Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga (The Firefly)

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

Luciernaga pours an orange-gold with a massive ivory head. Lots of belgian spice, especially coriander, and lots of citrus. Not my favorite style, but probably my favorite of the Jolly Pumkin beers.

The aroma was strongly fruity through the huge moussy and tall super long lasting frothy head. The aroma had a brett character and a strong presence of oak coupled with spices peppery and earthy. The beer poured into the glass and then kept coming out the top of the bottle, even when half was consumed. The beer was lightly hazy golden and with that super duper head that was second to none. The flavors that came forth as one sucks the head were pure oak. Following that was a nice fruity nature and a strong bittering character. The flavor was earthy and spicy and uniquely interesting. The flavor had a presence of brett coupled to wood and had some citrus, some light caramel and a wheat characteristic. The finish was dry with lasting strong bittering and oak long into the aftertaste and beyond. The body was medium, or maybe more, but the HUGE carbonation was almost too much for enjoyment. A very interesting and tasty beer, this puppy was alive and kicking. 750 ml capped bottle.

Big gusher of a bottle. Luckily didn’t lose too much to the countertop. Cloudy tangerine with huge chunky head. Aroma- nice oaky funkiness. Taste- high initial sourness that drys quickly. Not really a juicy sourness, more dry woodiness. Little bit of citrus. I think this is the dryest JP beer I’ve had. Not high is alcohol, but seems boozy for some reason.

From bottle : Pours a hazy darker amber color, with the biggest, foamiest, whip cream looking head that i have seen, and it stays around FOREVER. Fairly carbonated. And wonderful lacing, like a peice of art. Nose is of yeast and some barnyard smells. Taste is yeast, and more on the bitter side as opposed to the sweet side. Has some lemon and sour notes, but the ending is really.....not good. Kinda a spoiled taste. Palate is on the thin side, and kinda sticky. Started out good, but that aftertaste is aweful.

750 ml green bottle. No freshness date seen. A certified gusher here. Contaminated beyond all hope. Sour lactic acid aromas, with lemon juice chaser. Flavors are of lactic acid, vinegar, lemon juice. Go back to the drawing board, Jolly Pumpkin. This beer is not very jolly at all.

750 ml. bottle from Beertopia in Omaha, Nebraska. Pour is orange gold, with hazy carbonation bubbles. Big, lasting cream head. Aroma of grass, sweet yeastiness and the trademark JP barnyard sour funk. There is also a touch of clean - almost soap in the nose. Taste is an interesting fruit (apple - pear) sweetness combined with the earthy funkiness. Some spiciness int he finish, which lingers. The entire palate is very soft, and drinkable. Another nice one from Jolly Pumpkin.

Golden. Light ale. Taste of apples. Have had both in bottle and at Michigan Brew Fest. Very nice before it got too funky.

750 mL bottle received via trade with jrob_21. Pours hazy, effervescent orange with a large, creamy, off-white head, lasting with excellent lacing. Aroma is average malt (grain, cereal), average hops (grass, flowers, herbs), average yeast (horse blanket, barnyard) with notes of sour cherries, coriander, and pepper. Full bodied, slick texture, average carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity, and heavy bitterness.