Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo Especial

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

Rating #300. One year old bottle of the first batch. Pours brown with a red tint and a medium, rocky head that quickly fades. The aroma is vinous, balsamic vinegar, cherries, a hint of cinnamon and caramel. The flavor is refreshingly sour, subtle touches of oak, cobwebs and cinnamon compliment the sour cherries, oranges and lemons. Luscious, rich chocolate comes at the end along with some pithy bitterness from the orange peels. Mouthfeel is thin and light. A spiced Oud Bruin?

Medium brown pour with small off-white head that fades quickly. Some interesting smells...dried fruits and alcohol...and a yeasty fruitiness. Flavors seem somewhat thin and dry, surprisingly. I’d have thought there would be more overt dubbel sweetness. Some toffee, raisins,spices, dates, chocolate, cinnamon, and citrus. palate seems thin, dry...almost brittle. Not impressed by this one.

Pours a very deep dark brown with auburn highlights. Thick off white ehad and kickass lacing. Aroma is complex, initially some barnyard mustiness, light brettt, then turns to some phenolic spiciness, and very light with the cinnamon. Flavor is lightly fruity from the yeast, caramel malts, spicy, more wierd brett characteristics- slightly salty and phenolic, and some light cinnamon, light chocolate, and light orange peel. I like how the spices are very subtle in this beer, I hate when spices get out of control in some beers. Finishes lightly acidic and mineral-like. Very nice. Im so happy that we get Jolly Pumpkin here in NJ/NY/PA now!

Jolly Pumpkin sure has its act together, which works out well for me. This exotic ale is reminiscent of chocolate covered cherries. I like this beers great balance of tartness and sweetness that makes me yearn for more. A very long finish is packed with fruit and spice.

Somewhat lacking when it comes to the traditonal sweet maltiness common to many abbey dubbels. To me this was more reminiscent of a Flemish brown with a spicy backbone. Its spicy finish is supported by a definite crisp dryness. Interesting brew.

First off, I gotta say, I love the JP presentation. I’ve seen American bottles from the 19th century that have the same architecture: graceful yet simple 750ml with dual oval labels. Back then corks would have been the only choice, but caps are an improvement. Pours a thick dark brown with a moderate head. Sour and spicy, big ester aroma. Dry and tart in flavor, particularly for the style. It has a complex flavor that shifts while warming. The cocoa and cinnamon slowly show itself. The orange, retronasally. A very challenging beer to interprete. The complexity makes me want to try more. Big Ups to JP.

Wow, this is some really interesting stuff - pours a dark amber with foamy off-white head - somewhat musty and tart aroma at first, but that makes way for cocoa, cherries, oak, cinnamon, raisins - the flavor reminds me a bit of Fantome Chocolat, but I think I like this more - orange peel, cherry, port/vinous qualities, cinnamon, nutmeg - chocolate comes in underneath all of these, and finally becomes dominant (but not overpowering) in the finish, along with just the right amount of warming alcohol - I must have more of this.

Giant, tan frothy head...slightly cloudy very dark amber body. Rich aroma: strawberries and figs with a full array of spices. Somewhat yeasty, and much drier than I expected. A cherry-esque finish lingers. A solid Dubbel.