Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga Grand Reserve

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

12oz from pantanap - thanks, Kan! I do so love the regular brew, with its dirty, grassy qualities and superbly dry finish. I was honestly a bit nervous about bourbon and JP beers, wondering if it might overpower some of the subtlety and make it one-dimensional. Well, the answer is a straight-up no. In fact, in some ways it enhances the complexity even more, enlivening the musky smell but not at the expense of the barnyard features that I so enjoy. Intense combination of super dry and sweet booze in the finish. Really good.

on tap at the MBG summer fest 08’. Poured a cloudy golden color. Aroma was nice and tart, with a solid wood presence as well. Flavor was light fruit, yeast, big acidic funk, earthy hops, and wood throughout. Not super complex, but really tasty.

Bottle.
Unclear medium orange color with a average, frothy, good lancing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to light heavy malty, fruity - tropic, moderate hoppy, moderate yeasty, some wood notes. Flavor is moderate to light heavy sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (240508)

Bottle - Thanks to Sune. Cloudy golden - white head. Peaches, fruity, apples, pineapples, light malty body, oak, wood, dusty, peppery, some sharpness.

The result here is a weird and complex pale ale that reminds me a bit of an intense saison or deranged Orval. Pours thick reddish-orange, big and lacy off-white head. Pretty. Nose is funky, earthy, woody and a bit tart. Interesing. Tastes quite bitter and earthy, peppery and spicy. Very dry. The wood is upfront but the bourbon is very subtle, as it should be. Bitter aftertaste. Very good beer.

A Mes rate: Bottle at weekend of tarts.
Murky gold colour and struggling to hold onto a head. Heavily soapy and yeasty aroma, just about ok. Big old oak tree flavour with plenty of brett, citrus and spice and slight licks of alcohol though still remaining fairly drinkable. All in all though it’s like chewing on a piece of wood. Almost fence licking territory. Nice tartness in the finish but no length in it. Thankfully not too bourbon which helps but it still fails to even come close to knocking my socks.

Thanks to Andrew (drewbeerme) Pours a mostly clear amber. Low sourness and low sweetness. Also some bitterness. Quite fruity aromas of sour apples. Lots of dust too. Mellow dry and sour finish.

12oz bottle. Tart and slightly sour yeasty aroma. Cherry skin, brett, dried oak, tart apple skin. Very nice. Pours a nearly lifeless looking hazed copper with a very thin white head. Flavor is quite heavily influenced by tart and slightly musty and sour yeast. Bourbon barrel? Hardly. Green apples, brett, lemon rind, wood tannin a touch of spice. Simple, but well constructed and the barrel aging, although does not add a lot of bourbon flavors, adds a nice aged characteristic. Medium bodied. Silky smooth with a disappointingly short and abrupt finish. Overall very nice stuff. Thanks Steve!