Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam

Brewed by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Dexter, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Batch 315/316; Sampled August 2008
A soft pour produces a two-and-a-half finger thick, pale, off-white colored head. The beer is deeply hazed and has straw color as it sits on my desk, when held up to the light, despite being so light in color, it is opaque in my 25cl tulip glass. Lots of grain-like aromatics are noticeable; grassy, crushed grain and bright wheat notes are noticeable. There is a light tartness to this brew as well as a musty, earthy funk. Some slight clove and the wheat aromas are all that weakly links this with a traditional German Hefeweizen. None-the-less the aroma is quite nice smelling. Other aromas of lemon zest, crushed saltine crackers and some slight phenolics of the none clove variety are also noticed. Interestingly enough, the wheat and grain character is perhaps the biggest contributor to the aroma.

Quite light feeling with a zesty carbonation that causes the beer to dance across the tongue. The flavor is much more what I was hoping; it is in fact a nice mix of traditional German Hefeweizen flavors and the signature JP barrel funk. Flavors of clove up front yield to a tart lemon zest character, but then switches to a mix of banana (this is very soft) and clove flavors as well as some light, spicy oak notes and a tart, wheat driven finish. The barrel funk is definitely young here as it is not overly noticeable; a touch of roundness seems to belie some tannic oak notes, a light tartness and a boost to the spiciness of this beer are what is most noticeable. My second pour has me noticing a touch of green apple fruitiness and, along with the light oak character, is somewhat reminiscent at times of an oaky chardonnay.

Like each of the Bam beers, this is eminently light and quaffable; it is very dry and quite close to water in its heft. This lightness works quite well here as it keeps the beer refreshing and there is lots of complex character to keep one interested in exploring the nuances of this brew. The aroma is a bit of a miss for a beer that is touted as a mix of a Hefeweizen and the JP barrel aged character, as the traditional Hefeweizen notes are much muted and even lacking. This is for the most part made up for in the flavor, but I wouldn’t mind a touch more of an assertive Hefeweizen character here either.

Wow, this is incredible! Never had a sour beer that was this well balanced and modest. Poured at a good temperature with a nice sized, off-white, foamy, head that soon subsided and no lace. Color is a clear yel low with lots of bubble trails. Aroma is yeast, grass, malt, sour, floral. Flavor’s like nose, fairly dry, bitter is superbly balanced to carbonic tang. Body reflects that balance and in spite of the potential for extreme, there are no high points while carbonation is exactly where it should be. Finish is like flavor, has good length, and is surprisingly drinkable. Outstanding brau!!

Bottle. Very pale hazy yellow pour with white head. Looks like a weizen, smells like a gueuze. The aroma of soured wheat is actually quite reminiscent of belgian lambics, just not as powerful and potent but definitely there. Taste is sour, lots of wheat, strange mix of sour with banana and clove just like a regular hefe. I’m not sure about the seamlessness of the blend, but it does go surprisingly well together. Palate is heavier feeling than a 4.5% white beer, a little sweet and carb is a little low. Very drinkable and refreshing nonetheless, another fun JP beer.

Rated 5.19.12- Mag. bottle (Batch 833, bottled 7.8.11) served in shaker- poured a 30% turbid dulled straw color, tons of carbonation (never ending foamer from the bottle), aroma of yeast, straw, and clove. Hits the mouth with a light body, malt has alot of yeast intertwined with it, some Brett taste in the middle, clove on the finish with a drying/souring effect. Not a fan.

750 ml bottle. Pours hazy pale yellow with a large white head with excellent retention. Aroma is funky, bready, signature Jolly Pumpkin. Tastes like standard Jolly Pumpkin, too. I don’t taste German Hefeweizen here, just your standard sour Jolly Pumpkin. Not that that’s a bad flavor, because it’s not--it’s delicious. I just have a hard time differentiating between a lot of this brewery’s beers. Most of them are super tasty, but very similar to each other. Maybe I need a flight of them in front of me to compare and contrast. Mouthfeel is way too bubbly, which, along with its similarity in flavor to other beers in this brewery’s portfolio, is this beer’s only flaw.

750 ml. bottle- brewed on 6-14-11, about eleven months old.- Pours hazy old golden with a three finger white head that reduces pretty quickly. Aroma is very funky, first impressions were stinky feet, it has a nice wheaty yeasty aroma, fruity. The taste is tart, tangy, dry, banana esters, I wish it was more creamy, a lot of these beers I am noticing have an unsweetened taste to them, not that I want them sweetened, but they taste like koolaid tastes before you put the sugar in, it tastes like it is missing something, I wish it was fuller and creamier. There is no denying this is a great beer and a wonderful brewery, but I think this and some of their other beers could be better than they already are.

750 ml. bottle. Batch 821/822. Bottled 06/15/2011. A medium gusher, which was anticipated. Pours a thick, rapidly diminishing white head over a hazy, particle laden, yellow (SRM 3) body....nose is lemon, banana/bubblegum, barnyard....taste is lemon, barnyard, light banana, hints of clove, finishing with a medium Brett sourness...mouth feel light of medium, carbonation high. This is light, tart, sour, complex and refreshing. BJCP 7/3/15/4/7

0.75 l bottle. Very hazy yellow color, very spritzy. Very spicy aroma with clove, pepper, grapegruit and banana. Dry tart, spicy and grainy flavor grapefruit and strawberry. Clovey and horsey finish. Rounded tingling mouthfeel. Not a best Jolly Pumpkin but still fairly good.

Nothing like a hefeweizen. Not color, body texture. But it is good as a farmhouse/sour beer. Nice tartness, not overpowering, medium to low pucker. Just a solid easy-drinker.

UPDATED: APR 15, 2012 Bottle at the Bayou, 750ml. Pours a clear yellow color with a large white head. A sweet funky nose. A rich banana esters, light brett, dry, spritzy, good.

750 mL bottle, batch 821/822, bottled 6/14/11, from Peace Street Market, Raleigh. Pours a hazy straw color with a thin creamy tan head. Tiny white floaties. Tart citrus aroma with an earthy, chalky note. The taste is tart citrus, wheat, tangerine, earthy and yeasty notes. Medium bodied.