Oro De Calabaza - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

cmoody91

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served into tulip at Hopleaf in Chicago.

A: golden straw color with inch white head. Nice lacing throughout. Lots of bubbles streaming upwards.

S: fresh tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus, just a bit of funk to keep it interesting.

T: sweet up front with popping acidity, extremely drinkable as the finish rounds out dry finish keeps you drinking. Tastes like white wine with great grain and classic JP funk.

M: good not great, wish the mouthfeel was fuller but the lightness is also what keeps it drinkable and interesting. High carbonation.

O: would drink again, very nicely complex especially in aroma, very well balanced and drinkable. Happy with another great brew from JP.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2012 01:44:16 | More by cmoody91

viverlee

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A friend of mine recommend this to me.

STYLE: Bière de Garde

ABV: 8%

LOOK: Very light copper, #2 pencil, bubbly, light lacing.

NOSE: Hint of butter, tart apple, lemon rind. A little flat overall.

MOUTH: Pear, granny smith apple, champagne, sharp citrus, fresh-cut hay, good sour. I’m not getting the pepper promised on the label, either here or in the nose, and not even as it warms.

BA Rating: 92

Hayward Abbey Rating: 82

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 04:26:46 | More by viverlee

gustogasmic

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 11-03-11

A hazy, light straw-orange. Bottle gushed everywhere and took a few minutes of thumb-plug/ quick release to calm enough to pour!
Lacing is wonderful.

The smell is a sour oakiness with a bready, sourdough backdrop. Famhouse big-time. The acidic sourness is reminiscent of tangerine or blood orange.

The taste follows the smell, but with much less sourness. The tangerine note comes across in the taste as straight-up lemon. Lots of funky yeast, too, not just in the sourness, but in the hay flavor that carries the oak. It's much like white wine in feel and taste, chardonnay specifically

Mouthfeel is even, balanced throughout. Is it all the carbonation that the gush of the initial bottle-opening caused me to lose? It's smooth and buttery like chardonnay, but I would like more zing from the carbonation. Awesome anyway. A good oaky dryness to finish and linger.

An insanely good beer that I'd pitch in on to split with somebody- about $13 a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 02:49:07 | More by gustogasmic

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Batch # 818
Bottled 9-15-2011

P:  Slightly hazy golden body with mass vertical waves of beautiful bubbles. Small amount of head that disappeared quick leaving a small puddle of thin white bubbles on top. 

S:  Bursts of pineapple, dill pickle yeast.Moldy leaves, citrus and a subtle but present alcohol nose. 

T/M: Serves like a white wine on the palate with a highly carbonated sting and a dill pickle backbone, sweet fruits, plums, sour green apples,musty, sour, and toasted grains.  Astringent and alcohol evident with a moderate feel.  Finishes dry with a bitter white grape finish. 

O:  Highly impressed with this complex, yet delicate offering from Jolly Pumpkin. Easy drinking, subtly sour and elegant. I am glad I grab a few bottles of this as I will enjoy this as much as possible this summer. 

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 23:21:54 | More by Hopswagger

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 818 Bottled 9-15-2011

A - Pours a golden apple juice color with a milky white head that paints a micro thin ocean of bubbles. Some lacing left behind.

S - Very woody, lemon and orange citrus zest, tart lactic acid, grapes, pomegranate, Granny Smith apples, peppery spice, tart banana comes through as it warms.

T - Tart orange candy, reminds me of an old sweet tart candy. Bright lemon citrus shines over the musty church pew yeast in the background, but creates very nice balance. Lots of fruit - lemon, pear, apple, muted grapes, a mix of banana and pineapple. Freshly cut wood, flowers, acidic, lemongrass, vague vanilla. Finishes with a clean tartness.

M - Light to medium body, zesty and refreshing, silky smooth feel, dry finish.

The high points of this beer is balance. Sweet, tart, woody, yeasty, refreshing. The aroma is bigtime here. Flavor is a little more subtle but very good balance. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 00:16:47 | More by StaveHooks

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A pure white bubbly head floats away quickly and leaves a smattering of froth. The brew itself is a murky, grapefruit like pinkish-orange. Can you say breakfast? Smells yeasty with a smattering of light fruits (orange, pear, lemon, green apple). A slight aroma of funk and dry hay lies deep within. Tastes tangy up front with a following of sugary sweetness. Obviously fruity as with the smell. Has a touch of brett, spice, and just the right amount of sour fruit and hoppiness to bring things full circle. Light to medium in body, and has that distinctive Jolly Pumpkin crispness. My favorite JP brew so far.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 20:56:47 | More by stephens101

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Finally have some Jolly Pumpkin in my glass. Granted, I had to buy it online (props to InternetWines.com), but I’m still glad to have it.

Brewed six months ago (Batch 830, Bottled 10-12-2011).

A: We have a gusher here; just a few moments after opening the bottle, there’s all kinds of foam erupting slowly from the bottle. Once I get it into the glass, the body shows itself as pale gold (more yellow than rich blonde), with a bit of chill haze. I’m surprised by the lack of head above…it’s just a creamy, stark white, half-inch of bubbles. Strings of oily lacing appear everywhere.

S: Belgian banana and herbal esters hit it off in a nice, enjoyable fashion. But then, out of nowhere, there’s an explosive hit of alcohol; it’s hot just from here. Apart from that, it’s very wild and incredibly sweet: tart green apple, acidic lemon, grape, funky Brett, and – the most intense flavor – the white wine profile. Complex and very, very funky.

T: Just like the nose, at first: sour lemon, white grape, and apple. These fruits are tart and acidic – excellent. The transition to this beer’s wildness is seamless, as the bright funkiness of the yeast raises flavors of banana, vinegar, and pure barnyard sours. Seriously, these tart flavors are not letting up. The palate opens up with citrus rind, dry champagne, leafy tea, white wine, pepper, herbs (mostly sage), and some tannic astringency. Finishes creamy-dry with lemon-pepper, cream ale malt, sour lime, and mild barrel tastes (the only oak-aged notes I’ve experienced throughout the entire drink).

M: This beer is so thick…so filling. I don’t know what it is, but I’m having trouble finishing a bottle. Bubbly textures are apparent, but give way to the cream of the body, making it a seriously full-bodied drink. Liquid yeast, as times.

O: This beer is almost too much for me. So sour, so yeasty, so rich – but it’s so enjoyable. I guess I’ll have to try out more Jolly Pumpkin, because this one was unique and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 01:55:17 | More by BarryMFBurton

Agold

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 5-4-11. Pours with a huge billowy white head that leaves some lacing on the glass. A bit over carbonated, got a bit of a gusher when I opened it. Some nice head retention. Aroma is really grapefriut and lemon rindey with a bit of funk, but not a ton. Big pungent aroma, not at all subtle. Flavor has a bit of soft sourness along with a lot of funk and nice green apple, citrus rind and some champagne fruityness. Despite the gusher and high carb initially, it seems like the gusher dissipated a lot of the carb. I was very pleasantly surprised by this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 03:15:40 | More by Agold

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a capped bomber- pours a slightly hazy straw/golden color with a one finger white head, minimal retention and minimal lacing.

Smell is pretty funky- tart, a little pale malt, sour rasberry, of course VERY wild and yeasty.

Taste is not as funky- a little tartness, a good dose of pale malt sweetness, a nice dry hop bitterness but pretty mixed in with the tartness. Excellent. (The only other Biere de garde I've had is Jack's Abby's lager version so I'm not sure what they should taste like).

Mouthfeel is great also- light body with moderate carbonation and the funk comes through pretty strong. This is a wild ale to me and a delicious and well balanced one at that. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 00:57:02 | More by Hopdaemon39

superspak

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip, bottled 10/15/2010. Insane gusher here; after I poured the inside of the bottle started to fill up with foam as well. Pours cloudy golden amber color with a nice 2-3 finger dense white head with fantastic retention that reduces to a thick cap that lasts. Some nice soapy lacing on the glass, with a lot of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big tart lemon zest, orange, grass, floral, apple, herbal spiciness, and light funk. Great aromas here with a lot of citrus up front. Taste of big lemon zest, orange, grass, floral, apple, grape, bread, pepper, and herbal spiciness. Some nice crisp tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon zest, orange, pepper, and herbal spiciness for a bit. Fantastic flavor balance of tartness and sweetness; with no cloying at all. Medium carbonation and body; with a very crisp and slightly acidic mouthfeel. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with no warming present at all. Overall this is an absolutely fantastic Belgian style from Jolly Pumpkin. Great balance of flavors, nice complexity, and extremely smooth to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 04:02:44 | More by superspak

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this one during the Greenville Beer Exchange/American Grocery Beer vs. Wine Dinner! This beer was paired with a crudo of local triggerfish, marinated kale, with smoked trout caviar. The wine it was facing off against was Mercat Cava Brut.

Gusher! Served from bottle into a wine glass. Poured golden yellow with a one finger pure white head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, earth, funk, tart, and citrus. The flavor was of sweet malt, earth, funk, sour, vinegar, and citrus. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. There were lots of nice earthy funk tones going on in this one which made it quite enjoyable. The touch of sour also helped with this one to keep your palate guessing. A pretty good brew for sure.

I voted for the beer pairing on this one. The general concensus was that the beer was better when paired with the food than the wine.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 14:00:57 | More by thagr81us

vkv822

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle into tulip snifter.
Batch 812
Bottled 8-12-11

Pours a clear golden yellow with a thin-to-average foamy white head.

Funky, tart yeast notes, with a light malty backing.

While it is still present in the taste, it's not nearly as funky/tart as in the nose. Toasty and sweet malts blend with some fruity esters and tart yeast notes.

A medium-full mouthfeel with soft bubbly carbonation.

A good beer, the tartness adds some character, but still seems a bit forgettable overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 07:44:54 | More by vkv822

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from John's Grocery in Iowa City, IA
Bottled on 11/2011
Poured into a Unibroue flute glass

Oro De Calabaza is an excellent US-style wild ale, sour and fruity with a well-balanced recipe. This beer is affordably priced and not too difficult to find, making me wonder why I haven't tried anything from this brewery before.

Pours a 1cm fairly clean, white head of rather dense, small bubbles creating a cloudlike foam atop the beer. Head descends over time to a thin cap, leaving some good lacing along sides of glass. Body is golden yellow-orange in color, with obvious golden yellow coloring when held to the light. Somewhat hazy from yeast, but mild carbonation still visible.

Aroma is deliciously prefigurative of the taste: evident tartness, acetic and/or lactic acid, mild and well-integrated Brettanomyces-related burnt wire, dank citrus rind, unripe apples.

Taste is crisp and as good as the scent would indicate. Sour/tartness from acetic and/or lactic acid, mellow Brettanomyces character, bright fruity esters including some very mild mix of peaches-lemons-apricots. Reminds me quite a bit of a very good gueuze.

Beer is medium-bodied with subtle carbonation, allowing this to be savored on the palate. Finish is dry, alcohol is undetectable.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 20:37:49 | More by falloutsnow

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled August 2011, about 8 months ago.

A: poured cold, it has very little head and no lacing but a thin ring around the edges of the glass. It is hazy yellow/orange, and so far doesn't look very enticing.

S: full of funk and citrus along with some delicious smelling acidity that reminds me of a non-buttery chardonnay.

T: sour, then funk hit, fully encompassing the mouth. This is more sour than I expected, but it has a bit of spice and lemon with a bit of grass.

M: medium-thin mouthfeel with medium carbonation creates a watery feeling when cold, but it's more crisp when it warms.

O: for $10 and as readily available as this is, it's a great beer. I could easily drink the 22 ounce bottle if I had the chance. Can't wait until my beer using the dregs from this one finishes.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 22:19:57 | More by Holland

phiberoptik

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A wonderful treat on-tap at The Rookwood in Cincinnati.

Served in a Great Lakes snifter. Deeper than straw yellow with little head. Nice effervescence coming up from the bottom of the glass.

Smells of lemon peel, sourness, green grapes, and mustiness.

Tastes of barrel oak, pepper, spice, green grapes, funk, with a dry finish.

Medium bodied with bubbly carbonation.

Jolly Pumpkin's beers are a treat and this is no exception. If you can, try this. If you like wild yeast ales with sourness and funk... this one will win you over after first sip.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 03:43:18 | More by phiberoptik

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazed gold with a collar of white foam that sticks in thick clumps to the sides of the glass. Clean lactic sourness is upfront with a pleasant grainy, cereal backdrop. Lemon peel, hay, and leather come out is warms up. The sourness is balanced by a subtle oaky tanic note. A really terrific sour and the best beer I've had from Jolly Pumpkin, with La Roja a close second.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 01:42:16 | More by bump8628

muletrane

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 773/782/784 Bottled 7/13/11

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Bruery tulip.

A: Pours a cloudy golden color. 2 fingers of pillowy white head that dissapates fairly quickly, leaving a nice ring and a thin layer of head. Decent lacing as well. Nice amount of bubbles floating to the top.

S: Nice lemon and banana notes up front with a nice funky yeast backbone.

T: Zesty lemon bite up front. Slightly tart throughout. Some yeasty esters and banana mixed with just enough dryness in the finish. Very clean.

M: Pillowy soft feel overall. Just what I like for the style. Moderate body with slightly high carbonation. Just right for the style!

Overall this is my favorite Jolly Pumpkin brew to date! Nicely balanced and very easy to drink. This beer will hold up very well for years to come.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 23:26:31 | More by muletrane

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pastel yellow and densely couldy. It appears to blush when held up to light, a very pretty beer. No head, no lacing.

S: Immediate lactic vibe with lemon rinds, pears and basil in a damp basement. Huge beer to behold.

T: A wave of crisp acidity with citrus fruits and melons. As it warms I get more vanilla and wood character. Tastes extremely fresh and bright, less dank than the aroma. Very refreshing and the booze is invisible.

M: Bubbly and dry with a definite 'slickness'.

This is an awesome beer, my first from Jolly Pumpkin. Complex, big and refreshing, I love it.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 03:25:49 | More by mattsander

vobr0002

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- clear golden yellow with some white head that last for a while.

S- Brett funk, citrus fruits, yeast peppery notes, smells very good.

T- light crisp and refreshing. Light sourness and some lemon. Some spicy notes with some sweetness together on the back end.
M- medium light body with decent carbonation.

O- this is a pretty good beer. It was great beer to have on this warm spring night.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 02:13:39 | More by vobr0002

TVolt1

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Great pale yellow look to it with a very small amount of white head. Extremely clear.

S: Smells like a mixture of white grape and bananas. Very crisp smell and inviting. I like a little more sour smell but it makes me interested in drinking it.

T: Very nice sour taste. Tatse a lot like a green grape that is tart and sour.

M: Good medium bodied mouthfeel.

O: Overall, i really like this beer. I would get it again and once again, Jolly Pumpkin has made me happy!

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 02:09:12 | More by TVolt1

mlazzaro

Massachusetts

4.98/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle. Batch 492 B. Date - 3-3-10

Appearance is clear straw colored w/ white head. (I noticed other had hazy beer, this really couldn't be clearer....) Head is stubborn to stay up. Pretty raging carbonation. Bottle condition, nice dregs to culture up. (brownie points) Smells ridiculous. I absolutely love the smell. Light oak mixed with floral brettanomyces and lactic acid tingle. Pungent bright aroma. Excellent wild yeast character.

Flavor is much milder than aroma. Solid range of flavors like lemons, peppercorn, oak and pineapple. Really impressive flavor profile. Truly delicious. Bitterness balances the beer perfectly. Acidity is spot on. Pleasant to drink yet satisfyingly sour and complex. Medium - thin body. Alcohol is hidden completely.

I love this beer and will most definitely consider buying again. A lot like the "Iris", which for me is the most honorable comparison I could mention.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 17:14:49 | More by mlazzaro

movingtrain

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch 856, bottled 11.28.2011

Pours a hazy straw yellow with a thin white head around the edges of the glass.

The aroma has hints of tart apples and wet wood. It is floral with a kind of sour grape element to it.

The taste is sour with a dryness to it. Some flavors that come to mind are reminiscent of a dry white wine, though with almost a bourbon-esque note to it. While the beer is sour, there is, actually, a subtle sweetness to it--not an overpowering sweetness that takes away from the delightful sourness of the beer...but, rather, a subtle sweetness, like sage might lend, or lemongrass.

Overall, this is one of the best offerings from Jolly Pumpkin (which is not to say that their other beers are not exceptional). It is tart and sour, with just enough back-end sweetness to keep the beer afloat on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 23:16:15 | More by movingtrain

plfahey

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle poured into a wine glass.

Appearance-Golden and somewhat hazy, with a moderate white head. Decent retention.

Aroma-Pepper spice phenolics and barnyard yeast funk-horse blanket and hay with a touch of lemon rind and tart apricot. Floral, earthy, funky and enticing-smells heavily of the Jolly Pumpkin house character.

Flavor-Spicy pear and lemon-peach flavors up front with a touch of orange zest in the mid-palate. Peppery and slightly clove like with a touch of spicy, leafy hops in the finish. Yeast funk flavors are less pronounced here, but there's still a punch of lactic acid and some floral, brett overtones. Finishes dry with a slight lemon tartness and mild, herbal hops.

Mouthfeel-Medium body with moderately high carbonation. Bone dry in the finish.

Another awesome beer from Jolly Pumpkin-an interesting take on a Golden Ale with a hefty dose of their house character-tart and funky deliciousness.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 06:34:05 | More by plfahey

aasher

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 856, bottled 11/28/11.

This beer pours a light bodied bright yellow in color with a light white lacing. It's almost fluorescent it's so bright. The nose is pretty complex. You get slightly sweet citrus fruits, almost some pineapple, lemon, a lactic sour, and some funk. The flavors are nice as well. It's very light and features a light pineapple along with lemonzest, grass, hay, and a bretty and dry funk. Nice, although somewhat simple flavor. It's light and very drinkable. This is a pretty approachable sour and a poor man's Temptation, minus the chardonnay barrel. I like it. This is a nice beer from a brewery that specializes in sours. I recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 03:06:07 | More by aasher

auroracrisis

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bordeaux style bottle into a tulip, dated Batch 856, 11-28-2011

Some what hazy sunshine yellow with a ring around the top of the beer.

Fruity citrus notes similar to lemon, with a custard like sweetness behind that. A touch of tart, lactic acid on the back of the beer. A hint of brett and earthyness as well, but it's a pretty subtle scent.

Opens with subtle sweetness, like a lemon custard or pie filling. Then moves quickly into a tart, lactic acid that is complimented by brett funkyness. Complex and refreshing.

Medium-thin with some stickyness, some drying on the finish. Crisp as well, and quite quaffable.

Awesome tart lemon with more sweetness than what I am used to in this style. A great beer from Jolly Pumpin, something I wish were cheaper and in six packs so I didn't have to savor it. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 05:25:51 | More by auroracrisis