It is the
biggest traffic day of the year. While the rest of the world calls it Getaway
Day or Thanksgiving Eve, it is, over at Captain Lawrence, Growler Wednesday—the
day when half the county, and many others from beyond Westchester limits,
decide it would be great to fill up a growler or six with local craft beer for
the Thanksgiving feast. They come with wagons, crates, and even a walker to transport
the 64 oz. jugs, filled with Brown Ale, Liquid Gold, Winter Ale, or whatever else
strikes their fancy.
Adding
to the Growler Wednesday chaos at Captain Lawrence, it was also a special
release—one of just a handful of days each year when a long awaited specialty
bottle is made available, and people carry on a tradition dating back to the
brewery’s Pleasantville days of showing up to taste the new brew, secure a few
bottles, and see old friends. On November 27, the imperial stout Frost Monster
was finally unleashed.
Either
event was enough to fill the tasting room on its own. Put them together and,
well, the tasting room felt a bit like I-287 during the morning rush.
Doors
opened at 4 p.m. If you had the foresight to get there a few minutes before 4,
you were in and out in minutes. Arrive a few minutes after, and a simple trip
to the brewery got a bit more complicated. Craig
Foster (“Like the beer,” he said of his name) and fiancée Liette Lecours of Peekskill were first
to score the Frost Monster, thanks to showing up in Elmsford just before
opening.
“We
knew,” said Craig.
They’ve
been to Captain Lawrence’s special release events before, such as that for the
Hops N’ Roses sour ale. “When we heard about a beer aged in rum barrels,” Craig
said, “we were really curious about it.”
Liette
picked up the variety pack, which includes the Frost Monster and Smoke From the
Oak, for her brother’s birthday present. They were off to the Adirondacks for
Thanksgiving, hauling some Triple IPA as well.
“I would
put it on sweet potatoes,” said Craig.
“Just
put it on everything,” suggested Liette.
“Triple
IPA gravy!” added Craig, his eyes wide with wonder.
Speaking
of curious Thanksgiving table creations, the Village Dog guys served up fresh
turducken. The sample line was a breeze, but by 4:10, the growler line extended
through the tasting room to the back door. Everyone who entered wore the same
expression—they figured they were in good shape arriving not long after 4, and were
shocked (and perhaps a bit dismayed) to walk in and see the line.
Fittingly,
R.E.M.’s “Stand” cranked from the house speakers.
“I
planned to be here at 3:45,” said Rick
Deguisto of Thornwood, hauling a milk crate-cooler combo with 10 empty
growlers. “I couldn’t make it because of work.”
He was
hosting the holiday, serving Captain Lawrence—Pumpkin Ale, Brown Ale--to a
crowd of about 40. Last year’s half dozen growlers didn’t quite cut it. “Every
year, we run out,” he said.
The line
was plodding along but Rick’s daughter Maureen
said there’s nowhere Dad would rather be. “This is his favorite place,” she said.
“He’s always trying to get his friends to come here.”
Captain
Lawrence growlers are also a Thanksgiving tradition at the McClure home in Irvington, where Douglas McClure was smoking a turkey—and serving an array of CL
beer that includes the small batch #69, Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA and
Brown Ale. “I brought Mom along for fun,” he said, smiling at mother Kay, of Scarborough, Maine.
“And for
money,” noted Kay.
And,
let’s face it, for her walker--which is stocked with a half dozen filled growlers.
“I usually discourage her from bringing her walker out,” said Douglas. “But
today, I said, ya know…?”
Douglas
fondly recalled Growler Wednesdays back in Pleasantville, a friend’s 5-year-old
son, tired of waiting for his dad on the beer line, napping on the ratty old
couch in the Captain Lawrence tap room. “He’ll grow up to be quite the frat
boy,” said Douglas.
By 4:30,
the line was out the door and into the wet and windy Westchester air. People
were taking the wait in stride, taking turns hitting the sample line for
something to sip on.
Scott Jacobs of Charlotte is in town to build
the new Tappan Zee bridge, and enjoying the Triple IPA in the welcoming warmth
of the tasting room. “I was going to fill a growler,” he said. “I’m not waiting
in that line.”
The guy knows
a bit about traffic. His advice for Tappan Zee travelers? “Go in the opposite
direction during peak travel times,” Scott said.
Paul Occhiogrosso of Croton scored fresh growlers
of Winter Ale and Pumpkin Ale, while his pal Matt Hand of White Plains picked up the Frost Monster, at a cool $20
for a 750 ml bottle, for his brother. We’ll assume his bro appreciates the
gesture. “My brother probably has the biggest IOU tab in America,” said Matt.
Out in
the cold gray drizzle, Brian Lee of
Sleepy Hollow and Andrew Fong of
Brooklyn were, for the moment, the very end of the line. The caboose. New to
the Captain Lawrence Growler Wednesday tradition, they weren’t complaining.
“We’re going to be rewarded with beer, so it’s OK,” said Brian.
“And the
beer must be good,” added Andrew, “if all these people are waiting.”
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