Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza

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

Bottle. Aroma of cherries and peaches with a sour background, tart and musky. Maybe some light caramel. Murky brown with a thin head but nice lacing. Delicious tart cherry and background spiciness, especially in the finish. Some nice maltiness as it warms. Caramel and figs. Great silky texture.

<i>Bottle (750ml) shared with HogTownHarry, garthicus, GregClow & tupalev -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Blend 1 - 2007.</i> Pours a murky brown with orange hues and an average size creamy off-white head. Great aroma! Bretty, malty and spicy along with tart fruit and some oak. Flavour is funky and yeasty along with spices, some oak and sour fruit -- complex and tasty. Alcohol’s well hidden. Medium to full bodied. Fantastic stuff -- I love this brewery!

75cl bottle. Pours dark brown with a red hew and creamy head. Nose is sweet and vinous with the brett notes beneath. Full bodied. Lots of dark fruits and caramel. Smooth and vinous. Sour, yeasty and dry. Works well . . .

Mørk rødbrun med et lille hvidt skum. Dufter af eddike, krydderier, nødder. Smager af træ, vanilie, syre, eddike. Bider godt i tungen og ganen. Er tør.

Courtesy of sebletitje. Pours dirty brown with solid tan head. The aroma is winter spice, tartness, vague sweet fruitiness and mild acidity. The taste has an initial sweet dark fruity pulse followed by winter spices moving into mild tartness amid a background of sweetness. Good stuff that doesn’t get too Brett like.

16.9oz Bottle. Batch #333/334. 2008. Dense carameled chestnuts waft through a bath of ethiopian braising liquid and a curt curl of smoky lamb spice. Intoxicating Brett effluent merges with light pale citrus rinds, yuzu alike. A paler teak body, runs murky and edges in fiery crimson. A soft soap of cooked cream slides along the glass. At first, too cold and and explosive, the flavors mute themselves. A tart, tannic acid reveals itself as a brisk, tea-like liquor freshening the corners of the mouth and giving a revealing pull of classic old spice. Hops become dusty amongst a revelation of spice markets, tins of berries worth their weight in gold and spruce tips. Exotic muskiness brightens the backend through bits of cured Buddha’s hand and some nuttiness. A nice brew, brightened by the higher alcohol, a certain tree-nut character, and the spices. Not dirty or rambunctious, but maybe a bit too safe and sound. Otherwise, rounded, perfumed and a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas beer. Another beautiful sundrie from Ron. Thanks Sean!

Batch 331. Pours brownish with thick white head. Aroma of brett and a nose of grassy yeast with hops bitterness. Had the Taste light oak with bitter hops. Lightly fruity - cherry -light malts and a faint acidic finish. I didn’t get much of the Belgian strong ale style, and got more the the typical JP sour signature. Overall a good brew.

Bottle courtesy of sebletitje. Pours a hazy brown color with an anxious khaki head. Aroma is vinegar, spice, and brett. Flavor is similar with tart spice, nut, brett, and vinegar in the Jolly Pumpkin vein. Sour lingers. Interesting.