mreusch (433), Olathe, Kansas, USA May 8, 2008 12oz. bottle, red capped and black plastic sealed neck, with a big thanks to Duane (now barleyPops)! Pours a lively, slightly hazy amber with abundant bubbles and a large fizzy head that slowly dissipates, spotty lace. Aroma is sour grape, fresh sliced apples, oak, light funk and some tartness. The oak and woodiness takes this to different places than other more "funk forward" sours I’ve had, which works well here. Flavor is sour, tart and funky, but well tempered against gentle oak, dark fruits and spice. Oddly after all the apparent lively carbonation, this comes off a bit flat on the palate. Regardless, this is well crafted, and easily my favorite JP from my very limited experience. Good stuff, thanks again Duane!
BlackForestCO (479), Fort Collins and Black Forest, Colorado, USA Jul 6, 2008 Bottle shared by mentor, thanks Paul! Poured a clear golden-amber color with a thin off-white head that faded to a ring. Lightly tart aroma with some fruitiness (berry and light citrus) and some yeast and oak peaking through. Tart, funky entry leads into an overpowering lacto, almost sour milk flavor with some light brett and a moderate fruitiness. Smooth, but not really sour, unless you take the sour milk flavor into consideration. I liked regular La Roja better, and I was pretty let down by this. Crosling (1604), Loveland, Colorado, USA Jul 5, 2008 Orange color with a small, white head that leaves a light ring. Aroma shows a lot of the barrel with coconut, wild yeast and mountain fruit notes. Flavor has a lot of wildness, red fruit character, funk and a lot of barrel contributions. It’s a funked out sour ale with a lot of complexity. It’s a nice ale. eaglefan538 (2021), Wilmington, Delaware, USA Jul 4, 2008 Bottle from Styles. Pour was beautiful for an aged brew, nice off-white head over a fully amber body with some deeper reddish hues. Aroma was bretty funk, citrus, caramel, tart fruits. The flavor followed, everything coming together wonderfully from the aroma along with spicey oaky (cedar even) barrel elements, tart apples, and vanilla. This is up there with some of my highly liked Russian River products, and I’m incredibly glad to have had the opportunity on this one. Thanks, Chris, a generous bottle to have sent me! Goodgrief (995), Middletown, Delaware, USA Jul 2, 2008 Cherry brown color with ok lacing even in my small sample (thanks to eaglefan438). Huge aroma of brett. The flavor was a wonderful brent of brett, sour and tart fruit and heavy wood and ash notes. Nice. after4ever (1652), Brier, Washington, USA Jun 13, 2008 12-oz. Opaque dark brown with slim off-white rim, not much lace. Enormous tart funky green apple nose. Mild, somewhat thin and still body. Big oaky flavors up front followed by light apple and dry leaves. Mild green apple tartness kicks up at the end. Soft, mellow, and beautiful.
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