Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room: Cuvee De Route 9A

No one is exactly sure when Captain Lawrence last released its Cuvee de Castleton, a Belgian-style sour ale named for the Pleasantville street where the brewery was hatched, and likely the Captain’s most sought after brew ever. What is known is that Captain Lawrence has been in Elmsford for close to four years, and this is the first Cuvee de Castleton release at the new digs along Saw Mill River Road.

Either way, it’s been too long, and people came from up and down the coast to pick up their 375 ml bottles, at $15 a pop, of the fruity, tart and tangy golden ale, refermented with muscat grapes and aged for a few years in oak. Tom Lillard, Damico Ponzioand Mark Cincotti made the trip from outside Philadelphia. Tom recalls schlepping to Westchester years ago for the last Cuvee release. “It’s nice knowing you’ve spent the money and are guaranteed beer,” he says of the prepaid system that took the place of the former show up/line up/keep fingers crossed supplies don’t run out one. “You get a taste of everything, and you get your bottles.”

Yes, besides the Castleton on draft, there’s Barrel Select Gold, Rosso E Marrone, the funky, German-style wheat known as Bro’s Before Gose, and the Hudson Valley Harvest Sour Cherry.

Tom will keep a couple of the bottles for his wife and himself, and share a few with friends. Damico will try one or two, and let the others age; like a fine wine, the sour ales morph and evolve while in the bottle. The new Cuvee, Damico says, is “freaking amazing.” The sizable crowd queuing up for their bottles, he says, is proof: “It speaks to just how good the brews are.”

Like Tom, many in the brewery space were here for the last Cuvee de Castleton release (and likely the one before that), and cleared their schedules to be here for this one. Brandon Smith of Brooklyn, in attendance with his wife Ellen and her brotherSteve Verdibello of Eastchester, recalls bunking down at a nearby La Quinta hotel to be on Castleton Street at the crack of dawn to hopefully score a few bottles of Cuvee. “I barely slept,” he says.

“You didn’t sleep,” notes Ellen, who’s heard the story before. “Your roommate was snoring all night.”

Ellen notes the “bready finish” of the new Cuvee. “It’s not as one-note as a lot of sours,” she adds.

Brandon likes the new pay-in-advance process more than the old bakery-line ticket approach. “This is much easier than last time,” he says with a smile.

The fittingly titled Bottoms Up Dixieland Jazz Band fills the room with homey American ragtime. Several grub stations keep visitors well fed. Rich Fadigan and Adam Pardes are on a road trip from Philadelphia, with a clear cut mission at hand. “We’ve got a big group of friends back home that loves sours,” says Adam. “We’ll bring some back for them.”

Whenever Captain Lawrence has a sour ale event, Ross Spiegel of Oradell, NJ, Alex Dacey of Easton, CT and Louis Ziccarelli of Brooklyn are sure to be there. “We were the first ones to get tickets for Sour’d in September last year,” says Ross proudly.

The only one missing is Ross’s wife Anne Marie, stuck at home working on her thesis.

Alex schedules his vacations around sour ales. “I’ve been to Belgium four times,” he says, and has hundreds of bottles aging in his basement.

“It’s Willie Wonka for beer,” notes Ross.

An admitted foodie, Louis loves how sours pair up with food. “It’s a great new take on beer,” he says, a fan since falling in love at Allagash Brewing in Maine years back.

Alex has the future of his beers all planned out: One will age for three years, one for a year, one for six months. That leaves one. “I feel like this one will pop next month,” he says with a lustful look in his eye.

The mood is festive. The line for bottles is long, but there’s no line for samples. With plenty of beer, food, music and friends, no one seems to be in much of a hurry.

Fans of the sours won’t have to wait long for the next release. “We hope to do one of these a month in 2016,” says Scott. “We didn’t buy all those barrels and a new bottling line to not make beer.”CL owner Scott Vaccaro takes it in with a smile. He recalls the first Cuvee De Castleton release, all of about 20 cases, back in 2007. “It’s the first sour we brewed and it instantly gave us notoriety,” he says of the Cinderella-story gold medal it won at the Great American Beer Fest.

 —Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday (4-8 p.m.), Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-5). The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale.

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting: Room Fall Back Into a Beer

The days may be shorter, but some of them are still pretty darn glorious. There’s nary a cloud in the sky and, while there’s an undeniable feeling of fall in the air, the sun is shining bright on the Captain Lawrence patio. Tory and Matthew Frank of North White Plains were returning an empty keg to the brewery, and ended up sampling craft brews on the patio, and playing a bit of bocce.

“She gave me a pretty good beating,” says Matthew. “Either I’m really bad or she’s really good.”

He and Tory opted for funky, small-batch brews. Matthew has the Jersey Devil, a smoked wheat IPA with a hint of chili—yes, spicy fatali chili—in the mix. Tory has the Perrone’s Peach, a Belgian-style ale brewed with peaches. “I usually go with pumpkin,” she says. “But this is good. A little sweet, and good.”

Over the summer, the two moved from Manhattan to North White Plains, and recently held a joint housewarming/Halloween bash with a keg of Liquid Gold. Shielding their eyes from the sun, Tory and Mattthew were discussing their carefree weekend days in the city, and the large number of cyclists imbibing on the Captain Lawrence patio.

Indeed, it’s just about a perfect day for a long ride with a cold craft brew waiting at the end of the trail. Liz Ladzinski and Corey Crago of Manhattan ventured to the west side of the city, followed the path to the Bronx, and stuck to the old North Central rail trail all the way to Elmsford. Just over two hours later, they’re sampling brews and Cajun chicken wings.

Liz enjoys the Liquid Gold, while Corey has the Somewhat Seasonal, a berlinerweiss brewed with roasted butternut and acorn squash. “I don’t know that I’d have more than one, but I like it,” he says. “Especially after a bike ride.”

As just about every cyclist who’s made the trip to Captain Lawrence says, the beer simply tastes better after a strenuous ride. “No matter how cold it is, you’re hot, you’re sweaty, and it just tastes great,” says Liz.

“You’ve earned it,” adds Corey.

His one suggestion—a larger sign at Captain Lawrence to make it easier to spot from Rte. 9A.

Having turned back the clocks just a week ago, there’s a sense among many on the patio of making the most of the fading daylight on a stunning Sunday. “It seems so early,” says Corey. “But if we don’t hustle, we’re rolling into the city in total darkness.”

Foo Fighters tunes crank from the house speakers, and the Gleason’s guys serve up the wood-fired pizzas. There’s plenty of action inside the tasting room too, but, well, winter will drive all of us in there soon enough.

Courtney Eng of Bayside and Kuo Wu of the Bronx toss the cornhole bags as they wait for a big group to arrive. Will it be the Freshchester Pale Ale for Courtney, the Hop Commander, or the Kolsch? That’d be an All of the Above. “I want to try as many as I can,” she says.

Elsewhere on the patio, Andrew Greiner and Caitlin Ratty of Manhattan have deployed a less taxing means of transportation from the city: Metro-North. They’ve met Cara Rothenberg of Sleepy Hollow for a few samples. “I’m shocked we haven’t been here before,” says Andrew, sporting a suddenly stylish Mets cap.

The trio is discussing plans for Caitlin and Andrew’s engagement party—not just an engagement party, but an ugly sweater, “Christmukkah”-themed shindig. Cara and Caitlin, friends since childhood, quaff the Pumpkin Ale, while Andrew has the Somewhat Seasonal. “Tart and funky but I like it,” he says.

The threesome is intent on making the most of this sunny gift from the gods. Andrew is actually down with the whole Daylight Savings deal, saying an early sunrise makes it easier to wake up. Cara gives the concept a big thumbs-down. “It always feels later than it is,” she says.

Back at the Matthew and Tory Frank camp, it’s one more sample before they head back to their new home. “When the weather is this nice,” says Matthew, “we’re just not ready to go home and sit in the house."

 —Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday (4-8 p.m.), Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-5). The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale. 

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room: Flurry of Activity at the Brewery

Ahh, the colors of October—brilliant reds and sparkling golds, and even a little white sprinkled in. Huh?

Indeed, that was a snow flurry or three illogically tumbling from a blue-gray sky Sunday afternoon. Yet the unseasonably cold weather did not stop some diehards from doing what they love to do on lazy weekend days—sampling beers on the Captain Lawrence patio, and partaking in bocce, cornhole and other “sports” that require but one hand.

Bill Watson of North White Plains and John Finney of Mahwah are friends from the University of Rochester, so a negligible bit of premature precip is nothing to them. “This is our weather,” says Bill. “We overheat in the summer.”

Both are enjoying a game of cornhole and the Captain’s Oktoberfest brew, a brownish marzen-style ale that calls to mind tents and beer maids and Munich. “Malty,” says John. “Clean flavors,” says Bill.

Both have sophisticated palates, and jointly brew beer, recently tapping their own pumpkin ale. “I think it’s better than Captain Lawrence’s,” says John, throwing down the challenge.

Across the patio, a heated—well, not literally—game of bocce is going down among a gaggle of pals from Mamaroneck. “It’s a beautiful day, we want to support a local business,” says Dan Whittlemore as he sips his Freshchester Pale Ale. “A couple of flakes,” he adds dismissively, referring not to his competition on the court but to the weather. “We’re a hardy bunch.”

Dan’s sartorial style resembles others on the patio—sweatshirt over another shirt. In his case, it’s Jets green over Mets orange. He’s feeling good about both teams despite their history of tormenting fans. “You can’t not love what Daniel Murphy is doing,” he says of the Metsies’ second-sacker, “and the pitching is unbelievable.”

Dan’s gang finishes up the bocce battle and heads in for fresh samples. Dave Brown and Joanne Patterson of Putnam Valley make their way onto the court. He’s got the Liquid Gold while she’s got the Pumpkin Ale. It’s their first time at Captain Lawrence, making the trek south because their friends’ band, Red, White and Booze, is performing inside. Joanne is thinking what everyone on the patio–or at Kensico Dam, or at Rockefeller Preserve–is thinking: Winter comes quickly in the northeast, and tends to stick around for a while. Get out while you can. “It’s a little chilly,” Joanne says, “but we’re fortunate to have another weekend of being outside.”

To be sure, with temps fighting their way above 40, inside the tasting room is where most of the action is going down. Red, White and Booze, a twosome, has the crowd grooving to some reggae-tinged tracks. Both guys are drummers by trade, says Andrew Fennell of Cortland Manor, but some days prefer to bring their guitars instead of their drum kits.

“It’s fun–we try not to make it like a job,” says bassist Andrew, sipping the Freshchester and noting how the duo feeds off having the CL crowd so close in the tasting room.

It’s their first gig at Captain Lawrence. “No matter where we play, we pick songs based on the crowd,” says singer/guitarist Corey Moeller of Croton on Hudson, sipping his Kolsch during a break.

Elsewhere in the tasting room, Greg Cashman and Hugh Babowal of Chappaqua unwind during a break in a 50-mile bike ride. “My daughter said, you’re not riding your bike in the snow,” says Greg, who of course was. “The weather is a little cooler than I’d like, but we knew we’d include some Captain Lawrence in the ride. Beer makes a bike ride better.”

Like Greg, Hugh is undaunted by the unseasonable cold and snow, and relishes their ride home. “Your fingertips and toes are cold,” he says. “Other than that, it’s OK. It’s a really good day and a gorgeous time of year.”Both are enjoying the Oktoberfest brew. “It’s got a warm feeling to it, it’s rich,” says Greg, while Hugh calls describes it as “malty, nutty, not as bitter as an IPA.

—Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday (4-8 p.m.), Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-5). The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale. 

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room: The Captain’s Log: CL Expansion Reaches Its ‘Peek’

We’ve written often of Captain Lawrence expanding its footprint in Elmsford, taking on extra space from an adjacent building to create its sour ale aging Fermento Funk Facility. (Patent not quite pending, but it should be!) The Captain is also setting up a satellite facility some 20 miles north of its home base, opening up a 1,300 square foot production/consumption site in a revamped Peekskill building along the Hudson. Its working name is Captain Lawrence River Outpost.

The 70,000 square foot building on Charles Point Marina will hold a restaurant, event space, distillery, arcade, bowling alley and other entertainment options, in addition to the CL site. The building held Fleischmann Distillery many decades ago, so there’s some potent potables pedigree there. “We were given the opportunity to build an experimental facility,” says Scott Vaccaro, Captain Lawrence founder. “It was an opportunity we could not pass up.”

The River Outpost is a chance for residents of northern Westchester and the greater lower Hudson Valley, who may not be up for the trip to Elmsford, to sample Captain Lawrence beers on site. The facility will create beers that are unique to that site. Production will be a fraction of what goes on in Elmsford, around a thousand barrels a year. One somewhat overlooked segment of the beer world will get special attention: Lagers, whose extended production process make them relatively rare amidst the craft beer explosion.

Scott says the lagers will go well with the water views. “You can sit on the deck and watch the river go by with a Captain Lawrence beer in your hand,” he says.

The River Outpost is scheduled to be open next summer.

Speaking of unique brews, Captain Lawrence is at work on a canned beer. The Effortless Grapefruit IPA will be the historic brew—a new addition to the beer lineup, and the first one in the brewery’s history to reside in a can. Scott has ordered a truckload of cans—that’s 200,000 of the 12-ounce vessels—and is awaiting label artwork approval.

While cans are very much in favor at some craft breweries, Scott says a well made beer tastes great whether it’s been housed in glass or aluminum. But there are a few benefits of canned beer—easier to take to the beach and the golf course, and they do a better job of keeping sunlight off the beer.

The Effortless is a session IPA; at a more modest 4.5% alcohol by volume, it’s well suited for daytime consumption. The Effortless Grapefruit, as the name suggests, features a more citrusy flavor.

“When you’re going with a new type of packaging, you might as well pair it with a unique new beer that’s not available in another format,” Scott says.

He’s eyeing a first-quarter 2016 release.

And it’s that time of year for the Captain’s decorated sour beers, those tart and tangy brews that the aficionados queue up for. There’s a release party for the Rosso e Marrone, a funky brown ale aged in oak barrels with red wine grapes, October 11. A hundred bucks gets you three hours of sampling sours from a wide range of breweries, food, and four bottles of the Rosso, which won the American sour gold medal at the Great American Beer Fest in 2009.

Captain Lawrence has had something of a stranglehold on the sour ale gold, with the Cuvee de Castleton, Hops and Roses and Barrel Select Gold also winning in subsequent years. All are poised for release this fall.

“We love making sours and we love drinking them too,” says Scott, “especially with friends who appreciate these funky beers as much as we do.

—Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday (4-8 p.m.), Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-5). The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale. 

Notes From the Tasting Room: Vol. 161 Blood, Sweat and Beers

It’s 1 o’clock on a Sunday; in a week’s time, the Jets and Giants and most of the other bands of marauders that make up the NFL will be awaiting the opening whistle. So football is kind of, sort of on the brain at Captain Lawrence. Louis Torres of Yonkers andMark Morales and Kristin Sury of Port Chester are enjoying cold samples on the hot patio; Louis and Kristin the Liquid Gold, and Mark the small-batch brew Citrus Queen, a heady mix of session IPA and grapefruit. Mark and Kristin had discussed visiting either Half Full Brewery in Stamford, or Captain Lawrence. The Captain won out.

“He likes more of the beers here,” says Kristin.

The trio will likely be taking in some football at this time next week. Kristin’s father has Giants season tickets. “The Jets and Giants are both from my heart,” says Louis of his dual rooting interests. “But I like Eli more.”

The Liquid Gold, he believes, is an ideal football-watching beer. Mark says it’s the Citrus Queen. “I may have to get a growler,” he says of his final pre-season preparations.

Also keen on filling up the growler are Sue and Scott Waterhouse of Scarsdale as they sit in the brewery and sip the Hop Commander IPA. They are headed to a Labor Day barbecue; the host owns a wine shop, so bringing wine is out of the question. “We figured, it’s a beautiful day—we’d come here,” says Sue.

The growler fill choice remains to be determined. “Something hoppy,” is all Scott will allow.

Football-wise, the Waterhouses have the DirecTV NFL package to help them watch their beloved San Francisco 49ers. Work has taken them from the Bay Area to London (“That’s where we learned to drink good beer,” says Sue) and then to New York. The couple is hardly optimistic about the Niners’ chances. “It’s gonna be bad,” Scott says.

Out on the patio, a foursome, plus two dogs, enjoys a rigorous game of giant Jenga. Johnny Miller of Ossining says he built his own giant Jenga at home after seeing the prototype at Captain Lawrence. “I had scraps of 2 X 4s,” he says. “We drank Captain Lawrence while we built it.”

The dogs, Copper and Huck, enjoy a leisurely roll in the grass as Johnny’s wife Matilda waltzes about, tending to their baby.

“It’s a long weekend, and this just seemed like a nice place to bring the dogs,” says Bob Livolsi of Tarrytown. A cup of the Freshchester Pale Ale in hand, Bob is hoping for a solid Jets season. His honest assessment? “Awful,” he says with a shake of the head. “The quarterback got punched out!”

Despite playing 3,000 miles away, the Niners are popular in Elmsford today. Out on the patio, David Gater of Englewood, New Jersey has recently started rooting for the team, since his fellow Australian Jarryd Hayne, a rugby league star back in Oz, joined the San Francisco club. David isn’t surprised to see Hayne make a name for himself, including the viral clip of him leveling a Vikings defender. He mentions how, growing up in Australia, schoolboys invariably come back from recess bruised and bloody. “Then you put on motorcycle gear and tell him to run at this guy,” he says of Hayne’s NFL transformation.

David is enjoying brews and wings with Audrey Leczinsky, also of Englewood, and Rob Hayes of Manhattan. Rob has a confession. “I never liked beer,” he says. “My default has always been Bud.”

The Liquid Gold, however, may be changing his mind. It won over Audrey some time ago, when she found the Belgian-style ale at the barbecue joint Fette Sau in Brooklyn. “When they got rid of it, I was devastated,” she says. “Literally devastated.”

Not to worry, Audrey—Captain Lawrence has no plans to remove the Gold from its taps. And we hear the Liquid Gold may be back at Fette Sau.

American rules football, as opposed to Aussie rules, is still somewhat confusing to David. But, beer in hand, he’s giving it a shot this season. “The more I watch it, the more I get it,” he says. “This could be the year I commit to it.”Audrey grew up in a Bills-mad family (“We had the Starter jackets and all,” she confesses), but is a more passive fan these days. Rob is looking forward to hockey season. “I couldn’t care less about football, but I destroy everyone in fantasy,” he says.

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room The Captain’s Log: Elmsford to Ireland, and Vice Versa

What do you get when you pair up a revered global whiskey brand and a treasured local craft brewery?

The Trans-Atlantic Imperial Red Ale, that’s what. Scott Vaccaro, Captain Lawrence founder, was invited to the Jameson Whiskey distillery in Midleton, Ireland—one of five U.S. breweries represented at the famed distillery. In exchange, a half dozen Jameson barrels were shipped to Elmsford to harbor the malty, rich and hearty Trans-Atlantic Red brew. Scott Tobin, Captain Lawrence brewhouse manager, made the trip as well. “I had to bring an Irishman just to be let into the country,” quips Scott Vaccaro.

The guests got “free reign” in the distillery, says Scott, to see how Jameson selects its raw materials, and how the top-notch whiskey is produced, start to finish. “It was quite an immersive, very insightful trip,” says Scott.

For those of us who did not get to make the trip, the Jameson folks shot a fun short video, with some cool aerial footage of Captain Lawrence, here.

There may be some more history being made in the brewery. The Effortless Grapefruit IPA, a follow-up to the way-popular Citrus King small-batch brew, looks as though it will be moving on up to the major leagues, sold around the region as a six-pack. “It tastes absolutely fabulous,” says Scott. Scott adds that he’s “seriously considering” putting the Effortless Grapefruit in cans, making the beer well-suited for the golf course, the beach and other outdoor, on-the-go settings. If it comes to fruition, it would represent Captain Lawrence’s first canned beer.

Of course, bottles are still going strong at the brewery. The Fermento Funk Factory, as the new aging facility adjacent to the brewery is known, produced its first beer on the corking and caging line, as the barrel aged Frost Monster–the imperious beast spending alone time in apple brandy barrels–is being put in 375 ml bottles, and will be available next month. The deep, dark imperial stout is a fearsome tasting room favorite.

And here’s a new word for you to learn: Foudre. Captain Lawrence now has six of these massive aging casks on site. Four of them recently arriving from Napa, the oak barrels have an opening on top for adding fruit or other flavor enhancers; one’s got 800 pounds of strawberry in the mix, another has a thousand pounds of apricot. Before long, they’ll produce some beloved sour ales, such as the Cuvee de Castleton, Rosso e Marrone, and ones for the new Hudson Valley Harvest Sour Ale line.

Speaking of sours, Sour’d in September event is coming up September 19. Some 40 breweries spanning the nation, including Smuttynose, Peekskill and Troegs, will be showcasing their finest sour brews—those tart, tangy, often fruity and typically barrel aged beers. “They’re definitely not the average, everyday beer by any means,” says Scott.

There’ll be a giant tent in the parking lot, and part of the brewery will be open for sampling sours as well.

Sours are not for everyone, and there’s the usual eclectic lineup of traditional beers on tap in the tasting room–from standards like the Captain’s Kolsch and Hop Commander IPA, to pilot-system short-timers such as the dark ale Sisyphus’ Smile and passion fruit brew Passion of Perrone.

The pilot system is actually backlogged for the first time, says Scott, with small-batch concoctions waiting their turn in the 12-tap lineup. “Justin Sturges has been really cranking out the beers since he was put in charge of the pilot system,” Scott says. “We’re super-excited about what he’s doing.”

–Michael Malone (mikemalone5a@gmail.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Sunday. The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale, for “Notes From the Tasting Room.”

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room: Oh, The Places They’ll Go!

It’s always a jovial atmosphere out on the Captain Lawrence patio, but today’s vibe feels extra festive. Perhaps it’s because it’s the Carmel High School Class of 2000 reunion. Old friends catch up, show off their babies, and dish on classmates who could not make it while sampling the Captain’s usual selection of craft brews. It is a “semi-official” reunion for the Putnam County school, says Danielle Smith, who came down from Narragansett, Rhode Island for the bash. It’s “Facebook-official,” adds classmateChristine Dunning, who had a much shorter trip from Valhalla.

Christine may have had something to do with the group choosing Captain Lawrence as its venue. After all, she and her then fiancé, now holding their baby while lamenting the Mets’ performance with a friend, had their wedding rehearsal dinner at the brewery.

Sarah Dioguardi of New York City sports a broad smile. “I just love seeing my friends—and their kids,” she says. “It’s a gorgeous day and you couldn’t pick a better venue.”

The crew is sampling the Freshchester Pale Ale, the Effortless IPA and its big brother, the Hop Commander IPA, along with wood-fired pizzas from the Gleason’s guys (The Captain Kuchen, featuring crème fraiche, onion and bacon, is a hit.). Carmel High guyErik Schlange is at home with both the standby ale Kolsch as well as the small-batch Bee’z German Honey Kolsch. “I’m a German guy,” he explains.

Winston

It’s a sunny Saturday. Fittingly, “Shiny Happy People” pumps out of the speakers. Elsewhere on the patio, Sean Wandzilak andKyli Peterson of Yonkers ended up at the brewery after spying a batch of sample chips from a previous visit in the car. They’re enjoying the session brew Effortless IPA, produced for daytime al fresco sessions such as this. “This is like coming to your backyard,” says Kyli. “It’s just nice and comfortable.”

The pair is discussing the next day’s plans; perhaps a lengthy bike ride will be in the offing. “It depends what time we get up,” says Sean.

Inside the tasting room, the warning bell for the 2 p.m. tour goes off and people make the necessary arrangements. Kathi andBob Kearney of Yorktown share a table with pal Tom Litavec. The Kearneys are picking up donations from the brewery—a gift basket and cases of beer for the Drive to Cure Diabetes golf event they are helping organize at Centennial Golf Club in, yes, Carmel, July 27. “Since we were picking up the donations, we said, ‘let’s have a tasting,” says Kathi, sipping an Effortless IPA that she singles out for its “nice and interesting flavors.”

Bob, for his part, opts for his preferred Belgian-style golden ale Liquid Gold. “It’s dependable,” he says. “I figured I’d get one that I know I’ll really enjoy.”

Tom samples the “nice and hoppy” Hop Commander. He’s happy to be along for the ride, even if it’s not a free ride. “Someone’s got to lift those cases,” he says.

Seated at a nearby table are Arielle Boutin of Norwalk and Jonathan Crovo of Trumbull on their first excursion to Captain Lawrence. “It’s a nice day and we wanted to find something to do, so we looked online,” he says. Seeking a destination in the “hour-ish” zone, Jonathan adds, they stumbled upon the Elmsford brewery and were off.

First impressions count for something, but they’re not always everything. “We pulled into the lot and said, this is a bust,” admits Jonathan, sipping the Kolsch, of the brewery’s somewhat hidden locale on the far end of an industrial parking lot.

Fortunately, they ventured in. “Such a hidden gem,” offers Ariella, a glass of Hop Commander in hand. “It’s so cute I couldn’t believe it.”

Meanwhile, back on the patio, more Carmel Class of 2000 folks turn up for the reunion. Sarah DioGuardi’s only complaint on the day is that one of the beertenders could not name the source for the honey in the Bee’z German brew—that, and the block of Weezer songs ending. “The music is great, the outdoor space is great, the beer is great,” Sarah says. “Where else would we go?

—Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday, with weekend brewery tours on the hour, starting at 1. The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in Freshchester Pale Ale. 

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room: Band Bacchanalia Both Pleasant and Festive

It was a glorious day, sunny and hot, with bands occupying three stages at the Pleasantville Music Festival, and several varieties of Captain Lawrence flowing. There was a little more star power on stage at this year’s affair, the 11th, and the masses turned up to see some rock icons. The award for most determined went to Eric Kristensen, who “hobbled” from his Pleasantville home, he says, on a broken ankle covered in a thick cast. “I slipped on the grass,” he explained. “Scratch that. I hurt it in a Division 3 cage match.”

Eric smiled, then revealed that he was demonstrating a soccer drill for his team of 7-year-old girls when he took a spill. But he was well enough to party with old SUNY Purchase pals Scott Pitulik and Terry Deal, who were up from Manhattan for the day. “We’ve been here before,” said Terry, mentioning seeing headliner the English Beat a few years ago. “It sounded fun and doable. It’s nice to get out of the city and be with a bunch of friends who live here, and their kids.”

As Fastball played, Terry recalled cranking the Austin band’s ubiquitous late ‘90s radio staple “The Way” while driving around in her car. Eric sipped the Captain Lawrence IPA and Terry the peppery O’de To P’Ville saison, which Captain Lawrence made just for the day. (The brewery was, of course, born two blocks from the festival on Castleton Street.) She described it as a “put-orange-in-it beer”.

Scott called himself a “philistine” in terms of beer. “I’m only having the Kolsch because there’s no Budweiser,” he admitted.

Hey, everyone was welcome on this day, whether it was the main stage, the acoustic “chill tent” or the Captain Lawrence beer garden stage. The biggest buzz of the first half of the day went to Lions on the Moon, a gang of exceptionally talented teens, except for one—the 12-year-old Hendrix-esque guitarist, Brandon Niederauer. The kid can outright shred, and the band drew a massive crowd to the beer tent to watch their soulful take on classic rock staples. Aaron Barbour of Thornwood sipped his saison, which he called “a good beer for a hot summer day.” Lions on the Moon, from Long Island, were his early favorite. “It’s only 5:30,” said Aaron, “but that may hold to the end of the night.”

Darien’s Luke Condolora, sporting a Ramones t-shirt, buys radio air time for a living, knows the sponsor Peak 107.1 FM well, and checks the upcoming lineup at the music fest every year. “This was the first year where I said, I gotta go,” said Luke, with the Gin Blossoms the band that tipped the scales in his favor.

He and wife Laura (Luke and Laura have heard their share of “General Hospital” jokes, but have at it) sampled several beers that sat atop a barrel, and could barely contain their excitement. “Our daughter is at camp and our son is at work,” said Laura. “We are out!”

“We’re on the express,” added Luke. “And it just rolled in.”

Both were enjoying the Belgian-style Liquid Gold. “It’s the first time I’ve had it,” said Luke. “It won’t be the last.”

Their pal Gina Goichman of Fairfield laughed along with the mirthful Luke and Laura. “I’m babysitting them,” she said.

Fastball gave way to G. Love and Special Sauce, who attracted a large and lively crowd in front of the stage. Even some f-bombs from G. Love didn’t dampen the boisterous vibe. (Hey G.—there are kids in attendance!) Marshall Crenshaw played a sensitive solo set under the tent, a nice break from the sun, while the Captain Lawrence beer garden continued to go strong.

“The sun has dipped down, it’s a little cooler and no one is rushing the beer line,” said Dan Townsend of Pleasantville. “It’s become chill.”

Dan enjoyed the IPA along with pals Jen Filerdi of Chappaqua and Valerie Jacobs of Pleasantville; it was the stage of the evening where they were comparing “Karate Kid” kicks. Valerie mentioned attending all 11 Pleasantville Music Festivals. Dan actually hosted the event’s after-party at his home a few years back. There was a DJ, some archery, a band from the festival and an unhappy neighbor or two.

Aaron Barbour took it all in with a happy sip of his saison. “Local beer, local music, local food, and it’s good for kids,” he said. “This is the whole package.”The headliner, the Gin Blossoms, finally took the stage near sunset, living proof that an exceptional hit song will stick in people’s consciousness a few decades after it dominates the radio. (There. Now “Hey Jealousy” is stuck in your head for the next few hours.)

—Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday (4-8 p.m.), Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-5). The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale. 

Notes From the Captain Lawrence Tasting Room: Going Out With a Bang

It is the time of year for celebrating the United States’ great red, white and blue streak of independence, and all of the traditions and trapping that go with it. Nancy and Jamie Dressel of Chappaqua will be venturing to Chicago to visit Nancy’s sister Debbie and her daughter Angela. But for today, all four are happy to be in the Captain Lawrence tasting room. “We’re here almost every week,” says Nancy proudly.

Angela Alejandro has sampled Captain Lawrence when her aunt and uncle bring a growler or two to Chicago, but today she gets to try the Hop Commander fresh from the source. For Debbie, who tends bar back in Chi-town, Independence Day is about “lying on a blanket, watching fireworks with someone you like.”

Angela goes for a somewhat less quaint memory—she recalls watermelons being blown up by sticking “dynamite”, or maybe it’s M-80s, in them. Jamie chuckles at the memory too. “Before Captain Lawrence,” he says, “there was Michelob.”

Similar to the Dressel party’s, the fondest July 4 memories in the tasting room range from the sentimental to the eye-popping and ear-shattering. Joe Pepe of Elmsford, his tiny Yorkie Maximus at his feet, recalls visiting Westlake High School in Thornwood as a kid, where there was a bonfire, parade and fireworks show that lasted a full hour. “You don’t see that anymore,” he says.

Joe also recalls less sanctioned fireworks events down on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx—someone setting fire inside a garbage can and tossing fireworks inside.

Out on the patio, it is gray, but the rain is holding off. Captain Lawrence alum Nick Schwartz of Croton enjoys a few beers with the woman he calls his “pirate wife,” Nina Gramaglia. “I always spend July 4th on my sailboat on the Hudson,” he says, true to pirate character. Nick’s pirate booty may include a growler of the Palate Shifter imperial IPA as the fireworks show goes off in Haverstraw. “That’s always a big part of my July 4th plans.”

Nina’s best Independence Day memories go back to childhood. “I always looked forward to my dad bringing home sparklers,” she recalls. “That’s the closest we would get to having fireworks.”

Back in the tasting room, there’s a decidedly punky edge to the soundtrack—some Misfits, a little Flogging Molly. The beer flows—standbys like the Freshchester Pale Ale and Liquid Gold, a lively batch of pilot-system brews, such as the O.G. IPA and Ye Ol’ English dark ale. Beertender Rob Catalano proudly notes the pending arrival of his Knifey Moloko stout in the tasting room, this iteration aged in apple brandy barrels. When he thinks of July 4, he recalls dodging misfired projectiles, repeatedly, at a lakehouse up at Candlewood Lake. “Nonstop explosives,” he says. “Like being in a war zone—without actually being shot at.”

OK, time for more quaint memories. Zoe Seavey and Axel Hunnicutt of Greenwich hover over a few samples after their brewery tour; Zoe shares some of her learnings about the various forms that hops can take as she sips the Bigmouth, a piney and pleasant rye pale ale. “I love fireworks on the beach,” she says. “Maybe a hot dog.”

Axel, sipping the Garnet & Gold, a summer ale with orange and hibiscus, is recently back from South Africa, where he studied wildlife, including the plight of the rhinoceros. It will be his first July 4th in the States in years. He recalls another July 4th, when he was in the Canadian Rockies, studying grizzly bears (it is entirely possible that Axel’s day job is more interesting than yours and mine). Some well intentioned Canadian colleagues, noting the significance of the day in America, picked up a six-pack of Budweiser for Axel..

Axel appreciated the gesture, he says, but “I just wish I’d had some craft beer.”

—Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Wednesday through Friday (4-8 p.m.), Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-5). The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in India Pale Ale.