Jolly Pumpkin Lambicus Dexterius

Brewed by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Lambic - Unblended
Dexter, Michigan USA

Wow, a pre-release bottle; thanks for the opportunity Sean. This is a much anticipated bottle for me. Jolly Pumpkin is one of my absolute favorite brewers. For being a flat, traditional Lambic, this bottle certainly has a lot of sediment in it.

The beer is completely flat, as expected, and pours with an orangish, slightly murky, amber-straw color. The aroma smells of cherries or perhaps it is really a strawberry note, some fruity acetic acid, woody mushroom notes, a touch of grapefruit, some wheat’ish notes and perhaps a touch of grassiness; there is a finish of super musty, damp earth, a barnyard muskiness, a touch of sweet baby vomit, moldy-sweat-soaked leather and don’t forget the oak. A touch of plywood (freshly cut with just a touch of saw burn), a very light spiciness and really just a nice, mellow woodiness. This is only lightly tart smelling compared to what one expects in a Lambic, but it certainly smells of a nice level of funk.

Only lightly sour tasting, and there is a certain peppery note here somehow. The finish sees the acetic acid lingering on the palate with a softly biting white-wine-vinegar like note. Up front the lactic acidity reminds me of a soft grapefruit character, and actually, now that I have noticed it, this flavor lingers a bit through the finish as well. The texture is very soft due to the lack of carbonation, but this still has some viscosity to it as it does not come off as being watery or thin; though it is light and refreshing still. A touch of mustiness lingers in the finish; it has a moldy edge to it that doesn’t quite evoke thoughts of baby vomit like the aroma did (though maybe just a bit). This definitely has an amble Brettanomyces funk to it though; musky and funky, think of a old, worn, sweat stained, sun-soaked blanket. As the beer warms perhaps even a touch of wheat sweetness starts to come out; though only just.

Overall this is very softly acidic by traditional Lambic standards, but it is actually a bit more funky than your standard Lambic; in fact only Hanssens makes one that is on average more funky than this version. While I mentioned the acetic note, most of the sourness comes from lactic acid, but there is just enough acetic to be noticeable and add some spiciness. This is definitely an interesting first release, I could wish for a carbonated, Gueuze version, but really this has me being really excited for further releases from this "project."

I couldn’t resist being the 10th rate on this beer. Thanks so much Sean! Flickr(http://www.flickr.com/photos/26049401@N Juicy lemon acid nosy, very pungent and with the rind of a bloomy goat cheese. Very pasture-like, as from the ripeness of the earth, the rebirth of grasses, and the passing of time. This pours a cloudy murky tanned golden, with no head. It has absolutely no carbonation. Oh my god, oh my god, this has filamentous matter, like the mother in a kombucha. That was shocking. After the jelly-like sensation of the first sip, the true flavors reveal themselves. This has a TON of fresh white grapefruit juice. Are there pancakes, eggs, and bacon on the side, with this? Intense fresh grapefruit pith and canned juice. The blazing acidity fades into that fresh goat-milk-like grassiness that perks up the aroma. As warms, the oak dries the beer out a little bit. Not as horsey or cobweby as Belgian unblendeds. The acid level is great, the grapefruit character enjoyable. I don’t really mind the lack of carbonation, considering the punchiness of the acids and the grapefruit character. Delicious, but not up to Belgian standards.

FoBAB 2009. This poured a golden amber body nearly bereft of head. The aroma was earthy barnyard scents, vinegar, and molding cheeses. A dirty sourness was added to the flavor along with hints of old wood and a subtle stone fruitiness. Very nice.

FoBAB ’09, pours hazed golden with white head. nose of vanilla, brett, oak, acid, and lots of vinegar. flavors are very sharp vinegar sourness, oak and grapefruit juice, a bit cheesy in the finish. very low carbonation.

I started drooling when I saw this in the booklet as I made my way into FoBAB 09. Apparently, they sent a couple bottles of this random beauty. An unblended lambic from Jolly Pumpkin? Worth the price of admission ALONE. Got a pretty nice pour too. Dark gold with some bubbles on tap. Big, dank, stinky lambic aroma. Wood, vinnegar, a bit of funky cheese and horseblanket. Some fruit as well. Very tart flavor, sour, earthy funk. Had a cheese funk thing going on as well. Oddly, even the beer novices with me really dug this one. Slick mouthfeel. I remember very little carbonation. This beer makes you feel proud of America, as it stands toe to toe with any unblended I’ve had from Belgium.

Sampled at FoBAB 2009. Pours a hazy bit of a darker gold, nice small white head that dies to a few white bubbles. Aromas are fruity, sour and sweet mix well, a touch of vinegar, wet wood, a touch of vanilla, underneath with a slight cherry feel. Initial is very tart, lemon and grapefruit, vinegar, sour, wet wood and funkiness, this beer is a true definition of unblended. Finish is acidic, lactic, wet wood and a pretty strong tartness. Very nice indeed.

From the bottle at FoBAB ’09 - Excellent surprise, and the second stop of the day. Pours clear and gold with a nominal head. Funky notes of wet straw and earth compliment the acetic and lemon aromas. Flavor is puckeringly sour with a dry oak finish. Mouthfeel isn’t nearly as spritely as expected, but still very drinkable. Lambics are a natural fit for JP, so I can’t wait to see what else develops.

Huge thanks to Ron for sending this one to FOBAB. Second stop of the fest. Couldn’t wait to try this one. Pours clear orange with almost no head. Aroma was oak, funk, barnyard and vinegar. Taste was quite acidic, nicely integrated funk and backing oak, rather thick and oily, nice lasting acidic finish. Probably could use a little more carbonation overall. I will be excited to see how this lambic project develops overall. Really nice first impression though.