Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

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

Seriously infected bottle. Pours reddish brown with little or no head. 10% fizzed out upon opening. Smells like a sour with minimal funkiness. Smells a little "off" Tastes a lot "off.’ Very metallic taste, which, when combined with the sourness, comes close to putrid. Really watery with no carbonation. Drain pour. This bottle should never have been sold. I’ll rerate when I get another bottle, but since this is the bottle I got, this is what I’ll rate. Worst beer experience I’ve had in a long, long time.

bottle shared with CapedBrewsader... Brown tinge of red ... woody nose ... very woody some malts ... little sourness ... odd subdued but not working for me. Glad i shared this with some one who appreciated it.

My friend Garrett and I had been looking forward to our first taste of Jolly Pumpkin, so when the Michigan brewer finally landed in Colorado we had ourselves a double feature. La Roja was first up, pouring a hazy red-orange topped of lasting cream. The aroma is sadly vague. Though interesting scents are present, none of them are assertive enough to veritably grab the drinker. A slight earthy funkiness, asparagus, damp soil, these are the tones that quietly form La Roja’s nose. Hints of apple and sour pear, a modicum of brown sugar and leather; some grain, some grape and a sort of industrial steel-meets-concrete smell. Switching to the palate, the sourness gains in weight, a favorable development. Grassy and woody, the barrel’s influence is evident. The flavors of tobacco, pepper, black cherry and hay are well in tune with the creamy mouthfeel. A nice brew, for certain, but I was expecting a little more punch. (20/05/07)

Bouteille 12oz, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur ambrée rouge et voilée. Nez de levures sauvages fruitées (cerises sûres, léger de pommes vertes, notes de raisins blancs), boisé (fût de chêne), moyennement malté de caramel avec des petits notes d’alcool et de sucre bonbon. Moyenne-mince en bouche avec un pétillement moyen (rappelant un peu un cidre) et une texture moyennement crémeuse. Goût de levures fruitées sauvages moyennement acides (cerises sûres, raisins blancs légèrement vineux, léger de pommes vertes cidreuses, notes de prunes jaunes) aux notes terreuses avec des notes épicées lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût malté de caramel avec des traces de sucre bonbon. Parallèlement l’on retrouve un goût boisé (fût de chêne et bois humide) et accompagné d’un léger goût d’alcool (rappelant le whisky) jusqu’en finale, où l’on retrouve également de faibles notes de fromage vieilli et où le goût fruité devient légèrement plus aigre et un peu asséchant. Post-goût moyen et un peu sec, aigre de levures fruitées (moût de ceises sûres et de raisins, pelures et pépins de pommes vertes) avec un goût boisé (fût de chêne) et de faibles notes d’alcool.

Bottle as image appears. Probably better classified as a flemish sour ale. Strong notes of cherries and strawberry in this bad boy with perfect ripe carbonation. Real nice, cant go wrong with Jolly Pumpkin

Pours a nice cloudy red with a nice thick head. The smell is unbelievably enticing, full of spice. A bit of a sour beer, but nothing extreme. Perhaps the carbonation level could be tamed a bit. Great beer, but not one I could see myself drinking regularly. Serving type: bottle

Murky looking. The flavor is as playful as the artwork. Sweet notes. Refreshing finish.

750ml - Red pour, light tan head, green apple nose, powerfully acidic palate. A nice thought that missed the mark.