Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza

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

750 into pint glass. Really pale yellow with big white head that lasts a while. Smells deliciously balanced and refreshing with light hints of pale cereal malt and some fresh earthy hops (no alcohol). The taste is unique with a neutral warming alcohol flavor upfront that fades into some nice fruity (sweet citrus, plum, white grapes, etc) and oaky notes. Light bodied on the palate but with an unexpected and impressive texture and mouth feel. Very minimal delicate carbonation. Overall: good, unique, refreshing, though not as tart as I was hoping.

Had a bit of that wild yeast funk on the nose, but nothing overwhelming. I certainly wouldn’t classify this as a "sour" beer even with the wild yeast. Poured a hazy yellow/gold color with a fluffy white head. Flavor was a little peppery with a touch of dryness. Fairly smooth on the palate. Not bad.

Batch 261, poured from 750 ml bottle, medium golden straw color, little to no foamy head, quickly dissipated, into Chimay goblet. Aroma prominent of citrus funkalicious, yeast, raw biscuity spices. Flavour of tart, citrus funk. Sour tones with a peppery hop character that says "drink more". A lovely, tasty beer. A full on funky hop slappin pleasure.

Pours light orange with a white head. Wild yeasty aroma with a hint of lemon peel and hay. Flavor is more belgian and citrus notes that finish with a hint of spice. Very well balanced and well bodied. Great beer.

750 ml bottle shared with a friend at a wedding. Poured a hazy yellow with a huge white head. Aroma was really nice on this one, a nice touch of funkiness, lemons, yeast and spice. Body on this one was bone dry with very assertive carbonation, not really my style right now so I wasn’t loving it. Flavors if yeast, bread, hay, oak. Rather bland flavor compared to the aroma. I was a little let down by this one especially after the nice complex aroma.

Cloudy hay-yellow with a large puffy white head. Lots of lemon citrus and yeast, some pepper and must. Flavor is very tart and citric, yeasty, and with hints of pepper and metal. The medium body is complimented by the prickly tongue. Good beer, very refreshing, but not as complex as other JP entries that I’ve enjoyed.

Bottle. Sour and sweet banana nose with light spice. Mostly cloudy with a bubbly head. Nice spice and sour complexity. Slight thin with a very nice texture.

Brown bottle, 1 pint 9.4 ounces, bacth 284, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savoured on November 1 2008; eye: golden, hazy, no effervescence, white head that falls and looks like melting ice cream, lots of lacing; nose: yeast, horse, spices, light pepper, oak, sour, green apple, light grapefruit; mouth: horse, yeast, spices, light pepper, oak, sour, green apple, light grapefruit, light acidity, finale in horse, surprisingly thin, slightly bitter, mildly sour, medium-full body, average carbonation, slight astringency; overall: good FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 1 pinte 9,4 onces, lot 284, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savourée 1 novembre 2008; œil : dorée, voilée, pas d’effervescence, mousse blanche qui tombe et ressemble à de la crème glacée fondue, pas mal de dentelle; nez : levure, cheval, épices, léger poivre, chêne, aigre, pomme verte, léger pamplemousse; bouche : cheval, levure, épices, léger poivre, chêne, aigre, pomme verte, léger pamplemousse, légère acidité, finale en cheval, curieusement mince, très légèrement amère, moyennement aigre, corps moyen-corsé, carbonatation moyenne, très légère astringence; en résumé : bonne