Barrel Select Batch 1 | Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
New York, United States
captainlawrencebrewing.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
This is a new beer that was produced after waiting for some of our sour brown ale barrels to "ripen" and take of the flavors of the wild yeast and the oak barrels until we thought they were ready to be blended and bottled. This batch is a blend of 6 barrels, 4 of one batch and 2 of another, the mix of which has created a totally new beer. Intensely sour with hints of oak and funk. ABV 7.5-8.0%. The first batch's code FO/BB means French Oak Bret Brown.
This is a different beer than Barrel Select #1 which was a single barrel served at EBF 2009.
Added by aerozeppl on 03-24-2010
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 72 | Ratings: 149
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
I got this one in a trade a couple of years ago, pretty sure from black13 -- so if so, thanks, dude! Review is from notes taken on 6/21/2012 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.
Appearance: Pour is a dark coppery color and reminds me of a dark cider; body is rather murky and doesn't allow much depth of sight into it; starts with a short 1/4 finger off-white head that fades quickly to a thin island of skim and a narrow ring around the surface;
Smell: Smell is potent, I can smell it from the table and it's got a lot going on in there; lots of fruit, of the green acidic variety (perhaps apples and cherries); bit of a vinegar scent to it and plenty of funky and sour notes; perhaps a bit of some caramel in there bringing a touch of sweetness.
Taste: That is a very tart beer - very sharp and puckering right off the bat; the second sip is considerably easier on the mouth; plenty of the acidic, green fruitiness; bit of a saccharine sweetness to it, like a really strong SweetTart; bit of an alcoholic bite on the back, which I thought was interesting since it's not especially high in ABV.
Mouthfeel: Body isn't too heavy, but not quite light either; the tartness is obviously the most powerful aspect in the mouth, and it'll make you pucker, that's for sure; body is lively, and I've gotta give the body credit for being alive, but not explosive like a lot of wilds are, so that's refreshing; a thick and sticky coating is left all over the palate; belly is left quite warm from the acidity.
Overall: Wilds aren't an everyday kind of beer, but this one is pretty exceptional -- granted, the first sip caught me well off my guard, it gets better with each drink. Great scent, great flavors and a rather impressive body.
★ 1,734 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
I got this one in a trade a couple of years ago, pretty sure from black13 -- so if so, thanks, dude! Review is from notes taken on 6/21/2012 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.
Appearance: Pour is a dark coppery color and reminds me of a dark cider; body is rather murky and doesn't allow much depth of sight into it; starts with a short 1/4 finger off-white head that fades quickly to a thin island of skim and a narrow ring around the surface;
Smell: Smell is potent, I can smell it from the table and it's got a lot going on in there; lots of fruit, of the green acidic variety (perhaps apples and cherries); bit of a vinegar scent to it and plenty of funky and sour notes; perhaps a bit of some caramel in there bringing a touch of sweetness.
Taste: That is a very tart beer - very sharp and puckering right off the bat; the second sip is considerably easier on the mouth; plenty of the acidic, green fruitiness; bit of a saccharine sweetness to it, like a really strong SweetTart; bit of an alcoholic bite on the back, which I thought was interesting since it's not especially high in ABV.
Mouthfeel: Body isn't too heavy, but not quite light either; the tartness is obviously the most powerful aspect in the mouth, and it'll make you pucker, that's for sure; body is lively, and I've gotta give the body credit for being alive, but not explosive like a lot of wilds are, so that's refreshing; a thick and sticky coating is left all over the palate; belly is left quite warm from the acidity.
Overall: Wilds aren't an everyday kind of beer, but this one is pretty exceptional -- granted, the first sip caught me well off my guard, it gets better with each drink. Great scent, great flavors and a rather impressive body.
★ 1,734 characters
4.09/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From South Sound tasting notes:
Poured a murky reddish-orange with a finger of dirty white head. Tart cherry aroma with hints of vanilla oak and yeast -- really nice.
Higher carbonation and an airy, dry mouthfeel. Lots of sweet cherry up front followed by some gentle oak and funk. Lingering tartness on the finish.
Nice balance between the oak/yeast/sour characteristics. Not too groundbreaking but well-executed.
★ 417 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From South Sound tasting notes:
Poured a murky reddish-orange with a finger of dirty white head. Tart cherry aroma with hints of vanilla oak and yeast -- really nice.
Higher carbonation and an airy, dry mouthfeel. Lots of sweet cherry up front followed by some gentle oak and funk. Lingering tartness on the finish.
Nice balance between the oak/yeast/sour characteristics. Not too groundbreaking but well-executed.
★ 417 characters
3.24/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Poured a cloudy grapefruit color with good carbonation and a white cap and bubbles
S: Funky and tart, light whiff of vinegar and some light cherries
T: Not as much cherry as I wanted, very subtle and it hid behind the tartness. Some wood and Earthiness, a sharp acidic note with light booze sting
M: Light body, big carbonation and tart
O: Worth a try but not overly exciting or good
★ 390 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Poured a cloudy grapefruit color with good carbonation and a white cap and bubbles
S: Funky and tart, light whiff of vinegar and some light cherries
T: Not as much cherry as I wanted, very subtle and it hid behind the tartness. Some wood and Earthiness, a sharp acidic note with light booze sting
M: Light body, big carbonation and tart
O: Worth a try but not overly exciting or good
★ 390 characters
4.77/5 rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pour presents a hazy dark brown body with some decent tan lacing.
Wow, this aroma just hits hard, vinegar and sour smacks hard. Lactic. THIS is how i like them! Makes me really excited for whats to come.
Flavors confirm just how sour this is, very. Dry lactic sourness plays with massive amounts of tannic oak notes, vinegar and young reds, and some fruits and kalamatas. love this.
Mouthfeel is dry.
one of my top 3 fav Wilds, i do believe.
★ 442 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pour presents a hazy dark brown body with some decent tan lacing.
Wow, this aroma just hits hard, vinegar and sour smacks hard. Lactic. THIS is how i like them! Makes me really excited for whats to come.
Flavors confirm just how sour this is, very. Dry lactic sourness plays with massive amounts of tannic oak notes, vinegar and young reds, and some fruits and kalamatas. love this.
Mouthfeel is dry.
one of my top 3 fav Wilds, i do believe.
★ 442 characters
3.77/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Thanks again to sweem for busting this long time want out to share. Bottle split into tulips.
A: Rusty dark red/orange hue. Small amount of light beige head fades and leaves no lace.
S: Decent sour cherry profile with a good amount of wet leather, oak, attic dust and a mild spice that I can't figure out.
T: Nowhere near as sour as I was hoping. Solid tart cherry and oakiness. Bit of leather and mild funk.
M: Medium to light body. Actually a bit on the thin side for my taste.
O: Just another sort of sour cherry wild. Decent but I'm cetainly glad I never sought this one out.
★ 587 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Thanks again to sweem for busting this long time want out to share. Bottle split into tulips.
A: Rusty dark red/orange hue. Small amount of light beige head fades and leaves no lace.
S: Decent sour cherry profile with a good amount of wet leather, oak, attic dust and a mild spice that I can't figure out.
T: Nowhere near as sour as I was hoping. Solid tart cherry and oakiness. Bit of leather and mild funk.
M: Medium to light body. Actually a bit on the thin side for my taste.
O: Just another sort of sour cherry wild. Decent but I'm cetainly glad I never sought this one out.
★ 587 characters
4.5/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Bottled 02/2010.
(A)- Pours a deep burnt sienna color. Plenty of tan froth and lots of lacing.
(S)- A nice dry oaky bite up front. Lots of tartness detected in this. Some good leathery funk to it. Some bits of vinous vinegar and raisin.
(T)- Very similar to the smell. A big oaky sour bite that flows into some rich acidic raisin, vinegar, prune, and almost a cinnamon spice to it. Not as funky as the smell was, but it is subtle. Maybe even bits of subtle cocoa.
(M)- A nice carbonation level and balance. I like the sour bite this has on the finish. Good oak profile and acidity.
(D)- This is a winner from CL! Not crazy sour, but it is hefty. Superb oak nuances and just a great overall feel. A bit cleaner feel; less funk, but still tastes just great. Very enjoyable.
★ 810 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Bottled 02/2010.
(A)- Pours a deep burnt sienna color. Plenty of tan froth and lots of lacing.
(S)- A nice dry oaky bite up front. Lots of tartness detected in this. Some good leathery funk to it. Some bits of vinous vinegar and raisin.
(T)- Very similar to the smell. A big oaky sour bite that flows into some rich acidic raisin, vinegar, prune, and almost a cinnamon spice to it. Not as funky as the smell was, but it is subtle. Maybe even bits of subtle cocoa.
(M)- A nice carbonation level and balance. I like the sour bite this has on the finish. Good oak profile and acidity.
(D)- This is a winner from CL! Not crazy sour, but it is hefty. Superb oak nuances and just a great overall feel. A bit cleaner feel; less funk, but still tastes just great. Very enjoyable.
★ 810 characters
3.38/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to Sideshowe for busting this out at a recent tasting. Long time want.
Captain Lawrence Barrel Select batch 1 pours pretty ruddy cruddy brown lake water type color with a thin ring around the collar brown like, no stick. Smells like a bunch of oak, different types, wood, rotted fruit and some acidic funk. Berry and wood mixed. Taste is quite all directions. Wood is big, french oak, cherry, plum, and some grainy malt over brett funk. feel was quite acidic. Went down like battery acid, body was at about medium, not gulpable. Glad I tried it, with a lot of people, no way a whole bottle of this to the head could go down.
★ 632 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to Sideshowe for busting this out at a recent tasting. Long time want.
Captain Lawrence Barrel Select batch 1 pours pretty ruddy cruddy brown lake water type color with a thin ring around the collar brown like, no stick. Smells like a bunch of oak, different types, wood, rotted fruit and some acidic funk. Berry and wood mixed. Taste is quite all directions. Wood is big, french oak, cherry, plum, and some grainy malt over brett funk. feel was quite acidic. Went down like battery acid, body was at about medium, not gulpable. Glad I tried it, with a lot of people, no way a whole bottle of this to the head could go down.
★ 632 characters
3.92/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Note's from Captain Lawrence Rosso Batch 3 release / tasting:
Captain Lawrence barrel select (aged in oak barrels) – nice orangey murky copper color, but more on the orange side of the spectrum than anything else. Smell of sweet tarts all day, smells great. Appearance…decent head with nice lacing, but sparse with such a small pour. Sweet tarts all day, but they are balanced and not too in your face or too sour. WHOA SUPER SUPER SOUR…probably the most sour beer I’ve ever tried. I don’t think my palette is up to a beer this sour yet, but it is quite tasty…has a brown sugar-ness to it. Mouth is puckeringly sour…like pucker pucker…I can’t even describe it…super sour. Very good sour, the barrel and the oak, you don’t get it so much since it is so overly sour. As many people mentioned at this event, I have to agree, this one is flying under the radar…I just learned of it’s existence today and wow, if you are a fan of sours, this is one to seek out.
★ 983 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Note's from Captain Lawrence Rosso Batch 3 release / tasting:
Captain Lawrence barrel select (aged in oak barrels) – nice orangey murky copper color, but more on the orange side of the spectrum than anything else. Smell of sweet tarts all day, smells great. Appearance…decent head with nice lacing, but sparse with such a small pour. Sweet tarts all day, but they are balanced and not too in your face or too sour. WHOA SUPER SUPER SOUR…probably the most sour beer I’ve ever tried. I don’t think my palette is up to a beer this sour yet, but it is quite tasty…has a brown sugar-ness to it. Mouth is puckeringly sour…like pucker pucker…I can’t even describe it…super sour. Very good sour, the barrel and the oak, you don’t get it so much since it is so overly sour. As many people mentioned at this event, I have to agree, this one is flying under the radar…I just learned of it’s existence today and wow, if you are a fan of sours, this is one to seek out.
★ 983 characters
4.42/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
thrilled to be able to have this one, poured into a snifter at room temp.
dark brown with some light reddish touches around the sides and the bottom of the glass. A nice and foamy brown head rose up to a height of around two inches before dropping down to about half and then hanging around the rest of the session with deep and thoroughly coating side glass lace, this one was perfect.
The aroma was wonderful, previously poster arrived atthe word fuck to describe and I would have to agree here. Rich sour notes, sweet and tart cherries dropped in with light oak notes as it warmed, but dominted by the deep sour and cherry notes. Such a wonderful balance here between the sour notes and the rich underlying fruit flavor. Some nice dark malts as it starts to warm, but the long drawn out sour flavor comes back and dries out the palat
★ 838 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
thrilled to be able to have this one, poured into a snifter at room temp.
dark brown with some light reddish touches around the sides and the bottom of the glass. A nice and foamy brown head rose up to a height of around two inches before dropping down to about half and then hanging around the rest of the session with deep and thoroughly coating side glass lace, this one was perfect.
The aroma was wonderful, previously poster arrived atthe word fuck to describe and I would have to agree here. Rich sour notes, sweet and tart cherries dropped in with light oak notes as it warmed, but dominted by the deep sour and cherry notes. Such a wonderful balance here between the sour notes and the rich underlying fruit flavor. Some nice dark malts as it starts to warm, but the long drawn out sour flavor comes back and dries out the palat
★ 838 characters
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared at the Santa Cruz tasting in March. Pours a medium ruddy brown with a filmy tan head. Dark fruit on the nose, brown sugar, a light oaky bourbon note. Tart acetic flavor with currants, cherries, brown bready malts, and mild bourbon. Pretty epic beer.
★ 263 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared at the Santa Cruz tasting in March. Pours a medium ruddy brown with a filmy tan head. Dark fruit on the nose, brown sugar, a light oaky bourbon note. Tart acetic flavor with currants, cherries, brown bready malts, and mild bourbon. Pretty epic beer.
★ 263 characters
3.68/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle I received in a trade from a BA but I can't remember who, thanks! When I popped the cap there was a very icky brown sediment all around the neck but I soldiered on. Dark brown color, decent head, smells a little wild and sour. The taste was like an oud bruin, sour brown ale. Overall not a bad beer but not one I'd visit a second time but I was glad for the opportunity.
★ 383 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle I received in a trade from a BA but I can't remember who, thanks! When I popped the cap there was a very icky brown sediment all around the neck but I soldiered on. Dark brown color, decent head, smells a little wild and sour. The taste was like an oud bruin, sour brown ale. Overall not a bad beer but not one I'd visit a second time but I was glad for the opportunity.
★ 383 characters
3.97/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a snifter. Big thanks to nyrangerfan for this.
French oak, brett brown bottled in 2/10. This one gushed a decent amount upon opening, but I was prepared for it as the last time I saw a bottle of this opened it did a number on the walls and furniture.
3.5 A: The color on this is a bit disgusting. It's a opaque brown in the shade of half parts mud and half parts shit. Initially three plus fingers of creamy beige/light brown head with average retention and some nonuniform lacing.
4.0 S: Good amount of brett funk in here. Musty basement with a musky earthiness. Fruity lactic acid with apple and cherry notes. Some sour acetic acid as well. Good amount of oak and a light tannic astringency.
4.0 T: The taste is a much more intense version of the nose and not for the faint of mouth. There's a mouth puckering sourness to this with moderate amounts of acetic acid and more than moderate amounts of lactic. The sourness comes with some fruity notes. Sour dark cherry, not quite ripened sour plums, and green apple. Oak comes through a bit stronger in the taste, but isn't a dominant flavor. A light vanilla and a moderate tannic astringency.
4.0 M: Medium body. Carbonation is a bit higher than I'd like, but that was dealt with by twirling. Quite creamy, which is wonderful, but the mouth puckering is a bit higher than I'd prefer.
4.0 D: Pretty good beer. A few of these categories were borderline next highest score. This is fairly complex, but the intense sourness gives an illusion of being one dimensional.
★ 1,531 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a snifter. Big thanks to nyrangerfan for this.
French oak, brett brown bottled in 2/10. This one gushed a decent amount upon opening, but I was prepared for it as the last time I saw a bottle of this opened it did a number on the walls and furniture.
3.5 A: The color on this is a bit disgusting. It's a opaque brown in the shade of half parts mud and half parts shit. Initially three plus fingers of creamy beige/light brown head with average retention and some nonuniform lacing.
4.0 S: Good amount of brett funk in here. Musty basement with a musky earthiness. Fruity lactic acid with apple and cherry notes. Some sour acetic acid as well. Good amount of oak and a light tannic astringency.
4.0 T: The taste is a much more intense version of the nose and not for the faint of mouth. There's a mouth puckering sourness to this with moderate amounts of acetic acid and more than moderate amounts of lactic. The sourness comes with some fruity notes. Sour dark cherry, not quite ripened sour plums, and green apple. Oak comes through a bit stronger in the taste, but isn't a dominant flavor. A light vanilla and a moderate tannic astringency.
4.0 M: Medium body. Carbonation is a bit higher than I'd like, but that was dealt with by twirling. Quite creamy, which is wonderful, but the mouth puckering is a bit higher than I'd prefer.
4.0 D: Pretty good beer. A few of these categories were borderline next highest score. This is fairly complex, but the intense sourness gives an illusion of being one dimensional.
★ 1,531 characters
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks Eric for pulling this out of the cellar for us.
Bottled 2-10
Pours pretty dark compared to what I was expecting. A nice aount of crisp white head. Vry pretty. Smells fruity. Raisiny and sweet. Lote of tart on the nose. Smilar tongue. Tart and sweet. A bit thin in the middle but nicely sour. Very nice finish
★ 316 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks Eric for pulling this out of the cellar for us.
Bottled 2-10
Pours pretty dark compared to what I was expecting. A nice aount of crisp white head. Vry pretty. Smells fruity. Raisiny and sweet. Lote of tart on the nose. Smilar tongue. Tart and sweet. A bit thin in the middle but nicely sour. Very nice finish
★ 316 characters
4.05/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Party of our epic tasting at jackie o'swith brad and Co
A-very dark and murk brown. Mysterious...
S-Not much of a smell to it. Little bit of wood and funkiness
T-very tart and sour. Sweet dry finish. Sourness really lingers.
M-light bodid and smooth. Nicely sour
O-good brew overall. Savored for a bit.
★ 303 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Party of our epic tasting at jackie o'swith brad and Co
A-very dark and murk brown. Mysterious...
S-Not much of a smell to it. Little bit of wood and funkiness
T-very tart and sour. Sweet dry finish. Sourness really lingers.
M-light bodid and smooth. Nicely sour
O-good brew overall. Savored for a bit.
★ 303 characters
4.68/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Another superb sour from Captain Lawrence. Thanks Mike, for the opportunity to try this.
Pours a hazy, woody brown with a silky tan head and light lace. Very nice looking beer.
Nose is tart with notes of oaken wine barrels, musty funk, plums and cherries.
Taste is very well balanced. Quite sour, but not out of control. French wine, wood, and ripe pitted fruits.
Crisp, refreshing body has an long, complex finish of sour fruits, oak and sweet malts. One of the best new sours I've had in a while. Worth seeking out.
★ 522 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Another superb sour from Captain Lawrence. Thanks Mike, for the opportunity to try this.
Pours a hazy, woody brown with a silky tan head and light lace. Very nice looking beer.
Nose is tart with notes of oaken wine barrels, musty funk, plums and cherries.
Taste is very well balanced. Quite sour, but not out of control. French wine, wood, and ripe pitted fruits.
Crisp, refreshing body has an long, complex finish of sour fruits, oak and sweet malts. One of the best new sours I've had in a while. Worth seeking out.
★ 522 characters
4.3/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Barrel Select Series; Barrel No. FOBB/Bottled 2/10. American sour ale.
This is a wonderful drink all around. Amber with white head.
Nose of light sweet funk and light sweet sour.
Well balanced sour that's a big mouthful - rich, full, bold and sour, but with a sweet/malt/cooked orange flavor profile. There is a malty character and actually a carmel and coffee flavor profile that is unexpected in a sour. Yet, it works and is delicious. A vanilla oaky nose and flavor developes as undertones as it warms in the glass.
All around a nice drink.
★ 551 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Barrel Select Series; Barrel No. FOBB/Bottled 2/10. American sour ale.
This is a wonderful drink all around. Amber with white head.
Nose of light sweet funk and light sweet sour.
Well balanced sour that's a big mouthful - rich, full, bold and sour, but with a sweet/malt/cooked orange flavor profile. There is a malty character and actually a carmel and coffee flavor profile that is unexpected in a sour. Yet, it works and is delicious. A vanilla oaky nose and flavor developes as undertones as it warms in the glass.
All around a nice drink.
★ 551 characters
4.25/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Wasn't on their official bottle list, but when I asked the guys at Birdsall House if they had any sours on hand, they delved into the far reaches of the fridge and pulled out this friggin' beauty. Whoa baby; this sour is SOUR. I shared some with the guy next to me at the bar and he just nodded his head and said "sour". Didn't ask for seconds...
A gorgeous beer. Brown like fresh apple cider from the farm stand. A whole bunch of nose, but vinegar is obviously the most prominent. I was eating a Reuben sandwich with very salty fries and some house made pickles. Well, this beer stood up to all of them and continued to shine. Cleared my palate after each and every sip. Only slight drawback was that it does leave a pretty good burn in your stomach due to all the acid; have your zantac ready and waiting....and then just keep drinking!
★ 838 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Wasn't on their official bottle list, but when I asked the guys at Birdsall House if they had any sours on hand, they delved into the far reaches of the fridge and pulled out this friggin' beauty. Whoa baby; this sour is SOUR. I shared some with the guy next to me at the bar and he just nodded his head and said "sour". Didn't ask for seconds...
A gorgeous beer. Brown like fresh apple cider from the farm stand. A whole bunch of nose, but vinegar is obviously the most prominent. I was eating a Reuben sandwich with very salty fries and some house made pickles. Well, this beer stood up to all of them and continued to shine. Cleared my palate after each and every sip. Only slight drawback was that it does leave a pretty good burn in your stomach due to all the acid; have your zantac ready and waiting....and then just keep drinking!
★ 838 characters
4.17/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Review from notes taken 1/22/11. Thanks to FeDubbelFist for gifting this beer and CaptainRedBeard for sharing!
2/10 bottle with the FO/BB mark. Poured into a snifter, appears an amber color with a yellowish tan head that is creamy. Fairly decent retention but as the cap slowly fades, it leaves stringy and spotty lacework on the glass.
The aroma of this brew is bretty and sour smelling with a sharp twang to the nostrils and subtle oakiness. There is a light sulfur smell which is a bit poop-like across the back. Funky with a touch of vinegar. As it warms, a touch of vanilla character creeps out.
The taste of this brew is sharp and funky with a taste that is lightly cheesy. Tart and acidic that makes the mouth salivate. There are indications of oak and a dry tannic character underneath the tangy sharp notes. A very light touch of vinegar is also preset in the finish.
This is a medium bodied brew that is modestly carbonated. It is acidic and quite drinkable. For something that initially came across a little "poopy" it was funky and enjoyable. It's something I would certainly partake in again.
★ 1,109 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Review from notes taken 1/22/11. Thanks to FeDubbelFist for gifting this beer and CaptainRedBeard for sharing!
2/10 bottle with the FO/BB mark. Poured into a snifter, appears an amber color with a yellowish tan head that is creamy. Fairly decent retention but as the cap slowly fades, it leaves stringy and spotty lacework on the glass.
The aroma of this brew is bretty and sour smelling with a sharp twang to the nostrils and subtle oakiness. There is a light sulfur smell which is a bit poop-like across the back. Funky with a touch of vinegar. As it warms, a touch of vanilla character creeps out.
The taste of this brew is sharp and funky with a taste that is lightly cheesy. Tart and acidic that makes the mouth salivate. There are indications of oak and a dry tannic character underneath the tangy sharp notes. A very light touch of vinegar is also preset in the finish.
This is a medium bodied brew that is modestly carbonated. It is acidic and quite drinkable. For something that initially came across a little "poopy" it was funky and enjoyable. It's something I would certainly partake in again.
★ 1,109 characters
4.25/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Early 2010 rate.
Bottle. Pours a pretty dark brown, a bit of a reddish glow in the light, with a soapy tan head. Nose is classic Captain Lawrence sour -- wet wood, soft brett, with some very pleasant cherry tones. Dry and soft in the mouth. Beautiful dry palate. Flavor comes mostly in the back palate with that dank wet wood, sour cherries, brett. Dry and acidic finish. This is really well-balanced, soft, very refined. Actually really good, a lot better than I was expecting, a bit better than Rosso e Marrone with the soft, prickly mouthfeel and really expressive dry palate.
★ 580 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Early 2010 rate.
Bottle. Pours a pretty dark brown, a bit of a reddish glow in the light, with a soapy tan head. Nose is classic Captain Lawrence sour -- wet wood, soft brett, with some very pleasant cherry tones. Dry and soft in the mouth. Beautiful dry palate. Flavor comes mostly in the back palate with that dank wet wood, sour cherries, brett. Dry and acidic finish. This is really well-balanced, soft, very refined. Actually really good, a lot better than I was expecting, a bit better than Rosso e Marrone with the soft, prickly mouthfeel and really expressive dry palate.
★ 580 characters
4.23/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle @ the birdsall house on 12/27/10 - $25
Cloudy Brown color. smells super sour and funky. the taste is sweet and sour,very sour. a nice balance between the two. the tartness makes you want to go back for more after each sip. Mothfeel is crisp with medium carbonation, although the bottle was a gusher upon opening. really high drinkability in my opinion....but usually anything that's this good i like to enjoy a lot of. a really great beer.
★ 447 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle @ the birdsall house on 12/27/10 - $25
Cloudy Brown color. smells super sour and funky. the taste is sweet and sour,very sour. a nice balance between the two. the tartness makes you want to go back for more after each sip. Mothfeel is crisp with medium carbonation, although the bottle was a gusher upon opening. really high drinkability in my opinion....but usually anything that's this good i like to enjoy a lot of. a really great beer.
★ 447 characters
3.18/5 rDev -24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed on 6/3/2010. Bottle. Pours a cloudy brown with a thick light tan head. Aroma of sweet tart candies, sour lactic acid, oak. Flavor is quite tart and sour, plenty of lactic notes and yogurt. I felt this one was too sour/tart and I couldn't get many complexities from the base beer. It was a slow slow sipper and just meh overall for me.
★ 343 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed on 6/3/2010. Bottle. Pours a cloudy brown with a thick light tan head. Aroma of sweet tart candies, sour lactic acid, oak. Flavor is quite tart and sour, plenty of lactic notes and yogurt. I felt this one was too sour/tart and I couldn't get many complexities from the base beer. It was a slow slow sipper and just meh overall for me.
★ 343 characters
4.32/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
While sharing what's great about Flanders Reds and Bruins, this beer does so with elegance, grace, and clean Brett tartness and character.
Rusty redish brown in color, the beer carries a deep haze. A terse and froathy head results in a lace around the glass but never fully disipates. The ample carbonation doesn't really fuel the cream-white foam that's expected.
Crabapples, tart cherries, vinous grape/oak combinations, and the must of lightly decaying woods fill the nose in sharp and aged fashion.
A blend of malt richness and clean lactic tartness attacks both the middle of the tongue and the sides. The intensity of tartness/sourness gives the impression of lemons, under-rippened berries, cherry skins, grape skins and green apples. A quick rebuttal of malts give a medium amount of chocolate, walnut, and woody richness that rounds out the sourness but doesn't quite balance it.
Creamy from the mild malty weight, but thinned by the acidic sourness and mild astringency, this beer lives on the back and fourth interplay between the sourness and malt profiles which eludes to the complexity and layering of sensations as well as tastes.
With a little more malty heaft than Rodenbach Classic and less cidery/vinegary notes than Duchesse du Burgogne, this beer carries the Flanders name well.
★ 1,304 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
While sharing what's great about Flanders Reds and Bruins, this beer does so with elegance, grace, and clean Brett tartness and character.
Rusty redish brown in color, the beer carries a deep haze. A terse and froathy head results in a lace around the glass but never fully disipates. The ample carbonation doesn't really fuel the cream-white foam that's expected.
Crabapples, tart cherries, vinous grape/oak combinations, and the must of lightly decaying woods fill the nose in sharp and aged fashion.
A blend of malt richness and clean lactic tartness attacks both the middle of the tongue and the sides. The intensity of tartness/sourness gives the impression of lemons, under-rippened berries, cherry skins, grape skins and green apples. A quick rebuttal of malts give a medium amount of chocolate, walnut, and woody richness that rounds out the sourness but doesn't quite balance it.
Creamy from the mild malty weight, but thinned by the acidic sourness and mild astringency, this beer lives on the back and fourth interplay between the sourness and malt profiles which eludes to the complexity and layering of sensations as well as tastes.
With a little more malty heaft than Rodenbach Classic and less cidery/vinegary notes than Duchesse du Burgogne, this beer carries the Flanders name well.
★ 1,304 characters
4.02/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to Todes for saving our palates from the nearly-disastrous HOTD Halloween tasting a few days ago, this one put us on the solid upswing of good brews.
750ml bottle, "2009", etc.
A. Hazy caramel russet-brown beer sporting 2cm tall tan head with some lace. Thickish, dense foam holds steady.
S. The real charm here, reminds me of a Jolly Pumpkin brew barrel-wise. Sour, buttery oak with limited funk charms, coconut, lots of red wine, vinous, complex with sweet highlights, Supplicationish. Joyful to smell but not as tightly wound as I really like 'em; there is some vague barrel here but it mostly just adds to the fun.
T. Sour and oaky, with a distinct lacto-pedio flavor going strong. Slight acidic lemon burn in the throat detracts, otherwise, solid. Lots of red wine and barrel curiosities, ultimately mostly dry and tempting with a pleasing undercurrent of caramel sweetness. Vinous, for sure, again, acidic and a little rough 'round the corners. But good.
M / S. Finish comprised of wild-sour lemons, Malbec, buttery oak and that mouth-watering tartness. Quite nice, body is dry and slightly burning / warming. The only real flaw here.
Barrel Select is a fine sour brown beer and one that I would like to try again. One of the better things to come out of Cap'n Lawrence; would be interested to see what age does to this one as it is already pretty lively and woody.
★ 1,388 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to Todes for saving our palates from the nearly-disastrous HOTD Halloween tasting a few days ago, this one put us on the solid upswing of good brews.
750ml bottle, "2009", etc.
A. Hazy caramel russet-brown beer sporting 2cm tall tan head with some lace. Thickish, dense foam holds steady.
S. The real charm here, reminds me of a Jolly Pumpkin brew barrel-wise. Sour, buttery oak with limited funk charms, coconut, lots of red wine, vinous, complex with sweet highlights, Supplicationish. Joyful to smell but not as tightly wound as I really like 'em; there is some vague barrel here but it mostly just adds to the fun.
T. Sour and oaky, with a distinct lacto-pedio flavor going strong. Slight acidic lemon burn in the throat detracts, otherwise, solid. Lots of red wine and barrel curiosities, ultimately mostly dry and tempting with a pleasing undercurrent of caramel sweetness. Vinous, for sure, again, acidic and a little rough 'round the corners. But good.
M / S. Finish comprised of wild-sour lemons, Malbec, buttery oak and that mouth-watering tartness. Quite nice, body is dry and slightly burning / warming. The only real flaw here.
Barrel Select is a fine sour brown beer and one that I would like to try again. One of the better things to come out of Cap'n Lawrence; would be interested to see what age does to this one as it is already pretty lively and woody.
★ 1,388 characters
4.03/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A slight haze to a slightly darker then ruby beer. Inch high light tan head faded over two minutes to a slick on top. Tiny carbonation bubbles.
Scents of raspberries with a very tart funk. There is a very faint malt backing to the aroma, but the overall sour presence is too overpowering to be a good balance.
Same raspberry from the nose is forward on the tongue. A bit of a gritty nature to the malt and a faint hops note on the back of the tongue. A bit more balanced then the scent.
Average thickness on the tongue, but a clingy sour on all surfaces. Carbonation is average.
A good brew. This would be great for a salad with raspberries and lemon dressing. Yet another solid brew from a solid brewer. Worth hunting down for any fan of wild ales.
★ 755 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A slight haze to a slightly darker then ruby beer. Inch high light tan head faded over two minutes to a slick on top. Tiny carbonation bubbles.
Scents of raspberries with a very tart funk. There is a very faint malt backing to the aroma, but the overall sour presence is too overpowering to be a good balance.
Same raspberry from the nose is forward on the tongue. A bit of a gritty nature to the malt and a faint hops note on the back of the tongue. A bit more balanced then the scent.
Average thickness on the tongue, but a clingy sour on all surfaces. Carbonation is average.
A good brew. This would be great for a salad with raspberries and lemon dressing. Yet another solid brew from a solid brewer. Worth hunting down for any fan of wild ales.
★ 755 characters
Barrel Select Batch 1 from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
4.22
out of 5
based on 149 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750mL bottle from JMRSN. Thanks! Split 3 ways.
A: Opaque brown with a thin creme head. Medium legs. Kind of muddy, but passable. N: Grape, cherry, and a touch of vinegar. Some leather like a good pinot noir. Raspberries and more sour pie cherries. The dark fruits dominate, much like a good Flanders Red.
T: Not nearly as good as the nose. Moderately sour, and very leathery. Minor amounts of cherry. Raspberry and marionberry. Sour grapes. Plenty of earth. Very vinous, and the oak is well integrated.
M: A bit on the heavier side, but within range. The beer expands more like a stout.
O: A very worthy beer if you like dark sours. Has a nice complexity, but after having FF this does fall a bit short. Still recommended if you can get it, though.
★ 756 characters