Name: Nor’ Easter

Brewer: Captain Lawrence Brewing Company

Style: Winter Warmer

Vintage: 2007

Cellared On: November 30th, 2007

Original Tasting: December 18th, 2007

It’s funny how things work out sometimes. I had recently been complaining to someone over email that I couldn’t find any Captain Lawrence beers anywhere in the Albany NY area (The brewery is only a couple of hours to the south, so it sure seemed like there should be some available). So of COURSE the next time I was in my normal beverage store what do I see but a couple of their offerings just sitting right there on the shelf. Needless to say, I swooped them up pretty quickly.

The Nor’ Easter is described as a Belgian dark ale brewed with Elderberries. I would agree that it’s dark, extremely dark in fact. When I held this beer up to a light only the very fringes of this brew let any light through. Interestingly enough, those fringes seemed to glow with a reddish/brownish/purplish tint, which I can only assume came from the berry addition.

Only a very small tan head appeared after I poured; there’s not much carbonation to speak of in this beer. The smells were mostly of roasted malts, but there was also a touch of fruity essence in the air.

As I took a sip, dark roasted malts with a hint of chocolate were the first thing I tasted. Very quickly though, a big winy/berry twang flavor filled my mouth. This best way I can describe the twang of this brew is that it is reminiscent of the subtle twang you get when drinking a pint of Guinness - except this was far from subtle. As the twang starts to wind down you get a little burst of bitterness followed by some oak flavors. The oak and winy tastes linger long after the beer finishes. The smooth and sightly creamy mouthfeel to this brew perfectly compliments and heightens the beer’s flavor profile.

The only negative thing I have to say about this beer is that the winy taste lingers for so long it built up a bit in my mouth and started getting a bit in the way the more I drank this brew. But aside from that, I really enjoyed the flavor and complexity of this beer. It’s truly a beer to sip and ponder on in front of a roaring fire on a cold winter night.

Cellar Outlook: Strong and bottle conditioned, Nor’ Easter should hold up well in the cellar. I could see the flavor changing a lot over time - or not too much at all. Whatever happens, I’ll still be looking forward to drinking it.

Next Tasting: December 2008

Jason

jason@brewbasement.com

www.brewbasement.com