Captain Lawrence Nor’ Easter Winter Warmer

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

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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Draft. Small, big bubbled head. Aroma is vineous and mostly bourbon. Theres a nice smoky flavor to go along with some vanilla. Theres a lot of grape in the flavor, maybe too much so. This stuff will age very gracefully. After reading the description, the flavor is elderberries, not grapes. Who knew? This is one kick ass brew though with plenty of punch.

You know, I’ve never really cared for anything this brewery has made. I mean, not bad.. but never even close to justifying the pricetag. Finally this is about to change. Cloudy dark brown with a moderate head, good lacing and retention. Aroma is bourbon and vanilla barrel with chocolate, darker fruits, caramel, enough hops to keep it from being overly sweet. Throw in those berries too. Heavy body, some alcohol in the finish but hard to imagine 12%. Elderberries (although I have no idea what one is, I can tell they give it a distinctive flavor..) really made this one interesting. Only real complaint is that bourbon is a little too much. Otherwise, really nice job keeping a big beer balanced and interesting. As Borat would say, "Great success."

750. Very dark brown in color with a very small tan head. Aroma is huge notes of chocolate, a moderate amount of dark fruit, and notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon. Good amount of alcohol in the aroma also. Taste is very full bodied, chocolate, elderberries/plums/raisins, light notes of pipe tobacco, vanilla, wood, with a moderate amount of alcohol and fruit in the finish. Really enjoyed this one for #900, and during a nor easter to boot, but some age will make this even better. This beer is still pretty green.

Blackened purple with borders of chestnut. Creamy beige head quickly scatters, but remains tightly packed at the edges Jammy and vinous nose of blackcurrants, licorice and chocolate mousse. Whispers of iron, yogurt, charred wood, nougat and vanilla mirror one another in intensity. Trace presence of alcohol. Dense and lush carbonation. Bouncy nutty-oak lays the foundation that supports a tightly flavored and notably vinous mixture of mashed plums and mincemeat. Ensuing rush of clean alcohol and poignant, yet restrained, char gracefully penetrates the concentration of bright and supple fruitiness. Charred wood unites with the malts to generate a burnt fruitcake and chocolaty effect. Twang of leather and iron holds the sweetness at bay, as does the understated but well-defined char which bristles beneath the gooey residuals. Body is generously packed with polished hop flavors that coincide with the gently coarse bitterness which imparts ample body structure and helps lighten the thick yeast remnants. Snug salty tannins and spicy char combat and enhance the beefy malts and perpetually-dense fruitiness. Resounding softness tempers the slight medicinal astringency. Finishes chewy and taffy-like, with a beautifully structured maltiness combined with a succulently-fresh fruit, peppery alcohol and brightly estery accompaniment. Pretty impressive as is, but this ought to be mind-bogglingly good with a year or two of age on it. Thanks for the bottle, puzzl!

Tap at Mugs for STS 07. Pours a nice deep dark brown almost black with some deep reddish purple highlights and no head. Aroma is thick with tons of sweet malts- caramel, toasted, etc with lots of nutty hints and chocolate- light fruity hints from the elderberries. Oaky and woody flavors balance well with the full malt and fruit flavors. Tons of chocolate, some roast, light to moderate bourbon, slight oaky buttery wood and vanilla. Failrly smooth and easy to drink for the high abv. Fruit doesnt overwhelm and neither does the bourbon.

UPDATED: MAR 21, 2007 Poured a near opaque, purple red color with no head or lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla, caramel malts, dried fruits, and a bit of roasted malts. Taste was full on elderberries, with more vanilla, a bit of bourbon, more dark fruits, roast, and some caramel malts as well. Low carbonation, and none of the 12% was detected.

Mugs-Split Thy Skull-4 oz snifter. Color is just damned black, not even any light edges, just black all around. Small off-white lacing. Aroma is prunish boozy and charred coffee which is all peppered with wild berries. Taste is licorice, malty-raison-prune booziness. Charred coffee aftertaste that is offset by wild berries, which give off a sourish-young-sweetness (very creative and original, must be the elderberries). A bit of heat on the throat, slightly subdued carbonation, and medium bitterness.

Tap at Mug’s Split Thy Skull - fantastic stuff! - deep, dark burgundy color, with very little head, making it look like a nice glass of dessert wine - a nose full of oak and vinous smells, with the bourbon taking a subtle back seat - berry, fig and red grape aromas - very mildly sweet, with tart, tannic character coming through early to counteract that, and almost make the beer dry - lots of oak, but this character never becomes overpowering - like in the aroma, the bourbon plays a but part (thank god!), actually complimenting the vinous notes and wood with some vanilla flavor - dark fruits weave themselves in and out of these other characteristics perfectly - wonderful - I will buy several bottles of this for keeping, regardless of the high cost.

Bottle from puzzl. Dark, Dark, brown almost black. Aroma of dark fruits. Thick& rich with frothy tan head. Oily with the flavors of chocolate,darkfruits,wood, and bourbon. Dry alcoholwood finish. The bourbon becomes more prominent as this beer warms. I really like Captain Lawrence beers!!

Bottle. Pours brown with sparse carbonation forming at the top. Smells nutty with some nice spicey elements, bourbon, and fresh berries. Taste is of an over the top winter warmer with lots of spicy elements and berries. The oaky bourbon elements compliment this beer well. One of his best to date.