Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca

Brewed by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Dexter, Michigan USA

Not bad, but didn’t care for the lemon/fruity finish to this one. Something just isn’t right, but can’t put my finger on it. Think I’ll pass.

Bottle. Pours a slightly cloudy yellow color with a thin white head. Aroma of lemon and orange. Very wine-like. Nice mouthfeel. Flavor is sour, with a lemony touch to it. Not as flavorful as I would have thought. I expected more of a wine-like taste to it. A decent sour, but not my favorite.

I tried it from the 12 oz bottle. Pours well, golden color with small white head. The taste is very reminiscent of Pinot Grigio. Dry and crisp with notes of spices around the swallow. It is a decent witbier overall.

(bottle, thanks olso2116) Pours golden with a small white head and traces of sediment floating in the liquid. Smell, oh what a surprise for a Jolly Pumpkin, sour and funky, reminiscent of a gueze. Taste was pretty muted with some sourness, a slight hint of spice, and an oak and grain finish. Not really that pleasant.

[Bottle] Pours a clear golden with a small white head. Sour smell with a little coriander and an unusual hint of something not very pleasant. Taste is quite sour up front with the coriander coming through somewhat in the finish along with a slight bitterness. Medium body, decent finish. I’ll give this credit for being unique, but it didn’t overly impress me.

Date: 04/29/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Dark Lord Day, 2005

clear yellow, lots of carbonation, big white head, fresh lemony aroma, light citrus malt flavor, simple,
-------- /> Date: 05/13/2006
Mode: bottle
Score: i to ii

hazy yellow, lemon and spices in the aroma, thin body, very light and lively with lots of carbonation, lots of tart lemon flavor, great spices, dry,
-------- /> Date: 07/03/2006
Mode: bottle

bottle explodes in the cellar leaving a small bomb crater moving all other bottles aside
-------- /> Date: 09/19/2006
Mode: bottle

picking up a bit more funk in the aroma and flavor, carbonation continues to overwhelm, getting more interesting as it grows in character and complexity

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 4/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

12 oz bottle, 7/26/07: Long lasting frothy white head on a medium golden body. Typical JP house yeast immediately present in the nose... Slighly plasticky/band aid in the phenolics. It sort of overwhelms the orange floral and peppery character of the yeast. Some of the ever present barnyardy aromas and wheat malt is moderately present. Orange and coriander seem to be a bit weak, but this bottle, although refrigerated since being in my posession for the last 3 months, it could be much older. Well balanced hop/malt wise, and even though a bit aged, it has a nice refreshing tartness to it that not many wits outside Belgium seem to have. Wheat malt is strong in the flavor profile, as is the yeast character. Lightly clove spicy, not necessarily peppery spicy. Higher medium carbonation, lighter body, no alcohol present, dry but well balanced m/f. Not one of the best wits I’ve had, but one of the more interesting. I’m not too keen on the plasticky notes I pick up from JP’s house yeast, but this is an interesting beer nonetheles.

Cloudy pale yellow with good, creamy white head / Funky, perfumey nose of bananas, citrus and oak / Light to medium body, smooth and creamy with low carbonation, a touch of sweetness, and with good, dry finish / Tart flavors of green apple, banana, lemon, orange, and coriander, with black pepper finish / Another superb sour from JP.