Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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750 ml bottle from Stone. Dark brown with no head. Sour oaky and chocolate aroma. Tangy fruit, chocolate, oak, spice, and roastiness taste with a smooth woody finish.

750 ml bottle entitled blend 3. Shared with the mother. Subtle oaky funk aroma with notes of citrus and spice. Flavor is similar to the above and moderately satisfying with a touch of acidity. Could use some more bubbles to help create body and some "umphhhh". Enjoyable.

UPDATED: JAN 1, 2008 Poured from a 750ml bottle--dark amber-ruby body. High carbonation and big foamy off-white head. Fruity flavor of cherries with a mild musty scent. Oaky flavors melded nicely with the fruits. Mildly acidic and not overly sour. Finished with a little spicy bite that was quite welcomed.

UPDATED: DEC 12, 2007 My biggest knocks against this beer is that the yeast profile is very similar to some of their other beer, obfuscating the uniqueness in the malting of the beer. Additionally, the wild yeast create this slick mouthfeel that reminds me of diacetyl, but without too much of the overwhelming flavor. That said, I really like this beer. The aroma is at first oaky and subdued, infected sourness that blends with the sweet malt base of the beer to create a woodsy, slightly vinegary, fruity aroma. The head to this beer is non-existent, but it laces like it has diacetyl in its veins (or tons of alcohol). Funny enough, there is no presence of alcohol in this beer. For 9 percent that is majestic. Taste follows very much to form with the aroma, but is at first a touch fizzy, then a Dutchess de Borgenon-esque, dull sourness that is cut again by the carbonation. However, the sourness and the vinegar come right back with the oak and linger for just a second before the finish. The palate is initially fizzy, then full of fruit and vinegar, then fizzy again, and finally settles on the oak with a touch of sourness. Overall, this is a very solid beer. Blend 4 ----- Blend 3 Aroma is moderately funky and sour. Taste is cherry and oak with a mustiness to the beer. This one is much more balanced in terms of funk and flavor, but is not nearly as "different" as blend 4. Overall, I think that this is a better beer. Not many diacetyl notes, but a definite oakiness. Very solid.

Pours a nice brownish amber shade. Modest white head. Smells og sour sweetness. Smooth but somewhat thin on the palate. Excellent flavor of sour fuit and sweet malt and yeast. Tastes of wood barrels is nice. Overall a pleasant brew.

Lightly sweet/cinnamon aroma with some sour fruit and citrus scents. Murky brown with a solid head. Sweet taste up front with a very light sour presence. Light spices--black pepper in the finish. Very light caramel malt throughout. Well balanced.

Bottle batch#4. Pours dark cherry red with a brown hue. Tall biege head. Aroma is lightly acidic with a fruity sweetness of plum and cherry, reminds me of an old bruin. Woody tones compliment the fruity palate, big cherry character builds. Sweeter then other JP beers i’ve had, but still has a nice acidic and medium sour finish with a lot of esters and spice.

The jolly pumpkin brewers are some of the few in America to attempt the more wild Belgian styles, so it was a pleasant surprise to find this, a Flemish style sour, was their winter ale. Pours a dark clear ruby with solid tan head. Nose is tart wild berries, lavender, cider vinegar. Lemon zest up front on the palate, followed by oaky malts and a drying tartness. Only flaw in my mind is its thin palate. Alcohol is certainly well hidden, as with most of their beers. Pretty great.

I don’t choose my milestone ratings, so it is just by chance that this is number 1700. Poured a copper/brown with a ring of fizz for a head. Aroma was of spice and tart fruit with some oak. Medium body with some tingle on the tongue. An uninspired holiday beer.

I was relieved to find out that this one is better than La Roja. More flavor and general sourness overall. This is one that the wine drinkers of the world would like. Change of pace for sure, but good for the style. A big bottle like that at 9% at a tasty price!