Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Maracaibo Especial Belgian Strong Ale at 7.5% ABV ($15.19 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, bottle date 15-Nov-2013)
Pours clear pale to medium amber with two fingers of frothy off-white head, excellent retention and lacing. (5/5) Nose is complex, dry funk, apple cider vinegar, sour cherries, some spice, citrus, and cocoa. (8/10) Taste is mild sweet, mild bitter, moderate tart. (8/10) Medium body, prickly carbonation, off-dry tart finish. (4/5)
Utterly unlike any brown ale I’ve ever had before. I guess that’s the thing with JP, huh? No matter what they call the beer, it’s a sour. Brown ale? Sour. Stout? Sour. Saison? Sour. Witbier? Sour. Not that I’m complaining – far from it! This is an excellent, mild sour, with pleasant astringency and cellar floor funk. I’d go so far as to say it’s the best brown ale I’ve ever had – mostly because brown ales tend to be yawn-inducing at best, while this is actually interesting. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
