Palate Shifter Imperial IPA | Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
New York, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.")
Added by John on 02-13-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 546 | Ratings: 1,400
Reviews by DCDevilDancer:
More User Reviews:
3.81/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours into an impy nonic a light to medium golden with a large blooming white head...maybe to big,a large amount of broken globs left behind as settled into a frothy mass.Tropical fruit with some leafiness, mixed with sweet alcohol and caramel in the nose,the hops win out.Quite sweet on the palate although maybe not quite as sweet as many of the style,drunken fruit and sugary sweetness with a tropical fruit-like hoppiness in the finish,if there was just a little more drying resiny/pine hoppiness it would have been rated higher by me.It's close to being fantastic but just a little sweet....in my opinion.
★ 610 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours into an impy nonic a light to medium golden with a large blooming white head...maybe to big,a large amount of broken globs left behind as settled into a frothy mass.Tropical fruit with some leafiness, mixed with sweet alcohol and caramel in the nose,the hops win out.Quite sweet on the palate although maybe not quite as sweet as many of the style,drunken fruit and sugary sweetness with a tropical fruit-like hoppiness in the finish,if there was just a little more drying resiny/pine hoppiness it would have been rated higher by me.It's close to being fantastic but just a little sweet....in my opinion.
★ 610 characters
4.35/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very nice looking pale gold color with a slight haze.
Complex, doughy, bready malts through and through balanced by a hop assault, piney and strongly floral, very inviting. A nice, cleanly drying finish that makes you want more.
This was a really great change of pace from what we're used to in the midwest. Thanks to blaheath for crackin' this one open.
★ 357 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very nice looking pale gold color with a slight haze.
Complex, doughy, bready malts through and through balanced by a hop assault, piney and strongly floral, very inviting. A nice, cleanly drying finish that makes you want more.
This was a really great change of pace from what we're used to in the midwest. Thanks to blaheath for crackin' this one open.
★ 357 characters
4.09/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.6/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
i tried this at there pleasantville location while retrieving parts @ kent supply one afternoon... i will not mention what oil co. i work for.... otherwise it was outstanding... and soon to be found on tap for growlers in pawling discount... to which i and some friends frequent... great double I.P.A.
★ 301 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
i tried this at there pleasantville location while retrieving parts @ kent supply one afternoon... i will not mention what oil co. i work for.... otherwise it was outstanding... and soon to be found on tap for growlers in pawling discount... to which i and some friends frequent... great double I.P.A.
★ 301 characters
4.47/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Poured a hazy gold approaching copper. 2 finger headed that faded to a lacing on top of the beer that will add some coat to the sides of the glass.
S - Sweet caramel from the malt and floral hop aromas with a little citrus.
T - Strong malt presence that prepares the taste buds for the hop explosion that comes right after. I was guessing about 80 IBU but was told it was 91. I was a little surprised by that but I can believe it because the great malt flavors balance the hops well.
M - Excellent mouthfeel. Feels like they malted high and that they are some more complex sugars left in there. Really quite nice for a IIPA.
D - A double IPA is a beer that can be excellent for the first pint and then get a little overwhelming on the second. Not so with Captain's Reserve, the balance makes a very drinkable 90+ IBU beer.
As a side note, this goes quite excellent with shell steak and spare ribs. This can stand up to any great tasting steak and really add to the enjoyment of it.
★ 990 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Poured a hazy gold approaching copper. 2 finger headed that faded to a lacing on top of the beer that will add some coat to the sides of the glass.
S - Sweet caramel from the malt and floral hop aromas with a little citrus.
T - Strong malt presence that prepares the taste buds for the hop explosion that comes right after. I was guessing about 80 IBU but was told it was 91. I was a little surprised by that but I can believe it because the great malt flavors balance the hops well.
M - Excellent mouthfeel. Feels like they malted high and that they are some more complex sugars left in there. Really quite nice for a IIPA.
D - A double IPA is a beer that can be excellent for the first pint and then get a little overwhelming on the second. Not so with Captain's Reserve, the balance makes a very drinkable 90+ IBU beer.
As a side note, this goes quite excellent with shell steak and spare ribs. This can stand up to any great tasting steak and really add to the enjoyment of it.
★ 990 characters
3.65/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Extremely clear pale golden orange pour. Two fingers of creamy white foam on top of the brew. A bit lighter in color than many other DIPA's. Aromas of tropical citric hops along with pine resin accents. Herbally with a sweet crisp backbone. Somewhat fruity, nice.
First sip brings a mix of fruity citric hops upfront with a touch of sweetness. Tropical and pineapple accents swirl through with herbal pine on the way down. Malt body is quite thin here and a touch biscuity with bitterness well placed on the finish. Alcohol is not really noticeable.
Mouthfeel is crisp and a bit lighter than I expected. Good carbonation. Overall, a pretty good DIPA with a few flaws that drop it down on my favorites list. Worth a try if you can get it but I don't think I'd go out of my way. Thanks to dmeadows for the opportunity.
★ 818 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Extremely clear pale golden orange pour. Two fingers of creamy white foam on top of the brew. A bit lighter in color than many other DIPA's. Aromas of tropical citric hops along with pine resin accents. Herbally with a sweet crisp backbone. Somewhat fruity, nice.
First sip brings a mix of fruity citric hops upfront with a touch of sweetness. Tropical and pineapple accents swirl through with herbal pine on the way down. Malt body is quite thin here and a touch biscuity with bitterness well placed on the finish. Alcohol is not really noticeable.
Mouthfeel is crisp and a bit lighter than I expected. Good carbonation. Overall, a pretty good DIPA with a few flaws that drop it down on my favorites list. Worth a try if you can get it but I don't think I'd go out of my way. Thanks to dmeadows for the opportunity.
★ 818 characters
4.77/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
picked this one up in nyc some of these items are easier to get there than back in new jersey although i see the captain larry stuff floating around every now and then
wow, this one was a real big strong ipa style heavy on the aroma intense hops smelled like a whole bunch of fruit and crazy spices i even smelled some banana in there i could tell this beer was going to be real intimidating but i like that
whoa taste is intense too just as i suspected but nice and dry with a good solid kick and bite at the end, it is sweet and bitter and strong but it does not slow you down you can actually sip this over and over and not get tired
amazing strong mouthfeel the carbonation was so tight and fine i really liked how he made this come together
so far this is one of the best local imperial ipas i had really good stuff here from the captain
★ 847 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
picked this one up in nyc some of these items are easier to get there than back in new jersey although i see the captain larry stuff floating around every now and then
wow, this one was a real big strong ipa style heavy on the aroma intense hops smelled like a whole bunch of fruit and crazy spices i even smelled some banana in there i could tell this beer was going to be real intimidating but i like that
whoa taste is intense too just as i suspected but nice and dry with a good solid kick and bite at the end, it is sweet and bitter and strong but it does not slow you down you can actually sip this over and over and not get tired
amazing strong mouthfeel the carbonation was so tight and fine i really liked how he made this come together
so far this is one of the best local imperial ipas i had really good stuff here from the captain
★ 847 characters
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.6/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
16.9oz brown bottle with no freshness date. A case of this was leftover from our latest EBF, how the attendees did not blow through this beer is beyond me.
Pale golden straw color, crystal clear. Head retention leaves a sticky lacing on the glass. Grapefruit rind and rustic pine truck and sap with a peppery alcohol and hint of grain in the aroma. First sip reveals a quick smoothness and a rapid jump to the hop character. Tobacco, oily resin, citric rind and leafy pull ... a hard pull on the palate. Alcohol weaves in a growing warmth. As the hops let go of the palate a bit a dry cracker maltiness comes through. More of that tobacco flavor in the dry finish. Lots of hop flavor without a massive bitterness.
Why have I not had this beer before and how can a get a steady stream of it sent to my local area / piped to my house. East coast brewers throwing it back at the west coast here ... this beer touches perfection on a lot of points.
★ 946 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
16.9oz brown bottle with no freshness date. A case of this was leftover from our latest EBF, how the attendees did not blow through this beer is beyond me.
Pale golden straw color, crystal clear. Head retention leaves a sticky lacing on the glass. Grapefruit rind and rustic pine truck and sap with a peppery alcohol and hint of grain in the aroma. First sip reveals a quick smoothness and a rapid jump to the hop character. Tobacco, oily resin, citric rind and leafy pull ... a hard pull on the palate. Alcohol weaves in a growing warmth. As the hops let go of the palate a bit a dry cracker maltiness comes through. More of that tobacco flavor in the dry finish. Lots of hop flavor without a massive bitterness.
Why have I not had this beer before and how can a get a steady stream of it sent to my local area / piped to my house. East coast brewers throwing it back at the west coast here ... this beer touches perfection on a lot of points.
★ 946 characters
4.3/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a growler today at the brewery, the first day it's been available. Oh- I love fresh local beer!
Pours a semi-dull shade or orangey amber, cloudy. Struts a creamy meadium to tiny bubble almost white head, with bubbles continuing to rise to the top. This topper shows fine retentive powers, and the resultant lacing is top notch, striated,stringy, in sheets, fine and also long lasting. Nice looking brew. Nose is clearly of grapefruit and citrus rinds. This is a bold and flavorful brew, plenty of citric notes, lime, grapefruit, some vanilla and honey, bready malts, alcohol nicely intermingled and in the rear. Hops are oily, citric and quite present, however the hop profile is not biting nor harsh, its got the crunch but lacks any unplesant bite. Mellow beyond its short existance. Smooth, rounded and inviting mouthfeel. Went great with some Double Glouchester cheese and walnuts. Tasty, quality and obviously skillfully crafted creation, this is a home run for Capt' L.! Support this small, high quality brewery. More fine beer is promised to be on the way...
★ 1,076 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a growler today at the brewery, the first day it's been available. Oh- I love fresh local beer!
Pours a semi-dull shade or orangey amber, cloudy. Struts a creamy meadium to tiny bubble almost white head, with bubbles continuing to rise to the top. This topper shows fine retentive powers, and the resultant lacing is top notch, striated,stringy, in sheets, fine and also long lasting. Nice looking brew. Nose is clearly of grapefruit and citrus rinds. This is a bold and flavorful brew, plenty of citric notes, lime, grapefruit, some vanilla and honey, bready malts, alcohol nicely intermingled and in the rear. Hops are oily, citric and quite present, however the hop profile is not biting nor harsh, its got the crunch but lacks any unplesant bite. Mellow beyond its short existance. Smooth, rounded and inviting mouthfeel. Went great with some Double Glouchester cheese and walnuts. Tasty, quality and obviously skillfully crafted creation, this is a home run for Capt' L.! Support this small, high quality brewery. More fine beer is promised to be on the way...
★ 1,076 characters
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Huge thanks to goodbyeohio for this growler gem...
Clear, golden copper color with a full finger of bright white head with an agressive pour...sporadic lacing.
All hops in the nose...grapefruit mainly with slight alcohol detected as it warms.
The taste is real nice...definitely an Imperial, but oh so drinkable.
Definite citrus...an almost piney/minty-like flavor as well. Very bitter but finishes with a delicious sweet carmelized malt...goes down very easy with no real alcohol presence...just a wonderful warming effect.
Mouthfeel is thick, but not cloying...carbonation is fine just where it is.
Need to make a visit to this place real soon...the guy simply knows how to take a style and produce a winner.
Very impressive and worth your undivided attention.
★ 769 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Huge thanks to goodbyeohio for this growler gem...
Clear, golden copper color with a full finger of bright white head with an agressive pour...sporadic lacing.
All hops in the nose...grapefruit mainly with slight alcohol detected as it warms.
The taste is real nice...definitely an Imperial, but oh so drinkable.
Definite citrus...an almost piney/minty-like flavor as well. Very bitter but finishes with a delicious sweet carmelized malt...goes down very easy with no real alcohol presence...just a wonderful warming effect.
Mouthfeel is thick, but not cloying...carbonation is fine just where it is.
Need to make a visit to this place real soon...the guy simply knows how to take a style and produce a winner.
Very impressive and worth your undivided attention.
★ 769 characters
4.32/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: clear, orange-gold in color, moderate carbonation, 1/4 inch head
Smell: citrusy hops, small malt, and pine
Taste: pine is the foremost flavor, there is a strong citrus element, a nice bready malty backbone, and some honeydew melon
Mouthfeel: smooth, medium carbonation, sweet start with a big bitter middle and a sweetish end.
Drinkability: A very drinkable, semi-sweet IPA. I love the way the hops jump in this one. One of the better beers I have had in the style. I will look for this again.
★ 509 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: clear, orange-gold in color, moderate carbonation, 1/4 inch head
Smell: citrusy hops, small malt, and pine
Taste: pine is the foremost flavor, there is a strong citrus element, a nice bready malty backbone, and some honeydew melon
Mouthfeel: smooth, medium carbonation, sweet start with a big bitter middle and a sweetish end.
Drinkability: A very drinkable, semi-sweet IPA. I love the way the hops jump in this one. One of the better beers I have had in the style. I will look for this again.
★ 509 characters
4.2/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Exiled for sharing this beer.
500ml bottle. The beer pours a clear golden-yellowish color with a white head. The aroma is strong orange peel. The flavor is tons of citrus hops and medium bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
★ 250 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Exiled for sharing this beer.
500ml bottle. The beer pours a clear golden-yellowish color with a white head. The aroma is strong orange peel. The flavor is tons of citrus hops and medium bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
★ 250 characters
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
64oz growler poured into an 8oz alt glass.
Pours a light amber that's very clear, light white thin head with lots of sticky white lacing. Nose is very hoppy and there's even a sharp cheddar note too.
Taste is hops and booze! This is 72hrs old so the bitterness is all there. Very spicy and floral, lots of earthy notes. It is a bit hot but I'm having it at cellar temp. Very nice beer.
★ 387 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
64oz growler poured into an 8oz alt glass.
Pours a light amber that's very clear, light white thin head with lots of sticky white lacing. Nose is very hoppy and there's even a sharp cheddar note too.
Taste is hops and booze! This is 72hrs old so the bitterness is all there. Very spicy and floral, lots of earthy notes. It is a bit hot but I'm having it at cellar temp. Very nice beer.
★ 387 characters
4.08/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I was careful to let this one warm up a bit, 6° tonight here in Maine. Looking for an after work warm up.
Pours a hazy lightly-burnt orange, head quickly dissipates and leaves plenty of lacing that fully coast the glass.
Citrus hop aroma with a little malt.
Very impressive. Big and flavorful. Perfectly balanced earthy hop flavor with the slight malt sweetness.
Full bodied and creamy, gingerly carbonated with a clean & dry finish.
A bit of an alcohol bite at the beginning but overall is very well hidden to make it an easy drinking DIPA.
Many thanks to jedwards for the excellent trade.
★ 593 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I was careful to let this one warm up a bit, 6° tonight here in Maine. Looking for an after work warm up.
Pours a hazy lightly-burnt orange, head quickly dissipates and leaves plenty of lacing that fully coast the glass.
Citrus hop aroma with a little malt.
Very impressive. Big and flavorful. Perfectly balanced earthy hop flavor with the slight malt sweetness.
Full bodied and creamy, gingerly carbonated with a clean & dry finish.
A bit of an alcohol bite at the beginning but overall is very well hidden to make it an easy drinking DIPA.
Many thanks to jedwards for the excellent trade.
★ 593 characters
Palate Shifter Imperial IPA from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
4.11
out of 5
based on 1,400 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A very intriguing beer to say the least. Almost the mouthfeel of a Bell's Two Hearted with the flavor profile of an Avery Maharaja. I didn't get much off the nose when I poured it into a pint glass, but when I took a whiff from the bottle I got a biscuty piney grapefruitness, totally reminiscent of The Maharaja.
The taste buds mostly confirm the nose, but soon discover that unlike The Maharaja this wonderous nectar has very little in the way of a malty backbone. But rather than feeling unbalanced, the hoppy goodness goes down smooth. It's almost even crisp. The head is thick, creamy, and persistent with a semi-violent pour, and this really helps cool down any lingering hop bitterness.
This is a racy SOB of a DIPA! The carbonation is perfect. There is a gentle prickly pucker that lasts until the last sip. It has super drinkability. The flavors don't pop like fireworks, but this beer is seriously on the level.
Tasty, and thought provoking. What more can you ask for?
★ 978 characters