Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza

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

750 ml courtesy/split with Naka. 2007, Blend 2. Pours clear amber with red and brown hues. Huge head, two-plus fingers caramel brown head. Nose is sour cherries, with apple, a hint of vanilla and oak. Tastes of caramel malt and spice, some brett tartness that is reminiscent of sour cherries, apple, raisin, grapes and other dark fruit. There is a hint of oak, with a touch of bourbon. Finish is bitter and sour, repeating in a cyclical fashion well into the after. A damn tasty brew. Nice mouthfeel and carb, looks great.

Pours an amber brown color with a brown head. Aroma is brett, vanilla, wood, and some tartness. Flavor is malt, spice, brett, and a bitter spicy finish.

I think this shared by Dickinsonbeer, go figure! Lightly hazy brown with some red highlights. Aroma: very nice, brett, sour cherry, with light raisin and sweet caramel. Taste is great, very well balanced between bretty, sour cherry, molasses and spices. Great funked out belgian strong.

poured kind of a translucent red color.Lots of funk on the nose.Definately sour fruits on the flavor.Finished of funky and warming.

Bottle from SL, Blend 3, 2007, shoulda grabbed two. Poured a full red-brown color, somewhat translucent, nice one finger initial head, diminishing to a thin covering afterwards. Aroma of bret, funk, full fruity notes (sour cherries, slight apples, strawberries), and a peppery accent as it warmed. The flavor followed the aroma, some sweet-sour plays going on, more sour than sweet, yet the balance was striking and enjoyable for a "belgian strong," with the acidity and sour notes keeping this quite drinkable and well short of sticky or sweet, yet far from lambic-like. A fairly malty sour style brew, the alcohol also quite high, yet not noticeable in the aroma or flavor profile. Somewhat Flemish-sour to saison like, darned enjoyable, as I turn more and more into a bret freak.

Deep maroon color. Rich fruit, raspberry, blackberry, grape; lingering bitterness. Some alcohol in the nose, and as it warms it really blossoms in the sourness and funk of the nose--the sense of the yeast. Average palate--more tingly than frothy. The winner of the 2007 Christmas gathering of my friends.

This Belgian Strong Ale pours a medium amber color from a 750ml bottle. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is caramel, fruity and sweet, with a touch of spiciness. A medium bodied Belgian Strong Ale. The malts are fruity and sweet. There is a touch of funk here, kind of subdued. The hops are earthy. This beer has a very nice spiciness to it, it balances the sweetness well and add some interesting flavors. It’s a little funky and a touch tart/sour. It will be interesting to see if it changes with some bottle aging. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Pours barely a one finger cream head that fades quickly to a ring leaving no lace. Cloudy amber color. Light carbonation and light-medium bodied. Slight fruity nose. Flavor fruity, tart with hints of sweetness, clean, drying finish. High ABV is hidden. $11.50 for a 750ml bottle from Liquid Solutions Oregon City, Or. Blend 4/2007.