On May 8th Captain Lawrence released Smoke from the Oak through their brewery, but lucky me, it was after I went dry for the month of May. Did that stop me from getting to the brewery to get my allotment of this beer? HELL NO!
So if you don’t know, I’m on the wagon this month. To keep things rolling on Simply Beer, I’ve decided to expand my culinary (Stop laughing) skills. Since it’s Cinco de Mayo, I’m going to make something with that in mind, Beer “tortilla” chips and salsa. Since this is a beer site and I’m not a chef nor have the time to make many things from scratch, everything is store bought. I loved doing this experiment, because it was so simple.
One of the few reviews that I’ve done where I have actually already had the beer while I’m writing the review. The Captain Lawrence Espresso Stout, like most of their beer, is a draft only seasonal beer. I’m writing this review as one of the few lucky people who actually have a sixtel of Captain Lawrence beer in their kegorator. How you ask? A couple of days ago, I hosted a Captain Lawrence Beer Dinner with Restaurant Passionne and Scott Vaccaro brought down a the last sixtel he had in the Brewery and after the event was done, he asked me if I wanted what was left. So what beer geek could possible say no? After promising to return the log and the tap, it now sits in my kegorator pouring glass after glass of espresso deliciousness.
Yes, that right Starting May 1st, I fallen on the wagon. No alcohol for the next 35 days for me. I don’t recall anytime in the last 20 years that I have gone more then a couple days without a beer, wine, whiskey, or tequila. First off before you go thinking, “What do this guy have a drinking problem?” I guess my only problem is that I’m not going to have any of that nectar of the gods for the next month. So why am I doing it? On June 5th I’ll be testing for my 1st Degree Black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I know I don’t have to stop drinking for this, but it is a personal choice.
If you are in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania area on Tuesday April 27th, you don’t want to miss this. Scott Vaccaro, Owner of Captain Lawrence Brewery and I have selected 5 amazing Captain Lawrence beers which Chef Mike Carrino, Owner of Restaurant Passionné, and I have paired into a spectacular 5 course dinner. 
What happens when Captain Lawrence brings in one of their biggest supporters who happens to also be a high end food market? You get a Abbey Ale made with Imported Italian Chestnut Honey and Jam. I’m not even sure what “Italian Chestnut honey and jam” is, but it peaked my interest. As a big supporter (or at least I try) of local breweries, I drove up to Captain Lawrence on Birra DeCicco’s release day to snag a couple bottles of this intriguing brew with Lee from Hoptopia.
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