Nor' Easter Winter Warmer
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

Nor' Easter Winter WarmerNor' Easter Winter Warmer
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From:
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
 
New York, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
12%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 12.78%
Reviews:
216
Ratings:
321
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 20, 2017
Added:
Feb 12, 2007
Wants:
  153
Gots:
  57
This is a truly unique brew, combining some unusual elements to create a powerful, yet flavorful brew. I brewed a similar beer to this one back in 1998, while I was home brewing out in California. Only this time around, I decided to age it in bourbon barrels to add a new element to the already rich sensory profile. The combination of dark malt, elderberries and bourbon barrels makes for an interesting tasting experience. This is a sippin’ beer, so sit back by the fire and enjoy.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by b3shine:
Photo of b3shine
Reviewed by b3shine from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle to snifter. Thanks to ksurkin for this one! This is not your father's winter warmer! Looks good; dark and deep. Smells good too; the bourbon is present, but it smells tart like a sour (probably from the elderberries). Tastes great, but it's a sour, not a belgian strong dark. IMO, they're doing the beer a disservice by marketing it as a winter warmer - it's a damn good sour! Mouthfeel is good too, although not what I expected when I read the description on the bottle. Sour qualities subdue the high abv nicely. Overall, a real treat of a beer that I hope to come across again!
Feb 15, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

3.37/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
The description says the "combination of dark malt, elderberries and bourbon barrels makes for an interesting tasting experience" but for me it was just strange. Not horrible but definitely not a huge success either.
Nov 20, 2017
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
i didnt expect this to be funky but it was, and reading through some reviews, it sounds like others have not had the same experience, so i am wondering if i had an infected bottle or something, but its so good that it seems like the funk in here is intentional, light bacterial pucker, possibly picked up in the barrels, and a really farmy almost wildness to it, piquant with the almost medicinal plum and elderberry character, i thought it was amazing, intentional or not. its rich and creamy for a beer with some acidity, and has a warming and festive bouquet of flavors from tobacco to prune, cocoa and smoke, vanilla and whiskey, its really impressively complex, and the pucker doesnt erode any of the structure, i really dig that. this is unlike other winter warmers, its not sweet, loaded with clove and anise and brown sugar, or boozy to the point of being absurd, its a challenging yet highly refined brew that holds up to cold weather mighty well. the sour part i suspect is not planned for, but its a happy accident in my bottle. these guys are doing some really intriguing and high quality stuff right now!
Oct 28, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a snifter, the appearance was a semi-dark brown color with a little creamy colored head leaving some sticky lacing. The aroma had some roast, berries, brown sugar and caramel/toffee malts. The flavor copied the aroma pretty much spot on, leaning to the sweet side and adding some nuts. Subtle nutty to berry aftertaste hitting the finish, somewhat sticky, but slightly acceptable. On the body, this one was medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Mild carbonation and the ABV felt good. Overall, nicely strong ale, but was this really a Belgian Strong Dark Ale? Not so sure about that.
Jun 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Coorsy from Massachusetts

Feb 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

Feb 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by CharlesK from Pennsylvania

Feb 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.91 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Feb 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by Gkruszewski from New York

Feb 04, 2017
Photo of Eamonn-Cummings3
Reviewed by Eamonn-Cummings3 from New York

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thought this was a fitting beer for our weather in NY today. This has been in the cellar for a few years, so I am not sure on the vintage.

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip glass.

Look is a black, a lot darker than I expected with little to no head.

Aroma is pure berry and a sweet malty note at the end.

Taste is a mix of slightly tart/sweet berry and malty winter warmer. It's an interesting combo, but def good.
Jan 23, 2017
Photo of Radio_Free_J-Ro
Reviewed by Radio_Free_J-Ro from New York

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Batch #5. More sour than I was expecting. But that's ok. I bought this last week (Jan 2015) from the aged rack at a local BD for $12.99. The bourbon barrel aging is awesome, and I'm working on getting more into sours. I can hang with this. Also, I waited until the first snow here on Long Island. Perfect.
Jan 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Oct 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.71 by Strelnikov from Texas

Sep 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.44 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Apr 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by trxxpaxxs from New York

Apr 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by wethorseblanket from California

Jan 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Dec 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Nov 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by acurtis from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by stevec32 from New York

Nov 02, 2014
Nor' Easter Winter Warmer from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 321 ratings