Captain Lawrence Cuvee de Castleton

Brewed by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale
Pleasantville, New York USA

Aroma is very lactic and sour. Lots of lemon and some bitterness. Pours hazy, piss colored. Taste is slightly bitter, very subdued, lemony and well-balanced. Finishes kind of dull and not nearly as sour as I would expect. Dull, grapey flavor, lemon, sour and subdued and oaky. Nice, but not overwhelming. Complex, but not as world-class as I would think by the ratings. I think the understated nature of this beer is what is getting people. Has a load of complexity, grapes, sourness, oak, everything. It’s growing on me.

Bottle from the brewery on the release day. It smelled incredible, so much going on, it was wonderful, definite sour smell, the taste is fruity but tart with some spice and a lot going on. I don’t really know much about sour ales and probably wouldn’t buy this again or drink again by choice but it is an incredibly complex beer that I would love to try again once I’ve learned more about sours.

Bottle, batch 2 sampled the day of the release. Pours a cloudy light orange with a fizzy white head (careful when opening!). Aroma of tart sour fruits (apple, pear), oak/barrel, and some grapey wine notes, especially as the beer warms. Flavor of sweet tart oak, same fruits as in the aroma. I have to admit that I haven’t been impressed with some of Captain Lawrence’s special release beers, but thankfully this beer lived up to its reputation and more! An awesome sour, super drinkable, very complex and interesting. Excellent and well crafted.

Update 7/27/2009. Batch 3. Aroma is super lemony and citrus, perhaps there are some grapes in there too. Flavor is funky and sour upfront with a wheaty finish. Not as fruity as the aroma (although still fruity). Very drinkable as well. Very very similar to Batch 2 I think.

batch 3 bottle the same stellar beer! wonderful aroma that has a little less of the sweet grape but more funk and sourness. leans a little more dry but waters the mouth with amazing flavors. still fantastic for me and the carbonation is spot on.

750 bottle batch#2 picked up fresh today at the release. poured a slightly hazed yellow golden color with small bubbles of light carbonation when swished in the glass. aroma has plenty of horse blanket, sour white grapes, underlying citrus peels, dry white wine, and a touch of wood and wine from the barrels. simply unbelievable what the wood and brett does to this one. mouth feel is smooth and light with just enough carbonation to push it across. flavor shows off the white grapes up against the sourness from the brett, oak lies in the background, light spices, horse blanket, touch of citrus, and an almost creamy richness. this pulls the taste in so many directions, sweet, sour, and dry. finish goes dry with a lingering white grape and sour punch. this is so well balanced and drinkable. i have to admit i drank the first bottle of the four all to myself.

Bottle, Batch 2 fresh from the brewery. Aroma of sour green grapes, horseblanket funk (distinct yet relaxed and pleasant), liquoricy funk, lemon/pineapple. Flavor definitely retains those tart grapes and has some interesting tart herbal qualities. Unbelievably drinkable, fairly laid back carbonation after the pour, little to no vinegary aspects, clean finish. An absolute pleasure.

Bought four bottles at the brewery today! Pours a translucent yellow/cream colour with a wispy white head that leaves minimal lacing. The nose ruminates from the glass, leding to impressions of horseblanket, sharp citrus, sour white grapes, ultra-funky Brettanomyces, wood and acetic acid. The flavour is sharp, tart and funky, with some residual bitterness in the finish. Notes of lemon, barnyard funk, tart grapes, cardamom? and loads of Brett yeast. The sourness is less harsh than the Cantillion classic Gueuze, making it far more drinkable than many Belgian examples. There is a creaminess to the palate, which nicely counters the sharp, sour flavours. It is softly, yet amply carbonated. Another magnificent brew from a great brewery.

I love sours and this was a good one that was funky yet had that nice sour taste to it and tart,it poured a nice yellowish color and was smooth in the finish very enjoyable.CHEERS!

Bottle, thx Omhper! Lemon-yellow colour. Bright carbonation. Sharp tartness. The sourness in this beer rivals that of many Belgians. Once again, top notch - thx Omhper for getting your hands on gems like this (and sharing them !).