Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Krieked

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

(On tap at GTMW ’09) This one was the highlight of the fest for me. Pours a light murky red with a little white head that dissipates to nothing after some time. The aroma is huge on this, with great scents of macerated cherries, wet wood, earth, funk, leather, and wet paint. The taste also begins with sweet crushed cherry, cherry pits and skins, that quickly transitions to a bone dry barrel character on the finish. A bit vinous as well, tart, and a little salty with a funk kick at the end. The mouthfeel was medium. In sum, a great beer that really showcased the added cherry, and was quite refreshing for a hot summer day.

[On-tap at GTMW ’09] Pours hazy reddish-brown with a small off-white head. Aroma is beautiful with big fresh cherry blending with moderate funkiness. The taste has a good deal of cherry skin tartness, but isn’t over the top. Just the right amount of barrel and funkiness makes this a standout. Medium mouthfeel, smooth, and has a bitter and tart finish. Really outstanding beer--makes me crave it just writing about it.

On tap: The aroma consists of sour cherries, vinuous notes, oak, hints of vinegar, and very faint sweet cherries. It’s a cloudy orangish-red with a small off-white head. The flavor starts with some light sweet cherries, yeast, and faint caramel. The finish turns to moderately sour cherries, oak, hints of wine, and faint alcohol. Medium bodies with minimal carbonation.

MBGF07. Hazy, amber body with a reddish tint and a small off-white head. The aroma is cherry,almond, caramel, acetic acid, bourbon and vanilla. The flavor is lightly sour with lactic acid, light acetic acid, cherry, plum skins, bourbon and oak. Medium body is very soft with light carbonation and a slightly oily texture.

On tap at GTMW 2009
While this tastes much like Roja with some cherries thrown in that still makes it a solid beer. It might not be the star of the show but I have not yet run across a Jolly Pumpkin beer I would not want to try again. This one will hopefuly show up again at other festivals so more people can try it.

Aroma / Appearance - Tart and dry the nose clears the space around effectively. Smelling like a bretty Belgian Red it stands out like a sore thumb. The other aspects are typical Roja.

Flavor / Palate - The taste is very similar to regular Roja with the addition of cherries. Not terribly different I wonder if you could get the same effect at home. Still I’d try it again if it ever shows up when I visit the Jolly Pumpkin cafes.

Had this at the MBGF08. Poured a hazy reddish amber color. Aroma was slight cherry, nutty and yeast. Flavor is light cherry, slight funk, yeast, vanilla. This was a lot more mellow than I expected. I would like to try this again on it’s own. Re-rate: Had this again at the MBGSF 09. Seemed to have a lot more punh this time. Really nice round flavor. I thought the most recent version was really nice.

at GTMW ’09. pours red soapy white head. nose of sour cherries, oak, and jp brett yeast house funk. flavors are sour cherry, oak , and brett. wow this was a bad review but whatever, i enjoyed the brew but not a ton different from regular la roja.

MBGSF 09. Pours a light reddish hue with an off white head. Nose is malty and grainy with a nice cherry backround. Palate is full and filmy. Flavors of light malt notes with some cherry hints.