Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Grand Reserve

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

Thanks to Chris (styles) for this bottle. Been wanting to get my hands on a JP reserve beer for quite some time. This one says aged for 20 months. Pours out a dark murky brown color that is slightly darker than regular La Roja. Smell is overwhelming oak, vanilla, some fruits and some sour notes. Taste is rich with bourbon flavor and vanilla. Nice little sour punch from it too. Very good stuff actually, surprised its rated this low. A unique beer drinking experience, but unlike regular La Roja, I do not know how many of these I could drink in 1 sitting.. split with Garrett (rayg1)

thanks to styles for the 12 oz. bottle. the gold foil label on the neck was smudged, so I almost missed the fact that this is the grand reserve version. my first of the style, it struck me as a combination of an old ale and a flemish sour aged in an oak barrel. appearance is a not quite clear, but not really hazy brown without much head. aroma was all oak. flavor is a tart sweetness of cherries and citrus sour funkiness. not a lot of carbonation, which I like and a medium mouth-feel. good stuff, thanks Chris.

Massive thanks to Beerdrenched for sharing this hard to find treat. The version sampled was the oak aged, not the bourbon barrel aged - thank goodness. Pours hazy dark amber with a tan soapy head. Aroma has lots of oak with teh sharp & citric qualities of the original. There is a nice amount of spice here as well. Medium / thin mouthfeel with a small amount of carbonation. Taste has lots of oakiness and sour citrus - to a lesser extent is the spice characteristics. The finish has lots of tartness and citrus sharpness. Very nice beer.

Pours brownish red with a nice tan head. Smells of wooden barrels, buttery berries and cherries. Taste is sweet with nice woody elements on the finish.

(BIG THANKS TO KRAMER17801 FOR THIS BREW)pour was a muky brown with not much head.aroma was a beautiful blend of bourbon,vanilla,sour funk,cherries,and caramel malts.first thing that hits the tounge is a rush of bourbon and vanilla.i then taste some chocolate,sourness,cherries,caramel malts,and lemons.wow this is very unique and exceptionally fantastic!(RE-RATE:9/9/08.20 MONTH BA AGED BOTTLE).wow,the aroma is outstanding!i get oak,vanilla,cherries,bourbon,and a slight sourness.flavor is much of the same.ultra smooth and yet still a nice long lasting palte.this is one of the best beers i have ever had.

Bottle from Styles. Thanks Chris. Pours muddy amber with a very small, quickly fading, off-white head. The aroma is heavy bourbon, lots of sour cherries, some horseblanket, light pineapple, some caramel. The flavor is moderately sour, lots of warm bourbon, vanilla, some cherries and grapes. The mouthfeel is slick with nearly no carbonation and a very tannic finish.

Pours fairly flat with the exception of a thin film on top and a small string of lace around the rim. Hazy brown glow, one ugly brew. Modest nose, a hint of fruit, whisky, faint malt and a touch cidery. Body is medium, palate is almost dead but with a mild astringency and sourness that seems to linger. Faint whisky notes, cidery with a light spiceyness. A bit of maltiness hiding in the corner, musty tasting with hints of oxydation. Finish is lightly sweet, sour and a bit too long. The regular La Roja i had was a real gem. This apparently did,nt handle the Barrel Aging too well huh? Thanks to EDA for the chance! Thanks Mike!

This is outstanding! Agreed with previous comments about this coming across almost wine like on the palate. The barrel aging did wonders for this style and it was not over the top, the aging was just about right in my opinion. NIce oaky vanilla aroma, lots of wood, with just some hint of tart fruitiness, apples and cherries, with perhaps a bit of raisin. Mildly bittersweet whiskey notes, with a husky malt backbone, finishes deliciously dry and somewhat sour.