Jolly Pumpkin Perseguidor (Batch 1)

Formerly brewed at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Sour Ale
Dexter, Michigan USA

Cloudy dark amber with oily brown edges. Thin looking but tall, glistening white head, resistant to any notion of recession. Brett in the aroma, for a moment, reminds of Orval, then of Cantillon Iris. Thick caramel malt follows, along with funk, fresh wet oak, oranges and herbs. Seems like two parts La Roja and one part Bam Biere. The flavor, more of the same, is more focused and feels more simplistic than the aroma indicated. Finishes with peppery notes, dying and leaving hints of sour fruits and wood. Mouthfeel is medium, light and wispy at times. A very good beer and an interesting idea, but in the end I’d prefer to have either of these in their original incarnation. Viva La Pumpkin.

Cloudy, coppery-hued body, with a very small lacing of froth along the sides of the glass. A nice aroma, indeed: sweet malts, filled also with vanilla, great woodiness, raisins. The flavor is also quite delicious, the woodiness abounds, and there is a distinct, wine-like/fermented grape character.

12 oz. bottle from Ughsmash (thanks, Jason!) - cloudy copper pour, with minimal head, but lasting lace - wonderfully inviting, warm aroma of wet oak, over-ripe apples, earthy, damp, musty smells, nutmeg, cherry skins, some background herbal notes - flavors of oak and vanilla up front - semi-tart apples and grape skins follow, along with a light spice profile - not all that sour, but enough to satisfy you if that’s what you’re looking for - more light woodiness and a light buttery/nutty quality - some winter/mulling spices make their presence known - quite a nice blend, and one in which the best qualities of both beers are showcased - one of the best JP beers I’ve had.

From a 750mL Bottle. Pours a rich, caramelly tan color with a slight haziness, shades of mahagony, and a thin layer of bubbly white head. Fantastic aromas of some light oakiness blend nicely with a bit of vanilla and some gentle notes of stringy red cedar bark. A little bit of spiced jazz apple skins and a subtle sniff of toasted marshmellow. Light to medium bodied, gently carbonated mouthfeel. The palate starts off with a splash of late harvest apple juice, subtly sweet yet still cidery, and then dries up a bit with a soft vanilla and dried herbal birch bark. A layer of toasted hazelnut and dried herbs linger in the final smack. Highly drinkable, and very well executed. Being a fan of both beers before the blend, I feel this one brings out the strong points from each beer - the spiced apple hazelnuttiness of la roja and the refreshing, herbal lightness of bam biere. Thanks, Dillon!

750ml. Poured a hazy orange-brown color with a think off-white head. Tart malty aroma with caramel and a yeasty funk. Sweet browned apple flesh with some leather notes. Moderately tart flavor with caramel and fruit. Light bitterness on the finish. Flavor notes contained both sweet and tart apples.

Brett and sour fruit (peaches) in the aroma with a light oak scent. Hazy burgundy in color with a head that dissipates quickly. Medium palate supports nutty and strong oak flavors. Not as much brett as I had hoped for. Dry finish.

12oz bottle, fresh from Michigan, courtesy of artusory. Thanks, Ryan! Pours a murky, amber-brown appearance; light tan head with big bubbles along the edges. Tart, complex aroma, reminiscent of a flemish sour: lots of sour cherries, butter, and toasty oak. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: lots of tart, ripe cherries and red fruits; toasty vanilla and butter from the oak; pleasing brett character up-front, leveling out to warm, layered oak and cherries. Medium, soft (almost creamy) finish of vanilla and red fruit. Excellent.

Dark fruits and lots of oak in the aroma.Pours mohogany with a light off white head.A hint of sourness and lots of oak in the flavors.Medium mouthfeel with a very smooth finish.