Captain Lawrence Smoke from the Oak (Bourbon Barrel)

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

25 oz bottle, via puzzl. Pours a clear dark brown body with a large frothy and fizzy brown head. Looks like a good bit of carbonation. Really nice nose, a combo of roasty and chocolate malts with a fairly subtle amount of bourbon and a good bit of oak and vanilla. Not much smoke coming out, but then I really didn’t get all that much from the regular version of this either. There’s a bit more smoke in the flavor, but the overall experience is driven by the vanilla, charred oak, and bourbon from the barrel aging. Some dark fruits, some chocolate sweetness on the finish, and maybe just a slight sour twang that mixes with the oak lingering on after the sweetness fades. The body is a little bit clingy but it isn’t especially thick or viscous. The carbonation started out a bit fizzy and overactive for me, but letting it breathe a while really opened it up and toned things down. Overall, this was pretty decent, but not as good as the small sample of the Batch 2 Wine barrel was that I had.

750ml bottle sampled side by side with Rum barrel and Wine barrel. Thanks Axilla. Spewed when opened. Poured cloudy brown in color with a very small beige head. Aroma of vanilla with some citrus, roast and chocolate notes. Taste is initially a metallic sweetness to it, with some vanilla, oak, dark fruits and some bourbon warmth. This one mellowed nicely after 15-20 minutes.

Sample at RBSG; Nose of vanilla, bourbon, and very light smokiness; Black with a small tan head; flavor had coffee, light chocolate, vanilla, a sour note, and light hop bitterness; body a little watery.

Bottle at RBSG grand tasting. Thanks to whoever brought this. Pours dark brown with a small tan head. The aroma was lightly smoky with vanilla and a touch or whiskey. The flavor reminded me of lightly smoked port cheese. Other flavors present were vanilla, whiskey and mocha. The mouthfeel was full and malty. The finish was a bit sour. Overall: a very nice smoked beer, but I think that I prefer a more robust smoke, I want to taste the campfire and this one fell well short of that. Still, a very tasty beer that I would not have wanted to miss.

Received this kick ass extra in my Cuvee de Castleton trade from scthaden on BA. The bottle did leak a bit in transit so I decided to open it the same day I got it. Aroma is sort of musty, slight acetic sour, vanilla/bourbon, a bit of cocoa and roastiness and just the slightest bit of smoke. It has a dark brown pour with a big, light brown head that fades fast to a thin layer of foam and leaves a bit of lacing. The taste is dominated by the slight sour flavor, cocoa, and a lot more smoke than the smell. Its sort of over carbonated as expected from reading stories about it. It also finishes extremely dry. A pretty interesting beer.

Bottle @ Dutch Ratebeer Session. Aroma has malts, balsamico vinegar and some vanilla. Dark brown coloured with an off-white, good head. Taste is sweet and sour. Quite unbalanced. Weird brew. Aroma is good, taste disappointing.

Bomber poured a clear dark brown with a small lingering brown head. Aromas of bourbon, vanilla, oak, light carmel and a hint of cocoa. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of bourbon, oak, light vanilla and carmel with a smooth lightly tart finish.

Bottled. Cloudy brown color, short brown head. Aroma is sour, vanilla, roasted malt, bit dusty, sweet vanilla blanket. Sourish taste, very strong, bit alcoholic, peppery. Very nice aroma, but bit burning taste.