Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

Bottle from South Bay Drugs. The aroma of this ale is so strong and noticeable it’s as almost if the bottle spilt all over my floor. It has such a bold presence of oak that it would be an understatement to say that oak was the main characteristic of the aroma which I just did. The flavor has upfront tart and slightly sour Belgian spiced yeast taste and of course it has been metamorphosed by the oak barrel time capsule it endured. A big, bold and unique beer from Jolly Pumpkin that I really spent a good deal of time studying and reflecting on.

Bottle, 750, fairly old. Gusher, pours a darker amber with big head. Aroma is lightly caramel, with berry like smells, maybe a little wood and dust, and a little funk. Flavor is moderately acidic, a combination of undefined berry and woody earthiness with a light spice to it. Tartness carries through the finish which is short. Pretty fizzy on the palate. Interesting stuff and quite good.

750 ml b0ttle, get an immediate shot of red hots on the nose, then cherries, Big Red and sour cherry candy and sweet tart body, very nice sour ale

Taste is dull red cherry, some un-bittered orange rind, sour fruit. Very understated, fruity, solid.

Pours dark amber with foamy slightly offwhite head that slowly fades. Aroma is sour cherry and vinegar. Taste starts off kinda sweet and finishes with a slightly sour kick. Very enjoyable but not something I could drink alot of.

2-24-08 bottle shared at tasting.
Nice sweet cherry smell with some fun funk in there. Thick red amber with some nice sediment and thin bright white head. Sweet and sour taste that is actually pretty well balanced. High carbonation. My only real complaint is the how thin it is - I want more depth and body.

Pours a dark amber color with foamy white head. Excellent aroma of oak, whiskey, vanilla, sour cherry, wood and dark fruit. Oak whiskey flavor along with sour cherries and dark fruit are an amazing compliment to its spicy amber flavor. Amazing!

Pours a cloudy brownish red color with foamy off white head. Smell is funky, tart cherry and some musty vinegar. Taste is funky, dry, fruity, with some cherry and very faint sweetness, but predominantly dry. Decent, but certainly didn’t blow me away.