Jolly Pumpkin Fuego del Otono (Autumn Fire)

bottle. this didn’t gush as much as i’m used to from jolly pumpkin. it pours a hazy honey color with a sizable off-white head that sticks around a bit and leaves some decent lacing. nose dominated by a sweet amber malt, with a big fruit profile and lots of funk. spicy pears and melons and lemons abound, mixing with a grassy floral hop. nice laid back malty taste with some spice, and more lemon and melon, but this time with a bit of strawberry or some other sweet red fruit. the hops come out a lot more in the taste. big notes of grassy, piney, and floral hops give it an almost pale ale type ending. incredibly dry finish, with a lightly tart sweetness and a great hop bitterness. medium-bodied, highly carbonated, and oh-so-quenching. eminently drinkable. this stuff is satisfying my thirst more than gatorade did earlier in the day. and there’s not another beer that’s anything like it. this is why i like jolly pumpkin.

750 mL, capped bottle from jrob 21 - thanks, Jonathan! Probably the biggest gusher I’ve ever had (and I’m getting fed up with JP!) - would be surprised if I got more than 5 or 6 ounces out of the bottle. Muddy, protein-filled ruddy-brown body, but still letting light through, head is lacing and a crystalline, pretty rocky beige, while it lasts. Aroma is dominated by JP’s brand of Belgian yeast, soft and slightly dusty with more caramel and candy than fruit...but a gentle blend, on the whole. With time, some light gueuze-like acidity and slight lactose. Taste is very yeasty and very dry, with a smooth Saison-ish spice. Wild, untamed yeast; sligthly woody with no apples in sight. No sign of alcohol, either - not even a light warming. Medium-full body is smooth and has some classy Orval notes. A really, really nice aftertaste, tart and dry and spicy. Anger (and laughter) aside - though I think I’m going to have to limit my JP consumption to the vat alone - this is an ale with a far more developed flavor profile than anyone would guess from the abv ... but also one that lacks distinction and seems has a slightly too-strong "clone" aspect.

(Bottle - 75 cl, thanks Marsiblursi!) Sampled on February 16 - 2008. Shady yeast particle copper color, tan head. Extremely gushing bottle, had to wipe the floor a bit. Scent has Brettanomyces / Belgian wild yeast feel to it; acidic almost lambic like scent. Acidic and wood taste, some apples. Spritzy mouthfeel, low bitterness.

Bottle (75 cl), thanks to marsiblursi. Hazy amber with a large frithy head. Spicy and fruity with nutmeg, some roasted notes (from the chestnuts?) and wodden notes. Medium bodied with soft mouthfeel. Slightly acidic, very dry. A bit Orval-like, and very well done.

Pours cloudy, orange-brown, with a fine-white head. Aroma is spicy, a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other "spicy spices" are in there. Rather sour smelling. Light-moderate mouth feel. Strong sour quality to the flavor. Spicy flavors with some citrus bitterness in there. Interesting.

light amber appearance with solid white head. flavor is incredibly unique, tasting almost like a gueze with acidic and sharp sourness that finishes very dry with some oak likely from the chestnut. a very enjoyable brew.

(Bottle, thanks Degarth) Pours medium muddy, medium brown. The flavour is woody, malty, light bretty and light spicy with tones of mild oak-ish vanilla, earth, subtle chestnuts, milk and mild toast. The nose is quite creamy underneath the acid notes. The flavour is light to medium acidic, light sweet, light toasted, light to medium woody/oaky and light to medium fruity/berry like. The mouthfeel is light tart and medium dry with a citric sting. Medium bodied. Good!

Bottle: I could not stop the head after opening. When I finally poured, it was amber with a huge, huge head. Aroma and taste of a spiced beer. Very good, but unusual Belgian.