Captain Lawrence Nor’ Easter Winter Warmer

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

Batch #2, 750 ml bottle from my good friend Rusty Kuntz (not his real name). The pour is deep mahogany with 2-fingers of brown head and great lacing. This one looks great. The nose is amazingly complex, a smattering of elderberries, scotchy malt, cherries, oaky bourbon, spicy yeast, brown sugar, cabernet. I smelled this one for a good long time. The taste is fruity, starting off almost like a fine blackberry merlot, yet evolving over time to introduce more oaky spirity and holiday spicy and yeasty notes. This one never got hot for me, and I was amazed at how many flavors and aromas this threw at me, all the while remaining in perfect balance. This is indubitably one of the best beers I have ever had.

(Bottle thanks to Maxxdaddy and his mommy) Pours dark brown to black with a creamy, medium, light brown head. The aroma is vinous and fat yet soft and complex with tones of oak, malt, dark fruits and a light spicy yeastiness. Notes of creamy chocolate, salt and sweet liquorice, brown sugar, molasses, dark cherries, sweet dark grapes, blue berries, wild strawberries, prunes, figs, rum raisins, vanilla, bourbon, butter, cardamom, mild nutmeg, mild white pepper and of course a touch of elderberries. Bit fiery on the nose from both the alcohol and the bourbon barrel. The flavour is perfectly medium sweet, light bitter and with a light acidic finish that mixes well with the lingering buttery note from the oak. Tones of chocolaty/dark bready malt, elderberries, vanilla-ish bourbon oak, brown sugar/molasses, touch of hops and subtle spiciness of white pepper and nutmeg. Very vinous as well with tones of blue grapes, cherries, prunes, figs and blue and black berry jam. A touch of mango. The mouthfeel is full, velvety, soft, smooth and light oily with a fine medium carbonation. The aftertaste is of tart-ish elderberries, a peppery spiciness, faint hops and molasses. Medium to full bodied. This is a near perfect beer that is some sort of crossover between strong porter and Belgian strong ale.

Batch #1. Dark brown color with a slight reddish tinge and a nice size tan head. Aroma is powerful and sweet - bourbon, wood, vanilla, some dark fruit, and bits of chocolate and coffee. Taste has some woody & berry sweetness upfront combined with rich chocolate and coffee. The bourbon flavor is prominent, but not overwhelming. Alcohol is noticeable, but works well with the brew. A pleasant and tingly aftertaste lingers. This one is just a really well put together beer that, despite its youth, is complex and well crafted. I’m psyched to try this one as it ages and am very happy to see these guys producing such quality beers! Rerate on batch 2 - 5/2/2008 - All the same goodness with a smoother, more balanced finish. Wonderful. Always good to see a great beer improve from year to year.

Batch #1 750 ml bottle enjoyed Christmas night. Pours a deep dark brown with slight burgundy hues dancing around the outer edges and small light tan head that leaves a good amount of lacing. Aroma is fantastic with lots of wood, slight bourbon, vanilla, molasses, honey and lots of dark fruit, must be the elderberries. Initial wood flavor gives way to berries, vanilla, bourbon and then back to wood again. Wow was this some good stuff, perfect ending to a great Christmas.

750ml Batch 2 Poured into a tulip a very nice dark brown color, very nice carbonation, huge thick creamy tannish two-finger head, lots of nice thick creamy sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, nice touch of vanilla, bourbon, figs, raisins, plums, and some caramel notes. The taste is sweet, malty, very nice touch of vanilla/bourbon, dark fruits/caramel. Full body, the alcohol is hidden very well with this brew. Very drinkable, this is my first CL brew, and hopefully not my last. This BSDA is very different then any other I’ve had in the past, the Bourbon Barrel Aged and stout like taste is AWESOME! Thanks Joe!

NorCal Feb ’08 - BATCH NO. 1 - What an absolute pleasure to consume. Rarely does a beer like this come along and when it does, I want to savor every little drop of this elixir of the Gods. An incredily complex aroma of vanilla, dark fruits, lightly roasted malts, caramel, balsamic vinegar, bourbon, molasses, oak, earthy, smokey, subtle soy sauce notes....crazy tasty. The flavor is equally as complex. Dangerously easy to consume as the 12% was nowhere to be found. Sublimely easy to drink, you can’t help but want to taste this beer because it seems to change with each and every sip. Kudos to the guys at Captain Lawrence for making this beer. Easily the best they have to offer IMO. I wouldn’t mind having another 6-12 of these on hand. But I don’t, which sucks.

My Bottom Line:
Wise elderberry vinosity teams up with an equally sagacious bourbon/vanilla sweetness to render even more complexity and flavor to the chocolatey roastiness of this serene strong ale. Of the utmost class, this fascinating masterpiece of Scott Vassaro’s should get as much attention as Tomme Arthur’s own heavenly creations.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A lasting sheet of foam garnishes the mauve blackness.
-Its fruitiness (elderberries, black grapes, blackberries, etc.) is simply sexy.
-Alcohol is always well hidden, while contributing to the soulwarming experience.
-Subtle leafy hops decorate the finish.
-This is so drinkable for a beer this size!
-The licorice and vanilla apport of the bourbon barrel is well placed.
-Batch #1 was as enthralling as Batch #2, even though the barrels have been changed. Mesmerizing.

Bottles; Batch #1 and #2.

Batch 2. Killer beer. There’s the from level of beer and then it kicks in with a second level of finish from the bourbon. There are many other layers of excellence revealed. Lively but balanced palate. Bottle shared at RBSG 2009 grand tasting.