Captain Lawrence Nor’ Easter Winter Warmer

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

Bottle at Blind Tiger NYC- I figured "when will I have a chance to thry this again" so I ordered the 750 ml bottle even though my wife wouldn’t think of sharing it with me (she was content with the tap Golden Monkey). This was about as close to wine as beer gets in my experience. I now understand the term vinous. This is a dark ale with a stout like color and consistency but with a belgian flavor that veers into dark red wine territory. Quite enjoyable but I think I would have appreciated it more if it wasn’t 92 degrees outside. I only finished half the bottle and ended up giving the rest to a guy seated at the bar.

Thanks to Tim for sharing A very dark brown pour with a complexity of flavors from the bourbon barrel aging a berries, this is a tasty one.

Thanks to dmac621 for sending this bottle my way. Sampled at 7/17/07 STL beer gathering. Pours very dark brown with a crimson hue and brown head. The aroma has very smooth oak, vanilla, perfume, dark berry (elderberry I presume) and smooth caramel. Medium body with sharp carbonation. The flavor starts sharp and alcoholic along with dark berries, some bourbon, oak and dark toasted malt. The finish is very berry and dark in all flavors along with some harsh alcohol flavor. This one will probably improve with age and mellow out, but it was still enjoyable fresh.

Tasted 7/17/07. 750ml bottle. Deep brown opaque hue. Skim of beige heqad. Raisins aplums and vanilla aromas. Touch port. Full bodied and smooth. Slightly woody smokey with vanilla notes. Good burn. Mild yet sticky. Not too oaky. subtle dark fruit flavors. Thanks to vyvvy!

Wow, fantastic surprise. Taste mellows out into a smooth, deep imperial stout with a slightly harsh, sour oakiness. The beer is complex but could use some aging to smooth it all out. Great fresh, probably even better aged.

Thanks for sharing, iowaherkeye. The body was black with an orangeish, tan head. The aroma was chocolate with some maple notes. Yes, the elderberries and wine character is present. I know that smell as I have tried several elderberry wines. The taste was milk chocolate with massive oak notes. There was also some sweet plums. A decent winter beer, but way too much for me. Absolutely a sipper if I have ever had one.

Bottle: Pours dark brown with a light tan head. Aroma, chocolate, roasted notes, some fruit, and a little bready. Flavor, roasty chocolate, brown sugar, some berries. The alcohol and bourbon come through a bit more as the beer warms. Good stuff.

Black, impenetrable appearance with ruby shades near the rim. Lasting crown. Layered aroma heavy with bourbon influence. Honey, blueberry muffins, boysenberry syrup and brown sugar. A rich and bombastic flavor, notably subtle and streamlined. The molten bourbon still dominates, perhaps a bit harshly, but it supports a colorful pallet. Candied raisins, chocolate liqueur, mild licorice. Finishes on a brilliant pulse of the burnt crust of crème brulee. Palate is dense and long with the remnants of many berry reductions. Immense and subtle despite its youth, and probably destined for true transcendence with a little age. Thanks Adam!