Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga Grand Reserve

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

Taste like pickles, but looks like a normal beer, so weird.

The Oak Cafe courtesy of MikeMac. Poured in a tulip with average size head. Aroma was a little oaky and spicy. The head on this was great and the color was lt brownish. This is one of my fav belgians now and was very smooth.

Bottled, thanks to Mr. Styles! Poured a medium, hazy shade of autumn orange/brown with a couple minutes worth of looser off-white headage. Nose was as if the delicate Miss Luci found her way into daddy’s liquor cabinet and spent some quality time with some clean and powerfully complimentary bourbon... all of the underlying components remained (funky and tart bacteria, lemon-laced cobwebs and caramel, and juicy fruits)... plus vanilla and a more pronounced barrel impression. Soft, yet higher carbonation gave a fantastic feel to this one.. and the cobwebby funk and citric tartness couldn’t have been placed better. Flavor department found tart lemon and orange zest, funky old barn, caramel, herbal notes, must, vanilla, older oak, and a subtle bourbon feel. This was a real treat! Thanks Chris!

Unfiltered rufous. Voluminous mound of frothy white meringue produces enchanting lacework. Delicate and polished bourbon splashed aromas with a touch of toasted wood and uplifting phenols. Lightly perfumey. Soft carbonation slowly expands as it hits the palate. Beautiful body. Initially soft with a wonderfully composed tangy tartness chased and enhanced by a relatively rich dash of bourbon. Caramelized sugar sweetness pleasantly contrasts with the daintier herbal elements. Gritty edge of musty dryness and tangy bacteria flavors underscore the juicy bourbon, which also contributes ample sweetness. Very uplifting with its phenolic and herbal vibrancy, but it also possesses a deeply rooted sappiness that’s highly akin to a bourbon reduction sauce. Becomes slicker as it warms and picks up a peppered melon accent. Malt also blooms fully as it warms, and takes on more of a pillowy texture. Finishes suggestively flowery with an appetizing mixture of peppery tannins and increasing alcohol. You have to admire a beer so complex, but equally reserved and unforced. Very delightful. Thanks to my friend Styles!

Bottle from Styles. Thanks for hooking me up with this Chris. Pours a hazy, murky amber with a medium sized, beige head. Lasting cover, very nice lacing. The aroma is bourbon and funk, lots of pineapple, oak, horseblanket, light cobwebs, unfortunatley the bourbon is a bit overpowering for my tastes. The flavor is incredible, juicey pineapple, lightly tart, some pepper, light citrus hops, some leather and horse. The mouthfeel is light and lively with some oilyness from the bourbon. Wow.

Hazy amber. Nice lasting fluffy off-white head. Light crisp sour fruit aroma. Light sweet vanilla. Sour orange, sweet oak, lemon rind, sweet malt. Nice hop character too. Really no bourbon. Just smooth. Really good

Pours a medium sized white head, retention is good with a stringy lace. Hazey orange body with a gold glow at the outer fringes. Nose is spicey, minty, woody and a touch bourbony. Body is light, effervescent and lightly oily. Mellow oaky flavors, citrusy notes, lightly acidic, bitter oranges, a pleasent fruitiness. Finish is dry with a gentle crisp bite. A nice brew but not all that.

Oak and vanilla are very apparent in the nose while whisky though notable is not dominant except as strong alcohol. Once that blows over, earthy, herbal, rich, deep, dark tannins and leafy tobacco emerge with a tart character that does not seem acidic. Hazy, oily, orange-copper coloured body is topped by a low white head that recedes to partial cover with some sudsy lacing. Oak, vanilla, earth, fresh tobacco and a light smokiness complement a dry malt flavour with pleasant tartness. Medium body with moderate carbonation that is gently affervescent on the tongue. Bottle sampled with MartinT, Olivier_MTL, Rastacouere and Siroy.