaps that's the reason for this to seem mellow? The slightly lower smokiness was certainly better but I was not able to make sense of the other notes in the aroma, not one bit.

I was expecting something like Matt, but this was at a different level, softer but not nearly as delicious. Vanilla perhaps, and some booze. Muddled fruitiness riding on smoke was my overall impression.

4, 3.5, 4, 4, 3

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 19:32:22 | More by tewaris