Captain Lawrence Xtra Gold

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

This pours a hazy, golden, orange color. Like spring sunshine. A three-finger head of fluffy, white, foam sits on top of it, like a cloud. Retention is very good. Lacing is in broken strands and fairly sticky. There are big notes of grapefruit that hit me first. These are balanced by the biggest presence of tangerines and sweet oranges that I’ve ever smelled in a beer. There are hints of pears and white grapes, among other fruit notes, making this one way more fruit forward than I’d expected it to be. There is a big, bready, yeastiness below this. Mild hints of butterey caramel toffees. Nice notes of melons and bubblegum. The sweet fruitiness of this is really impressive and hard to ignore. The taste follows the nose, for the most part. The huge fruitiness is still here, and it’s quite delicious. There is still a big, bready, yeastiness. These are joined by a wonderfully earthy hoppiness, with some light floral notes. A very light touch of bitterness hits you in the finish. This is a very well balanced beer. This one is full-bodied with a high level of carbonation. I think, personally, that the bubbles are just slightly too big. This has a good deal of creaminess, but could be even creamier with smaller bubbles and it would definitely be smoother. There is a mild roughness to it, around the edges. I like tripels alot, and find this one to be quite enjoyable. It’s creamy, fruity and yeasty, which are all what I think a good tripel should be. Well done, Captain Lawrence!

Pours a clear golden yellowish orange color with a one finger foamy white head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Not much in the way of lacing. Earthy hop aroma with some crisp golden fruit notes. Hints of apple and pear and subtle malt. Very well balanced with a lot of estery Belgian yest notes and amarillo hops. Earthy hop bitterness balances out the crisp light fruit notes. Apple and pear along with some grape notes. Nice balance of bitter and sweet. Alcohol well masked making it quite quaffable.

750 ml bottle - thanks to maxxdaddy for the trade; pours soft yellow with slight haze and quickly fading white head; raw, grainy, slightly astringent; nose is sweet mixed with methanol; texture is thin and hoppy dry finish; some green apples in there; kind of a strange beer

Sampled at GABF. Pretty excited to stop off at the Captain Lawrence booth. Bright golden pour. Sweet aroma. Flavor was better than most tripels. I’d have to revisit this one to be completely convinced.

On tap at GABF 2009. Very nice appearance - bright golden with a frothy white head and great lacing. Aroma is sweet pale malt, candi sugar, light fruits, and citrusy hops. Flavor is excellent: sweet pale malt, apple, pear, mango, a hint of funky yeast, and just the right amount of citrusy hops to make it interesting but not too hop-forward. Palate is smooth and medium-light with the 10% ABV almost unnoticeable. Very drinkable. Another winner from CL.

GABF 2009. Pours gold with a white head. Aroma smells like wort. Lighter side of medium bodied with a fine subtle carbonation. Flavor of toffee, wet grains, very mild wet hops, light honey, and Belgian pale malts. Good amount of residual sweetness, but by no means under attenuated. Interesting beer, like carbonated wort. I dig it.

fuzzy yellow with frothy white head. aroma is more hoppy than expected, with a nice balance of apples, spices, and belgian-y sweetness. similar flavor, mild and fruity, lemony finish. nice medium body.