Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo Especial

Hazy, rustic copper in color with a thin, shadow-cast tan head. The most beautiful lacing I’ve ever seen, and a beauty in the trappist glass. Aroma is absolutely delicious: cinnamon, nutmeg and dry milk chocolate lead the charge, gradually enveloping accents of cloves, chocolate covered bananas, curacau and pepper. Simply resilient. Rich, smooth oak flavor is in full artesian display. "Spicy" doesn’t even scratch the surface. Invigorating cinnamon and curacau ignite a substantive - yet delicate - chocolate complex. Orange peels seem to interject a brief citric sense and then we smooth over everything and revisit the oak. Other flavors bring in the likeness of sweet caramel and toffee. Finishes with bitter-sweet chocolate and mild, earthy tobacco.

Lively, comprehensive and slick on the palate. The hard water and artistic interpretation in this single bottle has achieved the most delicate and impressive working balance of the farmhouse brewing tradition to date. I could write for miles...

<h6>(Note: this rating was bumped up from a 4.9 to a 5.0 by giving the palate all 5 points – like the brewery’s other ales, the high effervescence, which I at first considered out of balance, is now seen by me as a key contributing element to the many complexities of this beer. Again, I don’t think a beer can get any better than this, and if it’s one of my favorites, I feel that the rating should reflect that.)</h6>

750ml bottle courtesy of SoLan. Pours to a murky, caramel color, with a short, off white head that fades, and good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer is spicy and zesty, with aromas of cinnamon, cocoa powder, orange peel, and oaky/vinous aroma. The palate is also zesty and spicy, with flavors of citrus, spice, and oaky sourness that zing on the palate. This beer finishes with more good citrus and spice character, then ends with some subtle malt sweetness and subtle cocoa flavor, followed by a refreshing, lingering sourness. Another excellent, artisan ale, from Jolly Pumpkin. This is a fantastic beer to match with hearty fare. It would make great beer to match with desert, and is a natural with chocolate. Savor this one before, after, or with a meal.

I could tell as soon as I popped the cap that I was in for something special. There is a wonderful nose on this beer. Plenty of spice, tartness and funk. The taste is incredible. The taste has a nice dose of cacao. The mouthfeel is full and creamy and just the perfect amount of carbonation. This beer is a real treat.

Wondrful. Rich and full. Nice creamy taste. Another excellent brew from Jolly Pumpkin. If you see it, buy it.

I drank this a couple weeks ago, so my write up will be very vague. Liked this brown belgain a lot. Slightly tart, with a spicy cinamon zip. Great mouth feel that gets creamier as it warms. Rerate: Great nose of old oak, wine and brown sugar. Huge tan head on top of muddy brown looking swamp water. Oak barrel taste, little sour wine with a touch of brown sugar. This tasted a bunch like its great nose. Alcohol is completely cloaked. The palette is perfect. Creamy and rich and round sensations turn to dry and tart as it goes down the hatch. Amazing beer. I’m so lucky to have a brewery this unique only a few miles from my house. I’m horrible at describing beers. This beer deserves a good review.