Jolly Pumpkin Bière de Mars Grand Reserve

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

Batch 65 - thanks to mibirder for this - very turbid amber beer, with a thick, fizzy lace - the stereotypical JP funk is there to greet the nose, in oh such beautiful proportion to the other characteristics of soft oak, fruit skins, vanilla - soft carbonation - funky and acidic, but never to the point of being overly acetic, which is tough to do - just mouth-watering tartness - some strong oak and vanilla sit on top of some tropical fruit and baked apple sweetness, adding a nice balance to the acidity, and light leathery character on the back end - the sweetness wears off in time for the finish, with lingering oak and tannic character rounding things out - this beer is fantastic - certainly the best JP beer I’ve ever had.

Batch 65. Oaky, sour fruit funk aroma. Super sour flavor that get rounded out nicely a bit by the oak. Still a bit more acidic then I like, but quite complex and interesting.

Bottle, batch 65. Aroma of spicy citrus and pine with a rich single malt scotch character. Pleasant medium to light color with a short off white head. Flavor is sour with apple, grapes, and a hint of pine. This beer is extremely smooth and pleasant to drink, with well balanced sourness - an excellent effort!

Clear firey brown with some tan head. Smells like Carolina vinegar bbq sauce. Tangy, tart, and very puckering. Medium body. High carbonation. Dry finish. Has to be the best JP beer I’ve had.

Thanks to Schroppfy for the gift. This beer is amazing. Beautiful red color, quickly dissipating small head. Fruity, acetic aroma with some oak and vanilla in the background. Excellent intense sourness and touch of oak balanced by a firm malt presence. Great mouthfeel. Some similarities to La Folie, primarily in the acetic qualities. This beer is just plain amazing. The only thing that would make this beer better would be a touch more carbonation and a longer lasting head. Who cares though?! It’s incredible as it is!

What an amazing treat. This beeris delcious!!! Pours a deep auburn color with small fizzy headup top. Nose breaths bourbon, sourness, cider like notes, cherry, just fantastic. Flavors are dominated by the sour funk, cherry, light fruitiness. And it certainly goes down really easy. A damn fine brew.

12 oz bottle. Deep ruby brown with a slim bubbly head. Nose is a pungent sour apricot with distinct horse stall. I cringed at first sniff but strangely intriguing. A few pricks of carb with a full mouthfeel that becomes vaporous. Taste is very sour cherry skins, lemon juice, oak and cinnamon Red Hots. Quite intense.

12oz bottle thanks to Schroppfy. Pours a deep bloody brown and purple color, soft yet heavy and strong in appearance, almost intimidating. Amazingly vibrant and deep nose, the red wine-scented oak tannins and light note of sweet bourbon hit the nose, followed quickly by an assertive, rich, and deep hit of acidic sour funk. Plums, light char, dry oak tannins, the flavor of mushy red wine grapes, the flavor of old wood, it’s one of the most miraculous things I’ve ever tasted, there’s little doubt. The full-bodied, frothy sourness washes through the entire body, part playing a role of a Flemish Red, but a bigger part going experimental, combining things never before seen together in one beer. Incredible.