Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza

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

Bottle at home with Fukito... Bright golden orange ... big foam head ... belgian hop touch cider nose ... very flowery ... fruity and little spicy hop... very drinkable

I’ve been a member of rate beer for a few months now, and suffice to say that I’ve had quite a few beers between when I signed up and now. However this is the first one I’ve felt so inclined to rate. My wife and I picked this one out at Johns Grocery in Iowa City. I’ve been itching to try a Jolly Pumpkin for a while now; we decided to try this one. There are a lot of comparisons here to Saison’s and I can see where that is coming from, particularly in the insane amount of carbonation (which I loved, as it rested on top of the beer and after I was done drinking it left a head that rested in the bottom of my tulip glass). I’ve not had any other Jolly Pumpkin beers, and I’ve had very few Belgian style wood aged beers. Mainly what I have had in that vein are quite a number of Sour Browns, and Flanders Reds, which are my favorite types of beer. To me this brew was like a cross between a Saison and a Sour Brown if you will. It has all the delicious oaky and winey flavors and aromas of a good Sour Brown, but with a crisp light hoppiness that one will not find in that style. The head is fluffy and compliments the beer nicely, and the 8% abv is barely noticeable. The latter observation, making me glad that I only had one bottle to share.

Explosive gushing to ridiculous amounts of dense yellow foam in the glass(es), on the tabel, the floor, my clothes and my MIO’s ironing table... unclear chromate yellow beer. Lots of fine citrus and fruits, dry spicy, pepper, lemon peppper, lemonzeste, and the ’imperceptible’ white candi sugar. Farmyard flavours, dry but very fruity. As a strong Saison, quite Belgian in character. Spicy, dry-alcoholic bitterness retronasal. Some kind of exotic, sugarladen fermenting citrusfruit, hitherho unknown. Alcoholwarming, quite attenuated. Dangerously drinkable to boot, like it quite well. But IMO, a professional brewer ought to know how to dose, and the fountain of foam exiting the bottle (thanks, puzzl), proves they have to learn that yet in Dexter.

I cannot get into this beer. The female in my life says its wonderful. Tastes like White Wine in beer form.

Bottled version. Very intriguing color to this brew, hazy/opaque yellow-orange, but with no head, only a slight film going on up top with tiny lace. Rich floral aroma of hops white grapes, Belgian spice, pear and honeysuckle. Some brett yeast funk comes through as well. Flavor was not disappointing by any means, however it seemed to be lacking the depth I was expecting for an oak-aged beer. However, I loved the finish. Hops abound with pepper and a strong statement of mildly sour wild yeast. Dry, lightly carbonated end.

Little bubbly, replaces champagne on New Years for sure. Cloudy pur from bottle, orange, yellow, light brown. Sour tart aroma with some flemishness. Very tastey. Tart but not too overpowering. Easy to drink and has complexity of malts and fruityness.

75 cl bottle. Golden color, honeyish, hazy. Oak and grapefruit in the almost gueuze-like aroma. Slightly sour and vinous flavor with oak, grapefruit, flowery hops and hints of vanilla and honey. Grapes, tannines. Warming alcohol. Exquisit complex ale, maybe a bit thin but I just love it.

Pours a nice amber in color. Has a nice frothy head that hangs around for awhile. Smell is slightly tart and sour. Taste is much the same, but to a lesser degree than appears in the nose. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. This is a highly sessionable beer that I could drink all day. Not overbearing in any way. A solid beer from JP.