Beer Around Town

A box on the door step often means a few new treats to add to the beer cellar. Another beer trade done and some great beers will be had in the coming months, one had it’s night tonight. I noticed while unpacking that the bottle of Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious had a cap that looked rather uneven. While pulling the wrapping off the bottle a soft “hiss” was heard… aw shit. I grabbed my capper and tried to clamp the cap down, but it wasn’t going to work, this cap just wasn’t seated right. Good news is the bottle still had ample carbonation, maybe it was just on really loose, but I wasn’t going to take any risks, oh well, just an excuse to drink this one up tonight.

I thought this might be some sort of apple sour, but it turns out to be a tripel, aged in apple brandy barrels. The beer pours cloudy orange with a thin white head… strange, as the carbonation is rather high, in my Duvel glass a turbulent current rises in the center, like some Old Faithful jacuzzi. Still the head doesn’t seem to stick around. Lots of booziness to this, making me wish I could have cellared this, might have to seek out another bottle.

I have to say, brandy barrels add an incredible character to beers. I believe the Hair of the Dog Matt was aged in brandy barrels, so this being my second brandy barrel beer I have to see they are 2 for 2, solid work so far. Aside from some pear notes from the excess alcohol, a smooth apple sauce flavor blends with vanilla, fig, tropical fruit, and honey. Knowing more about brandy would help in this description, but there is just something that works so well with the brandy barrels. Bourbon is great and all, but brandy might just work better for some fruitier styles. I’m damn impressed, although, if you get a bottle of this I suggest letting this sit for at least 6 months to a year to let it mellow a bit on the fusels. In the end an excellent execution, and I’m already thinking about picking up some brandy to start soaking some oak chips in.