Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Grand Reserve

Brewed by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Sour Ale
Dexter, Michigan USA

Very hazy, light pumpkin/wood color. Lots of yeast, raisin, flowers. A delicious combination of yeast and the base malts, with a late fruity citrus flavor. Interesting.

Bottle. Thanks to Artusory for the trade. Pours a deep red amber body with thin head. Aroma is very complex - oak is noticable, light vanilla, sourness. Flavor is very subtle and mild making it a very smooth sipping beer. Light oak - woodiness, and the nice JP funk that make their beers stand out from the rest. Though I prefer the regualr La Roja, I wish this version was more readily available and in a bigger bottle to share with a few friends. I appreciate the chance to try it Ryan, thanks.

Dark amber, almost brown in color. Amazing nose of sweaty brett, soggy bread and grains, dates and nuts and plums, with a bit of a Rochefort-like yeast character. Old grapefruit and black cherries of all things, with a big dose of cedar or oak or cherry wood. Brett sourness is quite nice... it’s spicy, fizzy (but thick), peppery and sweet... finishing with tobacco and plum flavors. Very good stuff.

As I bury my face in my Duvel tulip and smell, I am greeted by a symphony of delicate aromas in perfect harmony, an event that must be experienced to truly be understood. Caramel oak, red wine vinegar, buttery maple syrup and anise liquor coat the nose, delighting in every possible sense. Perhaps it is a little hot, but hey, if you compare this to a fine whiskey -- which it almost comes across as -- its way ahead of those in that regard. The pour is dead, musky brown, auburn like the left-over leaves you didn’t rake after a long, snowy winter. A delight in the mouth; though it can’t match the complexity of the nose, the exotic fruits -- passionfruit, apricot, plum -- are silky and rich and a perfect compliment to the oak. Suddenly I feel like I should compare this to a wine, not a whiskey. Ah well; for a beer, this is truly something else.

The first 4 bottles I got from Jolly Pumpkin were sent to me from BBB63, so go firue this one would too! From the first batch. Pours a hazy amber color, almost no head. Aroma is just a slightly restrained full on sour. Complex with more going on than I can type. A great blending that seems to be just a baby step from amazing.

Bottle graciously shared by sliffy. Pours a reddish-orange...hazy with an offwhite head. Aroma of oak, brown sugar, caramel malt, and some light sour elements. Flavor was of oak, light sour, brown sugar and caramel malt. Medium bodied...woody with a light sweetness that mellows it out...dry/light vinous finish. Another damn fine brew from Jolly Pumpkin.

Bottle. Hazy amber colour with a small beige head. Heavy malty, raisin, dryed fruits, vanilla aroma and a dry fruits, light acid, wood, vanilla taste. Medium body with a dry light acid finish.

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja - Grande Reserve 12 oz bottle Recent release(04/07, batch #2(?)), blushed over 05/07 Medium pour in a tulip glass. Poured a hazy orange brown with a small light brown somewhat lasting head with lots of carbonation. Very interesting lacing as I tipped the glass for a sip. Smelt of strong fruity sour oranges and fresh fruit salad and moderate caramel, vinous. Taste was upfront strong sour and moderate sweetness and light spiciness followed by a strong bitter and sour yeast on a long bitter finish. Palate was light to medium bodied, softly carbonated, creamy to a dry finish, lightly alcoholic and puckering. Overall, this is something special. The sour flavors are bold and striking, almost intimidating, but not off putting by any way. The aroma itself is a mystifying treat. I couldn’t find myself drinking this in the winter though due to its puckering factor. It’s a very odd style and sensory experience, somewhat new to me, but the balance of such strong sour flavors is simply amazing.