Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

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

Thursday the 11th of September 2008 The Woodlands LaQuinta Inns 8:36pm La Roja - Blend 10 edition 2007 ... Dry and delicuous ... dark gold, pure gold, enjoyment...hurricane ike sucks!

Ahhh, I have had this beer more than any other JP brew. I have been trying different versions since the first oval labels appeared in NY (about 3 years ago). Its been up and down but it has really hit its stride here. I used to find that batches were not so good fresh but also not so good with too much time on it. So there was just a nice peak time in the middle. However, I think the batches of the more recent stuff aren’t limited this way. This is Blend 11, 2007, bottled on 12/14/07. Probably fridged the whole time, bought it at a store. It pours a clear cola brown color with a small head that leads to a long lasting lacing. Aroma is the best part of this beer, right away there is an authentic Flanders sour, aceto aroma. It is stingy aceto, with a bit of armpit sourness, and a thin balsamic vinegar. There is an authentic cherry-like aspect as well. The great part of the beer is it is actually does not have the traditional JP character and really comes off as a Flanders sour brew. I can keep smelling this for a while. Taste is playing with these aspects as well. It’s definitely less sour but that authentic cherry-like, faintly balsamic, Flanders sour aspect. Its a bit thinner n the flavor then I would like. There is a hint of sweetness at the back end. The mouthfeel is average, the carbonation is a bit subdued. The bottom of the bottle creates a thicker head, a thicker body, and lead shaving-like floaties. Its a bit, just faintly cheek tingling and dry. This is my fav regular offering.

Dark brown colored with hazy appearance. Medium sized yellow head. Interesting wooden cherry vanilla aroma, some sweet raisins also here. Medium bodied. Flavor is drier with cherry notes still, some wooden notes also here. Aftertaste is still strongly sour. Ok one, still somehow one dimensional.

Bottle. Tiny bit of a gusher. Pours an almost opaque brownish color with a large beige head that falls off at a healthy pace leaving a little bit of lacing on the sides. Aroma is wine cork funk, heather, sour cherry, yeast. Body is a little thin, and has a light sweetness. Finishes with a gentle sour that lingers nicely. Very subtle beer, and while I wouldn’t mind if it was a bit more brash and assertive, it’s still quite nice.

Nice dark honey body with a thick frothy, lingering head. Distinct Jolly Pumpkin tart nose. Very nice tart taste with a hint of sour apple. Nice mouthfeel with a good tart finish that sticks. Well rounded but relies on the Jolly Pumpkin tart. Definitely check out.

Bottle at 3 små rum Gothenborg. Hazy red colour, witha flat head. Aroma is sour, fruity, citrus,yeasty. flavor had a citruc,/sour mixed mouth feeling. complex and a bit strange mix this one, and innterestning.Thin to medium body, and medium fruity/sour/citrus mixed finish.

Orange pour with brown tint. Lots of bubbles and a thick light tan head. Metallic funk aroma. Lots of earth and grass with hints of fruit and grape. Bitter funky flavor with a bit of sourness. Fruity notes. Very yeasty. A bit overcarbonated.

Red in color, I smelled it instantly. Reminds me of Rodenbach Grand Cru with the musky aroma and sour flavor. More of a gentle sour than anything, all of the flavor is real subtle. Had no idea it was 7%, the alcohol is hidden very well. Very nice.