Captain Lawrence Little Linda’s Liquid (Lixir)

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

Sampled December 2009
The beer is carbonated, but it has a hard time forming much of a head. A vigorous pour produces only a spotty, very large bubbled, pale colored head. The beer is a reddish, copper hue that shows a mostly clear, orange tinted, bright copper color when held up to the light. The aroma has a solid mustiness and sort of mushroom note to it as I am pouring it. When inspected more closely it shows a bright tartness that is as much, if not more, acetic in its bite than lactic. A fair amount of spicy, woody oak is noticeable and this accentuates a funky, woody mushroom note as well as a touch of over-ripe cheese character. There is a distinct note here in the nose that took me a while to recognize, but I think it is a fermented out raspberry, almost seed like aroma; the sweetness characteristic of raspberries is gone and instead there is that almost vegetal, spicy fruitiness and slight woodiness that makes raspberries so distinct. I like that the raspberries integrate so well within the nose, they play more of a supporting role and even add to the complexity.

A light carbonation adds some texture to this light, almost watery feeling beer. There is definitely an acetic edge to this beer, but a lactic acidity also plays a role; actually the flavor is a lot less tart than I was expecting based on the aroma. There is that characteristic, raspberry pit, spicy woodiness, perhaps a wisp of sweetness that plays up the fruit character. This has an oaky backbone to it that plays a definite supporting role without overwhelming the other flavors; there are some lingering woody notes and perhaps a hint of oaky astringency.

This is more complex in the nose than in the flavor, which is definitely a bit of a disappointment. Overall not a bad beer though; the texture, and likely the flavor, would have been boosted with a zippier, more substantial carbonation. The texture and the flavor seem a bit flat as a result and in the end this actually seems quite forgettable. Hopefully subsequent takes by this brewer will be a bit more characterful and complex; I wonder if they just need some serious fermentation time.

Bottle at Paul’s tasting for Kan’s visit. Golden pour. This cherry sour may have aged past its prime or just not good as CL’s newer sours. Cherry flavors with some unwelcomed tastes.

Bottle thanks to an american couple that shared them in the rake. Alround rating: Very bretty, almonds, morello cherry, almond stones, massivly yeasty. Its easy enough drinking for the %, but theres no red tinge even to show that cherries have been added which makes me a bit dubious.

Bottle courtesy of tampabrew. Pours a hazy yellow with thin head. Aroma is sweet and floral with notes of honey, vinegar, funk, overripe cherries. Flavor is sweet and floral with notes of honey, ripe fruit, light vinegar, plums, cherries. Medium body with a sour fruit finish.

375ml provided by Wetherel at Socal sour tasting at Stone last night. Pours golden wiht a bright white ring. Nose is tart sweet and funky. Taste is sweet fruity, with some cherries, unfortunately I noticed a very chalky taste and texture.

375mL bottle from MaxxDaddy. Thanks! Easy to drink. Medium sourness. Very good. Cloudy red. Some wonderful cherries in the aroma and taste. Easy to drink.

Bottle, huge thanks to j12601! Pours a clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of sour funk, light fruits (cherry I suppose). Flavor is a little minerally, some cheese, and sour funk. Some sweet tart cherries in the finish. It was ok, but overall I was a little disappointed. 7/4/6/3/14 [3.4/5]