The Captain’s Log: New Year’s, New Beers

The final tally is just…about…in. As the year comes to a close, Captain Lawrence has produced nearly 20,000 barrels of beer in 2013—that’s close to 40,000 kegs, and a whopping 35% increase over 2012, its first full year in Elmsford. Going a bit further back, Captain Lawrence brewed 8,800 barrels in 2011. “That’s a big jump in two years,” says owner Scott Vaccaro.

The Captain seeks to smash that record in 2014, while continuing to create some of the funkiest and most acclaimed beers around. A 35-barrel batch of Hops ‘N Roses—the sour ale that took a gold medal at the Great American Beer Fest this past fall—is headed into oak barrels, and will be ready for summer. And while it’s another six weeks or so before pitchers and catchers turn up at spring training, here’s another sign that winter won’t last forever—the Winter Ale supply is winding down, and the Sun Block is ready to take its place. Look for Sun Block—the hoppy wheat ale that goes so well with barbecues and beaches—in February.

Scott says Sun Block’s robust profile makes it more than a summer beer. “I think it’s a great year-round drinking beer,” he says. “It tastes just as good in February as it does in August.”

After the runaway success of the imperial stout Frost Monster—the first pilot system brew to make it to 12-ounce bottle big leagues—Captain Lawrence is set to tackle its next quarterly four-pack release: the triple IPA known as Seeking Alpha. The uber-hopped brew has been through a few test batches, and soon will be ready for bottles. It’s 11% ABV and a 100 on the IBU (International Bitterness Unit) scale.

“Super hoppy, super strong, over the top everything,” is how Scott describes it. 

Having that much malt and sugar in the mix makes it difficult to “dry out” the beer, he adds. “But after Frost Monster, we’re confident we can do that,” notes Scott.

It’s going to be a busy 2014 for Westchester’s favorite brewery. Four new staff hires are coming on board, including new faces in sales and quality control, and the expansion throughout central and southern Jersey starts in February. The beloved rookie India Pale Ale is headed for the 12-pack.

The brewing elves at Captain Lawrence created a stunning 46 small-batch beers this year, including the malty Young Wolfington brown saison, the Snickelfritz pilsner-lager and the Knickerhopper dry-hopped ale, among many others (most named for their dogs or cats). Expect more in 2014. “We look to best that in calendar ’14,” says Scott. “If you haven’t made it into the tasting room this year, you’re missing out in a world of flavor.”

Finally, he and everyone at the brewery thank the thousands of guests who’ve poured into the tasting room, only to have the beertenders pour them a sample or two, in 2013. After all, without all of you, none of those 20,000 barrels get produced. “A big thank you to our patrons,” says Scott, “who continue to let me have the greatest job on earth.”   

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.

The “Notes From the Tasting Room” book is available at the brewery and on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Notes-Captain-Lawrence-Tasting-Room/dp/0985632844/

Notes From the Tasting Room, Vol. 38 The Great Growler Grab and Go

Yesterday was, of course, Cyber Monday, on the heels of Small Business Saturday, the infamous Black Friday, and a less heralded day known around these parts as Growler Wednesday. See, the day before Thanksgiving each year is the day when half of Westchester County and surrounding regions venture to Captain Lawrence Brewing to fill up growlers, as the likes of Pumpkin Ale, Winter Ale and Freshchester Pale Ale have become, for many, as much a part of the holiday as turkey, football and a massive tryptophan-induced nap.

It was the first Growler Wednesday in Captain Lawrence’s spacious Elmsford quarters, and the brewery staff, like toll collectors on the Turnpike, was geared up for the most highly trafficked day of the year.

Charles Britz of Armonk and Gina Dedvukaj of Mohegan Lake are annual Growler Wednesday attendees. On Thanksgiving Eve, they were enjoying a few samples of Winter Ale, a malty concoction seasoned with winter spices, while contemplating what to fill their jugs with. “I told him, we need to go to Captain Lawrence and get beer,” said Gina, who admits to giant pangs of thirst whenever she sees a Captain Lawrence post on Facebook.

Charles was heading down to Grandma’s in South Jersey in the morning, 64-plus ounces of Pumpkin Ale in tow. “It’s always a rough ride,” he lamented.

Gina was hosting for the first time, and copped to some jangled nerves. “We’ll see how it goes,” she said, admitting the growler might get cracked open a little before the guests arrive.

The folks from Village Dog were preparing the poultry trifecta known as Turducken for hungry samplers. By 5 p.m., the growler line started to snake through the tasting room. Jesse Bender and his wife Amanda, of Somers, escaped the buzz of the tasting room for the quietude of the brewery space. Stars of “Notes Vol. 34,” the Benders had brought along friend Doug Finn, of Boston, for a few samples of Westchester’s finest. Doug didn’t share Jesse’s taste for heartier ales—preferring the Belgian wit brewed Basil Haze Wit instead.

“Jesse tends to like used motor oil,” Doug quipped.

“I like dark beer,” Jesse countered with a shrug.

The Benders were attending a Thanksgiving dinner party in White Plains, and were in charge of the “provisions,” said Amanda, served up by the likes of Captain Lawrence. Amanda swears by the Imperial IPA, while Jesse thought the Winter Ale would be a worthy entry on the Thanksgiving menu. “People have table wine,” he said. “You have table beer too.”

Across the room, John Benford of Larchmont braved the growler line to bring home Imperial IPA and Liquid Gold, though he was unsure if the beer would actually make it to Thanksgiving. “It’ll probably get drunk tonight,” he said.

Pal Tim Williamson, also of Larchmont, avoided the Turducken, but was devouring a hot dog “infused” with Brown Bird Ale that he described as “impeccable.”

Tim too planned to walk out with a jug of the Imperial IPA on his hip. “It’s my favorite beer in the world,” he said. “It’s Old Faithful.”

Despite the lines, the mood in the tasting room was festive. Owner Scott Vaccaro was enjoying some post-work Chico De Leche milk stout, while his baby Drew stuck with plain ol’ milk. A lively game of cornhole was going on. Some staffers had a long day of filling growlers ahead of them, while others had some food—and beer—to prepare.

Evan Watson in fact brewed up four beers to pair with the four courses he was preparing at home in Dobbs Ferry—a cantaloupe pale ale, a juniper stout, a “turkey beer” and “Midnight Oil”—a cherry wood smoked porter that shares a name with Evan’s upcoming album.

Uh, turkey beer? It didn’t actually have turkey in it, but the strong golden ale did have a cornucopia of seasonal flavors--including rosemary, cranberries, lemongrass, maple syrup and black pepper--and apparently would go well with turkey. “It’s intensely flavorful,” said Evan.  

Turkey beer may not suit everyone’s tastes, but judging by the Growler Wednesday crowd at the brewery, plenty of other stuff did. 

—Michael Malone (malone5a@yahoo.com)

Captain Lawrence Brewing, at 444 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is open Tuesday through Friday (retail 2-7 p.m., samples 4-7 p.m.); and Saturday, with retail and samples 12-6 p.m., and brewery tours on the hour, starting at 1. The author is paid by Captain Lawrence, partially in Freshchester Pale Ale, for “Notes From the Tasting Room.”