Jolly Pumpkin Bière de Mars

Brewed by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Bière de Garde
Dexter, Michigan USA

Thanks to SoLan for sharing this beer that we can’t get for almost another year. Pours amber with a half-inch of off-white head. Foamy, cloying lace. Nose is dark fruits, some yeast, and spice. I found the taste to be somewhat subtle for a J.P. brew. Usually there’s a pronounced farmhouse sour yeast kick upfront, but not here. Almost feels like a barleywine. Tastes include fired oak, caramel, subtle yeast, plum, and dark fruit. High carbonation, full body. A great change from the other-more available-beers by this fantastic brewery. Probably one of the coolest beer labels ever printed as well. Captain Ron must REALLY like pirates.

Name: Beer de Mars
Date: 01/27/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cask Eve, 2006

clear amber, whispy white head, sweet malt aroma with some hot alcoholic spices, sweet malt flavor, a touch of oaky character, slight sourness, balanced by some nice spices,
-------- /> Name: Beer de Mars
Date: 04/27/2006
Mode: cask
Source: brewery

big tart and spicy aroma, creamy body, big rich malt flavor with plenty of tartness, lots of complex character, a very nice smooth cask character,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Light aroma of fruit, pears,white plums, ruby,with a small tan head. Taste at first is bitter almond then the aforementioned fruit, balanced,light bodied, sweet yet also bitter. Very good. Thanks mr_kimchee!

This copper ale poued with a massive fluffy beige head, eliciting a citrus aroma. There is a sour barnyard flavor with hints of raisin, citrus and spices and a long dry finish. This is not an everyday drink, but is unique and interesting enough for an occasional try.

Birchbeer in color, slightly opaque with a huge light tan head. It smells doughy, and like sweet woody port and raisins and spice. Lively on the palate with medium body. The flavor is sour lemon, then bursts to minimally sweet cherry with snappy hops on the finish. Dry and slightly sour throughout. The most balanced beer from them I’ve had. It’s not terribly complex, but everything is just right, something few beers do well.

Sampled during the First Annual Stone Sour Fest. Earthy aromas. Some tartness on the nose as well. Flavors were citrusy with some spice. Some Alcohol flavors on the finish. Just OK.

Bottle: Hazy bronze, nice white head, nice lacing. Nose of nice fruit and yeast. Rich malts, tart and balanced. Nice belgian. The flavor is nice and malty, tart and hoppy, light caramel dance the tail. Very spicy and a clean nice tartness. Good belgian, yum.

750ml. Jolly Pumpkin has the most amazing labels. I keep saying that but it needs to be reiterated. Pours ruby red with a huge, fluffy, airy white head. Amazing lace. Aroma is cinnamon apple cider, JP funk, apple pie, spicy goodness. Spicy, smooth, tingly mouthfeel. Very drinkable. Not as sour or funky as I’d expect. A bit peppery. Not one of my favorite Jolly Pumpkin’s but good nonetheless.