Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo Especial

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

Rating #900, 750ml bottle courtesy of Mr. Styles, thanks Chris.

I’m not quite there yet when it comes to being a big fan of Flemish Sour types of beer, so when I popped this one open and poured it into my snifter and got a big aroma of brett and some sour funk, I was a bit leery. However, the flavor turned out to be subtle notes of spice, oak, citrus, yeast and malt. The only time the sour notes from the aroma became apparent was in the dry finish. All in all, a solid choice for my 900th rating. very enjoyable beer!

Bottle shared by sliffy. Red-orange pour with a off white head. Aroma was of lemon/lemon zest, sour, light brown sugar, dark fruit and oak characteristics. Flavors of oak, sour, caramel malt, brown sugar. Light body, oaky/bittersweet/sour throughout with a sweet/sour finish. Nice.

Bottle: Pours a hazy brown with a white head. Aroma some light musty funky notes, caramel, a faint chocolate, and some fruits. Flavor, caramel, brown sugar, slight chocolate, a light sour funk to it. Just delicious.

Big ol’ bottle. Pours hazy rust brown with big off-white head and very good lacing. The aroma is very musty with some spices, maybe pepper and orange peel, wet wood, and brett. The flavor begins with pleasant, subtle sourness, with some woody character and musty brett. It gets maltier toward the middle with a slight brown sugar note. Some fruity acidity also emerges. The cacao is first noticeable toward the finish, where there are dark tones, dry prickliness, nectarine, and a hint of whisky. Fruit and must persist into the aftertaste. This is good stuff.

As expected, a gusher! Pours a dark cloudy brown with a creamy tan head. Aroma is very spicy with lots of brett funk and green apple skins. Burnt cacao and alcohol finish off the nose. Flavor is quite malty, ctirus driven, with a lasting sourness combined with unsweetened cacao bitterness. Medium bodied, with a nice dry finish. This is a great offering from Jolly Pumpkin, and really gets the tastebuds working.

Bottle from OhioDad shared at the Beerinator gathering April Fools Day. Nose is very funky with brett and spices. The spices and cacao really added a nice twist on the usual brett attack of the nostrils. Flavor started off sweet with the the cacao making a brief appearence and then lends to the unique funky sourness, citrus, and yeasty flavors that many JP products tend to have. Still very nice, but overall this isnt a favorite among the brews I’ve had from them. The flavors just dont mix as well as I had hoped. Still, a very solid and quite unique offering. Thanks Scott!

750 ml bottle

Thanks to the person who sent this in a trade. It may have been a bonus but either way I wish I could get more. Once again Jolly Pumpkin has hit the nail on the head. Even though this has been sitting for a while it tasted as if it had just been bottled. If you can buy this locally consider yourself lucky.

Aroma / Appearance - A huge gushing foam poured out of the bottle once it was opened. It did not settle for a long time but I was prepared and did not lose much to the drain. The ruby coloured body was left with a one-finger yellowish head that reminded me of old newspaper left in the sun. The scent of sour cherries, dusty books, cedar chips and peanut brittle was held together with vinous undertones. Overall this was a joy to smell.

Flavor / Palate - The first sip introduced sour tart rasperries and bittersweet chocolate. The mouthfeel felt as if the bottle had been rolled in dust. Peanut butter, carbonation and a medley of fruits (blueberries, plums and cherries) come next. Orange rinds and real hot chocolate (not the type made with powder but the type where the chocolate is melted into the milk) caps the experience before a woody finish. The bottle was half empty before I knew it as this was a very drinkable beer.

Bottle - pint - Pours medium brown/red with an off white head that did not last too long. Smooth taste from start to finish with a little fruity taste.