Palate Shifter Imperial IPA
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

Palate Shifter Imperial IPAPalate Shifter Imperial IPA
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From:
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
 
New York, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
9%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 10.63%
Reviews:
565
Ratings:
1,467
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 11, 2021
Added:
Feb 13, 2006
Wants:
  223
Gots:
  278
Hops, and lots of them. The aroma is bursting with the classic citrus and pine aroma of American-grown hops. The flavor is dominated by a hoppy bitterness, with just enough malt to make you want to take another sip. (Formerly known as "Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA.")
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Avantyawn:
Photo of Avantyawn
Reviewed by Avantyawn from New York

3.37/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
16.9 ounce bottle poured into imperial pint glass. $4.99 per bottle.

A: Unusually clear and straw yellow for a DIPA. Looks almost like an adjunct. There is a nice frothy head

S: The smell is the strongest attribute of this beer I think. A delicious wet malty citrusy tangy scent. Smells very similar to Founders Double Trouble

T: I am not quite understanding this beer, it is amazingly drinkable for 9 %, but somehow it tastes sort of bland and flat. I wonder if this batch is off... There is a pronounced hop bitterness, however, there is little hop flavor. It is like a ghost of a DIPA. I am convinced there is something wrong with this batch as I have tasted this before and it tasted entirely different.

M: Very thin for the style, too thin in my opinion.

O: Overall, this is an odd one because I had this on tap recently and it did not resemble this bottle at all. I remember it having a robust malt profile and a classic strong citrusy DIPA flavor profile, which this bottle seems to only hint at. Oh well.. The truth is as I close in on finishing the bottle, is that I really didn't enjoy drinking this very much, a very "eh" experience. I will re- review this sometime soon probably when I try it again. I like Cap'n Lawrence in general very much, but this is not doing it for me. I have to complain about the 4.99 price though. Even if this was super dank, 4.99 for a local strong IPA is too much IMHO. I'll probably stick to liquid gold and freshchester pale ale in the future from captain lawrence.
Jun 16, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by robebo44 from Virginia

May 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by BeerRay from Rhode Island

Apr 10, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Mar 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4.16 by Dougwillhike from New Jersey

Oct 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.68 by Curt3 from Ohio

Jul 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by rugbyallen11 from Massachusetts

Jan 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by BallsDeep from Florida

Nov 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by eddiefl from New York

Sep 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.8 by artrocity from Massachusetts

Aug 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Jul 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by bluehende from Delaware

Jun 10, 2018
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

4.37/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) bottle into a conical pint glass; bottle 09/29/2017.
A: Pours a hazy, dark golden to amber color with a greater than one inch, foamy white head, good, if spotty retention, and modest lacing.
S: Aromas of grapefruit and peach predominate with toast and pine in the background. Spicy.
T: Lemony zestiness predominates with a light, nicely balanced bitterness.
M: Light to medium bodied with solidly strong carbonation.
O: Really a solid Imperial IPA. A real winner.
Jan 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by NickFry9 from New York

Jan 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.54 by Wesmaze from New York

Dec 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.77 by scxcrunner from Massachusetts

Nov 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.23 by ER527 from New York

Nov 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Oct 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Sep 09, 2017
Photo of tillmac62
Reviewed by tillmac62 from South Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
BOD 3/31/17. Pours a cloudy amber a bit darker than a dirty golden. World class head volume, lacing and retention.

Quite outstanding nose of bright citric and tropical hops over a slightly sweet base that is both bready and biscuit. Orange and light tangerine provide the citric element while pineapple and soft mango take center stage. There is a very soft spruce/pine element but you have to look for it.

The body is almost medium and quite smooth with a bit of oiliness to the texture. The carbonation / body balance is borderline outstanding. The middle is nicely effervescent and really opens the flavors up just past the middle. The finish isn't rollicking but does yield a nice prickly effect.

The flavor profile is quite outstanding. The rich nose doesn't quite follow through. The citric and tropical elements are there and shine in the middle. Orange and mandarin lead then shift to the sweeter tropicals (soft pineapple, light mango, then big pineapple). Like the nose, the world class balancing sweetness is bready then shifts to cracker biscuit near the end. Bitterness is surprisingly moderate yet ample and the balance is again world class. The bitterness is a combination of zest and spruce. Near the end, alcohol becomes slightly uncovered and fosters the spicy pepper element of spruce. The finish lingers and is mostly a blend of zest and spruce coupled with that nice alcohol burn at the back of the throat.
Aug 23, 2017
Palate Shifter Imperial IPA from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 1467 ratings