Pleasantville Smoked Porter
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

Growler arrived last Friday afternoon...just in time for neighborhood game night with malt-loving Navy guy Mark (in town on leave from MS.) and his family. Initial aggressive pour is inky-black with virtually zero collar of foam...no matter how hard I tried.

Nose was roasty but only mildly rauch-like and the disappointment began to rise within of yet another unfulfilled (aka: Stone Smoked Porter) promise of an Alaskan wannabe. The feeling didn't last long...

The initial taste reveals everything this growler was hiding. The Lady in the parlor became a tramp in the bedroom, whispering everything I'd ever wanted to hear from a Smoked Porter...burnt caramel, toffee, and that Bamburg-y perfume which was not worn to excess like a $20 hooker.

Smokey? Of course, but in a refined, restrained way which left me both wishing for more and grateful that it wasn't there. Mouthfeel was palate-pleasing with restrained carbonation and the finish appropriately dry in order to entice one into the next sip.

Just happened to have the good fortune of pairing this with a BBQ Chicken Pizza...pure heaven.

Major props to gpcollen1 for gif'ing this out west!

 

The pour was pretty standard, black straight pour with nice tan head that lasted.

The aroma is probably my favorite part of the beer. Love the chestnest, coffee, smokey smell that fills the air when you pour it. There's also a bready, cracker note along with malt. It blends together very well, forming a nicely layered scent that reminds me of Christmas.

I was surprised by the feel of the beer; something this dark, I usually expect a thicker beer but this was lighter, almost watery. But do not be fooled, this is as smokey and bitter as any other porter. First and foremost, I taste the carby, malty taste first then it firsts off with a more complex mix of chocolate, woody black coffee taste. The label says they use German malt, which makes sense as this reminds me of dunkel.

Very good beer at a very affordable price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had at the Blue Smoke airport bar in JFK. Poured into a pint glass (woohoo 16oz!) Poured dark as night with a thin tan head that left good lacing. Smells of smoked meats, gotta love that smoke beer aroma. Taste was really good, more of a rauchbier than a porter, though. There was some sweetness and dark malts around, but the dominate flavor was smoke. Body ended up being way too heavy and the smoke was a bit overbearing, so it loses some points in the feel. Overall a delicious beer that stands up there with the Aecht Schlenkerla rauchbiers in terms of flavor.