Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura

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

Pours a dark brown-black. This is one of the more interesting beers I’ve tried. Flavor is a combination of tartness and roastiness. Perhaps a little smokey. I like the combination, and I’d say its my favorite JP so far.

750ml. Coffee colored pour with a dense beige head. Lots of coffee, chocolate, and smoky malt in the aroma - also, banana, and some earthy/woody notes, and a touch of alcohol. Flavor is immediately tart and bitter, with almost no chocolate, and some acrid smokiness. There’s a pith like citrus component there that is a little off-putting, but there’s a lot going on there. Cranberry and lemon peel is probably the best way to describe it. The flavor is close to being excellent, but misses the mark. Oily on the palate with nice carbonation. Not a bad beer, but not Jolly Pumpkin’s best.

another brew generously shared by my brew bro etowneraser aka pops. pours black with a large foamy tan head, looks extremely enticing. leaves large amounts of lacing adding to its allure. has a strong bananas foster type aroma, strong yeast smell, and some other smells i cant quite put my finger on. it is delightfully complex though. the taste is muddled by the sour flavor, it tastes sour cherries and finishes lingering and bitter. I would say this one is a winner.

Much thanks to Santa. Black, tan head with stunning lacing. Nose is chocolate malt, cherries, brett but the usual JP funk is lost. Some toffee & yeast, clay. Flavor is toffee, sour/bitter chocolate, burnt cherries & wood. Bittersweet coffee & toffee, bakers/dark chocolate finish. Very interesting & perfect for a night that isn’t summer but isn’t fall.

Mullman’s tasting. Pours dark brown with a medium off white head. Aroma is strange, with a mix of dry chocolate, roast, sour fruit, brett/funk. Taste is well attenuated and dry, with dry chocolate, roast, grains seem to be astringent without much supporting malts because of the brett. Also a decent amount of sour cherry, brett. This seemed kind of weird and muddled- the first JP beer that didn’t work very well for me. definitely unique though.

Pour of black, light-banning consistency. Perfect chocolate brown head retention. Aroma is wild and dynamic. First stage is nutmeg, red apples, and shades of bitter and sweet chocolates. An earthy powder of cinnamon. Tart cherries power through in a loud, bracing bite, softened by a gentle rub of Christmas spice. Tastes of baker’s chocolate, a peruvian light roast. Tangy. A quiet but forceful sourness with a lime and orange zest kick. Oak and creamy vanilla provide a muted but substantial canvas. Swift highlights of sweet pears and apples. Finishes with a bit of black malt in roasted coffee warmth and acrid bitterness. Still quite tart. Sprightly and soft, but full in the mouth. Entirely unique and invigorating. Thanks Jason!

750 ml bottle. Pours a pitch black with a large brown creamy head. Aroma of bitter dark chocolate, malt, potato chips and a bit of funk. Taste is bitter dark chocolate with hints of roasted malts and a vinegarish, vinous finish.

Bottle at the Great Taste of the Midwest. Awesome stout/sour aroma. Loads of roasted sweet malt and a sour funkiness. Pours dark, rich brown accented with some caramel. An odd sour stoutiness on the palate. Very unique and cool. Dry, sour yeast with some roasted malt. Medium bodied with lively carbonation. Very unique.