Jolly Pumpkin Bière de Mars Grand Reserve

Formerly brewed at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Sour Ale
Dexter, Michigan USA

Sampled at Arg0’s Pre-RBSG Tasting at his pad: Amber caramel color, off white head, light lacing. Nose of sweet and funky belgian notes, cranberry and cherry, bright bacteria and sweet crumbly malts. The flavor is rich, chewy, sweet cherry pie. Delicious and simple. Finishes appley, tart, lovely. Thanks artusory!

Tawny brown velvet with a nice medium capping of firm dark ivory foam. Keeps a great collaring of fluffy firm foam and a decent skim always present. Loose and drippy lacing with some patchy globs and torn strings sticking. Lovely aroma of slightly oaky sour vinegar floating atop of maple syrup, thick vanilla, sour apple, and some sticky malts that tender up some toffee and pale fruityness. Which helps keep this a very well-rounded and balanced nose. Taste is just as nice. Lovely tamed pull of oaky vinegar sourness over a delicate malt play of soft, ripe fruits of tart cherries, apples, grapes, and a squeeze of orange oil. Very slight vanilla hints in the middle and a slight woody, earthy, taragon touch to it thats quite nice. Finishes with a peppy return of oaky sour grab as it faintly drys the throat and palate with a vinegar-like sweetness and tart fruit skin texture. Feel is about medium with a very well balanced give and take of sour and sweet malt. Smooth and just down right balanced. The sour is just right here. A superbly crafted brew by JP. Very subtle play and characteristics within the souring tones. Earthy, woody, and rounded with great additions in tartish fruit and cider juices and dryness. Outstandingly lavish and well made. Solid!

Bottle, thanks to Mr. Styles! Poured a clear, fiery orange with a short dusting of beige head and a little dark sediment resting at the bottom. Nose picked up dusty, dried cherries and vinous notes, rustic old barn must, sweet whiskey, and vanilla influence from the barrel. Lighter on the palate with spritzy carbonation... tart at the tip and sweeter through the finish... mild alcohol warmth capped it off. Flavor had musty, tart cherries at the core.. dusty floral hoppage and sweet whiskey not far off... and subtler notes of toasted vanilla and white pepper. Well balanced and integrated with the bourbon barrels. Another winner from JP! Thanks Chris!

Whiskey is very prominent in the nose. On further investigation, floral, lavender and chocolate notes appear. Hazy burnished copper coloured body is topped by a fine bubbled tan head that recedes to cover with some soapy lacing. In the flavour, the barrel aging is more subdued or perhaps just better blended than in the aroma. Subdued notes of whiskey complement chocolate, toasty malts along with cherry and grape fruitiness. Tangy sourness makes an appearance especially towards the finish. Vanilla lingers on the tongue. Medium body is quite dry with moderate carbonation to pique the taste buds. Sampled at Mondial 2006.

12 oz bottle. Deep copper brown in color with a little of white head. Tart bourbon aroma. Sour and tart taste. Malty notes. Fruity finish. Grapes and oranges. Medium bodied. Sweet. Goes well with Aged Gouda. Very fresh tasting. Enjoyable. Very nice.

12 oz bottle. Brown with a lively, short lived head. Aroma is mellow bourbon with some tart cheese. Taste is sour and tart. Smoothed out with the proper amount of caramel malt. The wood is still a bit fresh but that only helps the fresh carbonation. Theres oranges, grapes and cherries. This is as good as it gets for the style aged in barrels. Goes very well with both aged gouda and smoked blue cheese.

Poured a clear amber with a brown hue and off-white head. Very nice leathery funky aroma. Sweet malt with some boubon underneath. Notes of vanilla and alcohol are there in the mix. Yeasty funk flavor stands out. Very nice. Woody flavor with maybe even some peatiness. Some malty sweetness and nice bourbon on the finish. Lively mouthfeel. Light warmng sensation.

Pours a transparent dark amber copper with a thin froth of well-lacing off-white head. Complex aroma of sweet caramel, woody oak, bourbon vanilla and lots of sweaty, funky brett with a touch of lemony tartness. Body starts well-carbonated and sweet showcasing some good tart fruity balance before some bigger lingering bourbon oak and cheesy barnyard complexity toward the crisp flavorful finish. A very drinkable and enjoyable beer, especially given its complexity.