Barrel Select Black
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

 

Contrary to its name, this one is clear, deep-to-bright copper. The light chestnut head is very long lasting, creamy and beige. The head holds at one inch before suddenly settling to a half inch and leaving a thick coat of lace on the wall of an Infinium flute glass. Tiny, lazy carbonation appears randomly.

The nose is quite sour, with a wet leather background. Musky oak and funk carry throughout, while very sweet cherries and currants punctuate. Warmth brings out cranberries and a bit of red wine vinegar.

Tartness and sourness are well controlled, especially given the nose. Sweetness, while high, is clearly a secondary factor. Cranberry juice pairs well with oak and a hint of maraschino cherry. Acidity is also strong late in each sip. A long, acidic finish is very similar to the drying flavor of cranberry juice.

The body is medium to full, with a hard, smooth texture. Alcohol is as expected. Carbonation is fine, with a soft, yet prominent, touch.

Barrel Select Black is more akin to an Old Braun. After reading other reviews, I am left wondering if this is the same beer. For what it's worth, my bottle was aged several years. I imagine this would pair well with a peppery cheese.

12 . 7 fl oz poured into Wicked Weed *(pre purchase) tulip glass, a dark brownish/black with a thin rim of lace. Sour, oak, pear on the aroma. The taste is in line, with nothing overpowering. Melds well when it warms. Mouthfeel is medium, carbonation medium. A great rep of a sour brown ale.

 

 

 

 

Appearance – Clear, reddish-brown body with a three finger head that left lots of lacing.

Aroma – Sour, berries and plums, pretty tangy.

Taste – Sour, tannins, a little fruity, some malt under the sourness, long sour aftertaste

Mouthfeel – Quite puckering but good.

Overall – A very very good sour ale. High price point though.

Served on tap at the Captain Lawrence Brewery.
A: Pours a dark brown color with a small tan head, virtually no retention past the pour, an soapy lacing.
S: Presents with a floral and funky bouquet with emergent aroma of vanilla/oak, ultimately displaying my roasty chocolate and coffee, as it warmed.
T: Tart. Quite distinct from nose. Flavors of molasses, raisin and fig. Lactic acid taste evident.
M: Medium bodied with light carbonation.
O: This is really a well constructed and distinctive, American Sour.

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Arrives the color of molasses, with no head whatsoever

Smell: Funky and oaky, with caramel, prune and lactic tones

Taste: Caramel and lactic prune, up front, with developing funk and oak tones in the middle; vinegary and funky in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body but zero carbonation

Overall: Rather clunky, I am afraid, with the flavors not blending well at all; the mouthfeel was disappointing, too

 

 

375ml bottle from 2011. Poured into a snifter 11/19/2014.

A- Dark purple-brown body. Not particularly appealing in appearance. Minimal white head, no lacing. [3.75]

S- Lactic acid, grape juice, oak. Minimal funk. Smells quite sour, but with a nice sweet grape-like backbone to it. This nose has a nice balance to it despite plenty of acidity. [4]

F- Mouth-puckering lactic acidity mixed in with grape juice-like sweetness, some oak, a little bit of must, and even less funk. A bit of lemon and citrus as well. This is not particularly funky, but it is quite sour, which is a nice change of pace. [4.25]

M- Medium bodied, very drinkable despite being so sour. Good carbonation. Finish is lactic acid mixed in with a bit of grape sweetness. [4]

O- Nice sourness that isn't overwhelming like Side Project sours. And a nice grape sweetness balances it out. Pleasantly surprised with this one. [4]

Final score: 4.10