Captain Lawrence Captains Reserve

Brewed by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Pleasantville, New York USA

Bottle: This one pours a clear, golden yellow color. There was a bit of a white head to it, that dropped off fairly quickly and left minimal lacing. The aroma is pretty much all hops. Mainly grapefruit, with a hint of pine in the background. A bit light for an Imperial IPA. The taste is somewhat bitter, with some malts in the background. Medium bodied. I would classify this as an IPA, not an Imperial/Double IPA. Good when considered against other IPA’s, but it definitely pales when compared against other DIPA’s.

Hazy yellow with nice white head. Sweet aroma, hoppy. Malt comes in first but it’s an IPA so the hop bite is not far behind and make is presence known. Palate is full on the tongue. Nice beer.

I know I am rating this one really high, but it is such a nice thing to have an east coast DIPA taste this good. A really nice west coast version of an DIPA. taste is just what you’d expect, nice floral/citrus notes, not too "fat" of a taste and goes down unbelievably smooth. well done and i cant wait to take another sip.

In short: An archetypical American IPA. Perfect execution of a standard take on the style.
How: Bottle 500ml + tap. This rating for a pint on tap at The Diamond, Brooklyn NY
The look: Clear golden body topped by a small off-white head
In long: The hoppy nose is mainly citrusy with lighter notes of coniferous tress. Well malted body, round and nourishing, sweetness flavour is caramel and honey in equal amount, nothing sugary here. Hops bring a perfect balance. Citrusy hops with some floral, grapefruity and pine-tree notes. A light-medium resinous sensation. Highly drinkable, this is a 8% session IPA. This is a perfect example of American IPA. With IPAs like being brewed on the east coast we will soon not need the west-coast anymore. All they will have left are sunny beaches with provocative big-breasted women and the porn industry. … God we need the west coast.

THOUGHTS: This was my first captain Lawrence beer. It was well made, but not really much of a DIPA. It seemed more like a regular IPA. It would be a loverly IPA. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, light golden orange with a large, off-white head that kept a nice sheet and left excellent lacing at first and then soon became only fair. The aroma was light, grain, caramel and oddly enough a little chocolate; moderate to heavy pine, and lemon hops; lighter grapefruit and orange hops and an almost cat-pee-like hop note; and light alcohol. The initial flavor was sweet, lightly acidic and slightly bitter; while the finish was rather sweet, acidic and bitter with an average to long duration. There was orange, caramel malt, grapefruit, pine, a little lemon, some sort of mellon, a little alcohol and ever so slight chocolate. It did get a little cloying by the end. The medium to full body was a bit syrupy, but also somewhat oily and then a little dry with fizzy carbonation and a lightly alcoholic finish.

Cask (gravity) @ GBBF 09, Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England.
Clear medium to dark yellow orange color with a small to average, fizzy, fair lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, caramel, moderate to heavy hoppy, pine, spruce, grapefruit, orange, fruity, strawberry notes. Flavor is heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090804]

500 ml bottle courtesy of TheEpeeist. Thanks, Chris! My 1st of 10 new CL ratings waiting in my cellar. Pours a near clear fiery golden pour, a bit ambery orange, but gold dominant, layered, with eggshell white head of huge cakey proportions that laces well, stays large. Aromas are citrusy and florals, pushing more delicate lemon and grapefruit, flowers, some caramel and pale malts, a more mellow DIPA, but certainly inviting with it’s thick soapy head. A touch of tropical and pineapple intercede beneath, as a melange of fruits become apparent, perhaps a touch of soft melon. Initial is medium to lighter bodied, pushing citrusy and floral hops, mellow sweet fruits, and pale malts above thicker and sweeter caramel. Grainy and melon, a touch of soapiness, almost a bit of honey cereal malts. A lighter DIPA that packs on good bitterness and fruity diversity. Lighter, and not overly displaying hops like many other top tier DIPAs, but light, airy, drinkable, displaying it’s flavors in moderation, not just a hop bomb. Pine comes through, reminding me of gin with the citrus qualities complimenting it well. I enjoyed this quite a bit, only qualm might be a bit underbodied.. But I think given the uniqueness of this brew, it goes and dos exactly what it wants to.

Bottle from paulp: pours crystal vlear with a large mousey white head and beautiful lacing. Aroma is full of hops lots of pine and grassiness and a little bit of citrus some good malt sweetness sneeks in. Flavor is very nice a good honey like sweetness goes great with the piney grassy hops again with just a hint of citrus that also seems to add a little sweetness. Very good ipa glad to try it and have another one.