Mysterious
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

The pour that emptied the contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug was far less than impressive. It's the now, way too common American IPA result, with too much foamy stark white foam produced. The color of the brew is that familiar drab, almost murky, dark apricot-amber telling that oats and perhaps wheat make up much of the backbone. It smells of some muddled fruitiness, also typical for those ingredients in the wort. Of course, the foam recedes irregularly, leaving scant and erratic lacing inside the glass. Even the first hit to the taste buds is something like soggy breakfast cereal. Reading the label, there was hope that the Simcoe hops might salvage this and they do their part. Oats certainly contribute to softening a hard taste of a big ABV, but at the cost of bringing some chalky stickiness to the mouthfeel, here. There really isn't a direct taste reference other than a hoppy and hopped up cold oatmeal. Only during the finish does the combination of the ABV and hops give a traditional IPA lover any satisfaction of a bite. There are times pounding a pint of something potent is desired and this will do for that. But, if you'd rather savor a 10% ABV ale, for its layers, transitions and taste, this just won't do.