Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza

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

Batch #370 also my 100th Michigan rate. Pours a clear rich glowing pure golden with a lovely medium dense frothy white head with plenty of lacing 4.5. This was one of the last JP’s left for me to try. I put it off because I figured it would be the least interesting of the lot, however, after my first sip I can see why it’s one of JP"s top rated. This certainly has the most oak presence of any of the JP’s. Aroma is big oak, vanilla, spicy lightly cheesy hops, some alcohol, JP funk and yeast is lighter than expected, of course this is probably a much fresher beer than I’ve ever tried before, much richer than any of the others I’ve tried, the oak is intoxicating. The JP funk and somewhat cheesy hops are an unreal synergy. Flavor is also oak forward, lighter JP funk, definitely a higher alcohol JP, off-dry at this time, toasty oak, some hard candy sweetness, vanilla, tart apple, the hop spiciness is fantastic! Holdenn has it absolutely right; its very winey like white-wine. Medium bodied, near off-dry, some hard candy feeling, somewhat fluffy, sizzling carbonation. Just as easy drinking as almost every JP. I prefer this a little warmer, 55F or so. Tasty!

Poured a hazy, pale copper color with an ample white head that created a slow ooze of foam out of the bottle even after I poured half of it out. Bonus point for the cool factor. The aroma was funky, band-aid and some softer sweetness and light fruit. The flavor was funk on top of banana cream pie. The mouthfeel was thin with lots of carbonation. Weirdly refreshing.

Bottle from The Bier Stein in Eugene, OR. I know i stray from the norm on this one., but it just didn’t do it for me. Maybe the bottle I got was bad. It looked good and smelled good, but just had an overwhelming sour taste to it. Might have to try again and re-rate.

Appears like a peach-infused apple cider, with a small head with heavy lacing. Light sediment, sour aroma reminiscent of granny smith apples and green jolly ranchers. Balanced taste profile with nice, powerful, bubbly aftertaste. Mouthfeel similar to champagne.

Strong foamy head serves really nice. Very fruity beer, with hints of vanilla. Cloudy beer or clear is a great difference. The yeast particals give the beer more depth and bitterness. Very tasty beer, but i missed the real influence of the lagering of the barrel. That could be improved in my opnion

Bottle, poured into a tulip. Pours a cloudy orange with a sticky off-white head, that left very nice lacing. Aroma of sweet malt, pear, apple, bready yeast, and lemon. Taste is quite sweet with malt, lots of fruit, yeasty funk. Mouthfeel is very crisp with lively carbonation, with a lightly tart finish. Not overly sour, just a touch of tartness and funk. Quite quenching and a very nice beer!

Blend 261a. Dark orange, hazy, sticky white lacing and a smooth white cover. Aroma is light, lemon tartness, oaky, dry. Taste is again lemons, bright citric tartness, biscuits and bread malt body, dry finish. Loved it.

I love these wild yeast beers. This one is very good. Pours a cloudy golden amber with a nice head that laces the glass.Aroma is very interesting. Banana is first then some clove and bread. Flavor has that sour funk with the spices and peppery hops. Good quenchingly dry finish.