Calabaza Blanca - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

DanK4

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first Jolly Pumpkin beer, and I was not disappointed by any means. Found it at RSVP among the other Jolly Pumpkin selections, but tucked away behind their amber.

A: Poured a hazy golden yellow with a nice 2 finger head on it. Not a lot of carbonation, but a stream line from the very bottom of the glass. The head dissipated rather quickly leaving a nice lacing on the side of the glass.

S: Smelled like citrus mainly, not too much else going on as far as hops or grain profile. A nice light lemony zest to it with a dash of cardamom or possibly even clove. Well rounded, but not very complex.

T: Here's where we find out what this beer really is, considering the flavor overtook the lackluster smell quite a bit. Very nice and lemony with just a touch of spice to it. More along the lines of a Allagash meets Hoegaarden clone with a different mix of spices. Very enjoyable and not heavy or too in your face.

M: Nice and light, but still had a nice body to it. Hit all the right parts of the palate and made for an enjoyable drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 17:29:25 | More by DanK4

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: Hazy straw color. Very light pale yellow.
s: One of the best smelling beers I've ever laid my nose on. Flowers and a grappy lightness. Reminds me of a summer day.
T: Tastes like a semi dry white wine. Zero hops, absolutely floral. No bitterness
M: Light on the palate but leaves a very dry aftertaste. This went away as I drink more but this aspect initially was offputting.

Overall: Certainly a unique beer. Drank very much like a semi dry white wine rather than beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 04:05:44 | More by Jamesthebrit

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

batch 880. bottled 9-2-2011.

A: a very hazy, very pale straw yellow. head is bright white and frothy. good retention.

S: a barny aroma starts things off. black pepper. a little bit of wood. there is something else in there...something that reminds me of ham? that sounds crazy, but im something is triggering that in my brain.

T: oak. lemon zest. loads of barnyard funk. maybe a hint of vanilla? i may be pulling here as well, but there is some good complexity. finish has a little bit of of ginger flavor, otherwise very dry. very refreshing flavors.

M: a subtle, but present fizz. very light body.

D: super quaffable. crushable even. one of the better wits ive had. the barrel aging really stands out and adds a new dimension.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 01:17:52 | More by Jimmys

jayhawk73

Maryland

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium yellow color with a one finger white head. Very hazy in appearance, and minimal lacing on my snifter. The nose is that of orange, funk, spices. Taste is the same profile as the nose, with some lemon added in.. Very crisp, smooth, and refreshing. Feel is sharp, w/ good carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, another solid offering from Jolly Pumpkin. I would definitely drink this again. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 19:33:10 | More by jayhawk73

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy gold with a thin, creamy white mousse.

S: Aromas of wheat, coriander, and orange peel mingle with a bit of subtle barnyard funk and must on the nose. Quite interesting.

T: A tart entry reveals notes of wheat, minerals, orange peel, coriander, oak, must, clotted cream, and barnyard funk. The finish is lactic and sour with wild yeast and oak notes underscored by coriander and orange peel.

M: Light-bodied and dry. Carbonation is active, but very delicate. Quite drinkable.

O: This is one of the most interesting witbiers I've run across in a long time. Honestly, it makes me wonder why more brewers aren't brewing witbiers with wild yeast. I think I have a new favorite from Jolly Pumpkin because this beer is simply brilliant.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 13:34:35 | More by mrfrancis

julian

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Golden straw colored with a nice 1 finger white head that fades to a faint ring around the edges. Medium opacity and haze.

S: Distinctive smell of brett, cider like/orangey and fruity.

T&M: Crisp, tart, dry, refreshing. Starts with a funky, barnyard cider like tartness. mild citric acid and a tangy lingering finish.

O: Really refreshing and highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 06:27:45 | More by julian

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've been meaning to pick a bottle of this up for some time now. Big thanks to Dunt for sending me a 750ml as an extra in our most recent exchange. From my understanding, this is the closest thing JP makes to a Berliner weisse without actually being one.

Shared with some friends and poured into a snifter. The brew appears a clouded straw yellow color. A finger of white fizzy head fades quick with a thin ring maintaining around the edge of the glass. A light swirl agitates bubbles from solution that produces a thin lace atop.

The smell is lemony with lactic component and underneath is the presence of tangy to sweet smelling wheat. There is quite a freshness aspect about this brew that is quite appealing. Coriander and spices are evident with a contrasting note of brighter lemon. A swirl brings forth light sulfur inclusion and earthy almost grassy notes as well.

The tastes is lemony with a backing of wheat and cereal grains. The coriander inclusion exaggerates the lactic lemony component an makes it almost oily and perfume-like with a bit of orange pulp noted with a rindy mild bitterness. More sips bring on more focus to bready grain sweetness that goes into more of a realm of biscuit to brett'd cracker character. Lightly grassy and earthy into the finish with an oily sort of essence from the coriander.

This is a medium to light bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. It is quite easy drinking with mild funk and nearly no alcohol indication. This is a pretty fantastic interpretation of a wittier. I think cutting back on the amount of coriander would have made it more enjoyable for me, however it was well balanced and enjoyable as-is.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 13:22:15 | More by stakem

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle picked up somewhere a month or two back. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a clear light golden color with a thin white head and some spotty lacing. The nose carries some really great wheat character along with a light touch of oak and funk. Slight acidity there as well. Reminds me a bit of a berliner. Flavor confirms that last point. The wheat and bugs combine for a really pleasing dryness. Great balance and supreme drinkability. Light body with crisp -- yet not over the top -- carbonation. Slight acidity to the finish. Extremely solid. Beautiful beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 03:42:03 | More by Thorpe429

movingtrain

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It's been a while since I've had Jolly Pumpkin. However, I credit this brewery for expanding my palate many years ago, and for being my gateway into drinking and enjoying more Belgian sours and beyond.

This beer, the Calabaza Blanca, pours a beautiful golden color with a thick, rich white head. The bottle reads that this was batch 853, and was bottled on 7.28.11.

Aroma is funky...it is sour in its smell. Hints of orange peel, bee pollen, yeasty bread, corn, lemon, and coriander.

Man...the taste is sour, bready, tart. There are some citrus notes around the edges, but on the bittersweet/sour side of citrus...more along the lines of the flavor of the peel rather than the fruit. It is dry, balancing notes of oats and orange peel.

Overall, this is a good sour. It is very light, basic, and reserved at its core...but then the barrel aging (I'm assuming), along with whatever interesting yeast strain is used, creates something much more interesting than just a simple "White Ale." It is dry, but refreshing...sour, but balanced. A solid, unique beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 20:34:17 | More by movingtrain

willseph

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Popping my JP cherry, poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter (mad props to SpdKilz for bringing this over).

This beaut pours a hazy orange/straw color, a half finger of eggshell head, moderate amount of lacing. The nose is a pleasant combination of lemon grass, wet hay, wheat, and a touch of funk.

First taste is sour apples, tartness, fresh wheat, but still heavy on the sour notes. Delicious. As it warmed, it seemed to take on more character and complexity by bringing in more fruits (grapes, oranges) into the flavor. This beer is quite light-bodied and fizzy, finishes like a dry white wine.

Overall, a fantastic JP beer for me to start with and definitely going to be a mainstay in my cellar going forward.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 21:19:31 | More by willseph

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a club footed goblet. A little old for a Whitbier, but not necessarily for a sour - Batch 590/591: Bottled 7-21-10...so let's see how it aged.

A: Wow - tons of carbonation. Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow/straw color. Massive 3 finger bright white foamy head that's sticking around. Bubbles everywhere...just shooting up through the beer.

S: Tons of funk and tartness right after I opened the bottle. definitely some citrusy qualtites to the nose as well. Vinegar, lemongrass. Some breadiness.

T/M: Nice and tart up front. Not mouth puckering tartness, but a good bit nonetheless. Also a decent bit of citrus, mainly lemon. A hint of coriander lingers in there somewhere. A nice sweet tartness sits right in the middle of the tongue at the end. You can tell that once upon a time it tasted like a whit...and it's a nice base for a sour...but the bugs have taken over this bottle and it's wonderful. Carbonation is high as expected...and it's relatively thin, I suppose...

O: Another just fantastic effort from JP. Haven't had one of these freshly bottled, but the aging can't have hurt it much...and quite possibly improved it by letting it sour a bit more. Was close to sending this off in a trade, but very glad I didn't. Might be my fave JP brew yet...still have the Noel in the fridge, though ;)

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 02:01:11 | More by kbuzz

ADZA

Australia

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A big thanks to MrKennedy for this brew and its batch 777 bottled 20-04-2011.

A-Pours a cloudy very pale straw hue which leaves a three finger frothy dimple laden head.

S-Corriander is dominant with orange peel,lemongrass and a tart Belgian funkiness.

T-Lemon zest,orange rind,corriander,kumquats,spices and finished with a dry tart finish.

M-Light bodied,dry and tart very refreshing indeed.

O-This would be the perfect compliment to a beautiful hot summers day and on the right day i could drink alot of cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 13:04:12 | More by ADZA

tobelerone

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 867

A cloudy and very light yellow-colored beer with a fluffy, fast falling head. Very little lace to speak of.

A simple but tart and lemony aroma. Typical spices for the style, with coriander the most prominent. Flavor follows suit; not the deepest or most complex Wit but has a refreshingly clean and tart bite. Lemony, lightly yeasty and musty; faintly sour. Very refreshing. A touch of spices and pepper.

Crisply carbonated and extremely easy to drink. Perhaps a bit watery. Food friendly, although it tends to disappear under highly spiced or seasoned dishes.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 16:38:22 | More by tobelerone

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from 750 ml bottle into a tulip glass. Batch 852, Bottled on 7/28/2011

A- It does pour a super bright hazy golden orange color, looks like orange juice. Fizzy head with tight bubbles that dissipated immediately.

S- All hay funk and lemon, not very complex, does smell very similar to the other Jolly Pumpkin beer I have had, but not as strong or complex as Weizen Bam though.

T- Big hay funk and lemon up front, light spice notes towards the finish, hint of orange peel. Does not taste like any witbier I have ever had.

M- Highly carbonated, champagne like, finishes very dry. I generally like a drier finish, but on this beer it does not quite work. Big sourness up front is followed abruptly by the dryness.

O- It certainly does not taste like a witbier and is not very complex. Not picking up on any on the oak notes and very little citrus as it is an oak aged witbier. I did like this beer though.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 02:32:36 | More by Hoptometrist

superspak

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip, batch 835 bottled 7/7/2011. Pours hazy golden straw color with a nice 2 finger bright white head with fantastic retention that reduces to a thick cap that lasts forever. A small amount of lacing clings to the glass, with tons of carbonation streaming from the bottom as well. Aromas of big pepper, coriander, lemon peel, tart apple, funk, wet hay, and spiciness. Some classic JP aromas here, the funk comes out a bit more as it warms up. Taste of big pepper, spices, coriander, lemon, tart apple, and wet grass. Fairly dry finish but there are some light lingering notes of tart apple, lemon, coriander, grass, and spices for a bit. Light-medium bodied with a medium high carbonation. Very smooth drinking with a nice mouthfeel despite the high carbonation. No alcohol noticed at all as expected for being under 5%. Overall this is definitely an excellent witbier, with that JP funk that I always love.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 04:02:05 | More by superspak

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Special thanks to JM03 for this. Batch 853 Bottled 7-28-2011

A- Hazy bannana cream colored pour. Two finger soapy white head that won't go away. Lacing is spotted.

S- Barnyard funk, wet hay, corriander, orange rind with a slight buttery note.

T- Typical wit at first. Refreshing and clean. Than the sour kicks in and a touch of funk. The tart is reminiscent of lemon juice and the funk is hayish. Corriander is present but the orange is lost in the mix.

M- Medium to thin bodied. Lively carbonation. Crisp clean feeling.

O- JP is slowly becoming one of my favorites and this is a perfect reason why.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 22:26:54 | More by korguy123

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice take on wittier with a distant and flavorful sour edge.

Presentation: 750 ml brow capped bottle. Label shows an illustration a blonde haired lady looking out a veranda to the sea, moon and a ship in a blue haze. Side narrative goes over the main characteristics of the brew, intent, and inspiration. Displays batch number (batch 810 5-31-2011). Served in a tulip glass.

A - Lightly hazy pale gold pour, initial rich frothy head with moderate retention, small surface memory, and random touches of lacing.

S - Tart and wheaty… Hint of orange peel and spices over the sourness…

T - Which follows rather in sync in the mouth… Surprising tart range coating the yeasty sense, spices… coriander, hint of pepper, citric touches...

M - Light/medium body with generous carbonation, tart and lingering dry finish.

O - Pretty nice flow, refreshing and coming together rather nicely.

Notes: A very approachable offering from Jolly Pumpkin. It offers a distinct JP sourness, which does not cloak the enjoyment of the brew, quite the contrary. Certainly one to keep in mind for rich summer days, and well worthy of the social occasion.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 04:21:17 | More by Daniellobo

lovindahops

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

had this for a few months and figured it would be a good chance to tap into.

A-calabaza pours a slight hazy yellow with a severe "snow like" head of foam all over the the sides. About as fluffy as foam can be. The carbonation rips through the brew non stop

S- invigorating funk is present at the beginning with tart and lemon scents all over. Lively little brew

T- tart flavors interact with some crisp sour apple flavors enrobed in carbonation. Dry and refreshing flavors that really don't let down

M- bubbles and bubbles of carbonation with a dry finish

O- this was my first jolly pumpkin brew. I was impressed with the details of the flavors for the brief. Good barnyard funk and sour flavors will make me look for more

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 23:19:52 | More by lovindahops

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Jolly Pumpkin : Calabaza Blanca

25oz bomber. Pours a clear straw with a champagne like, bubbly head. Aroma of wheat, lemon, and slightly sour smelling. In the taste, tart lactic acidity, lemon, rind bitterness with cracker like malt. Dry, wheaty, and sour. Mild bitterness. Mouthfeel is light, a good amount of carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a refreshing, sour wheat ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 19:45:25 | More by Stinkypuss

BJA

California

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a snifter

A: I got 1 inch of creamy white head that had a lot of large bubbles on the underside. The head dissipated down to about 1/8 inch making a nice cap. No lacing left on glass. The beer is a golden color with a hint of orange and is hazy with lots of carbonation bubbles. It looks quite nice.

S: I get spice with orange and yeast. It reminds me of champagne.

T: The taste and feel really reminds me of dry champagne but with bigger flavor that coats the tongue and roof of the mouth (this is good for me as I enjoy champagne). I get a tart orange and herb taste. The finish is dry and tart. I also detect a slightly woody taste.

M: It’s a little bit fizzy, has a light feel, and a dry finish.

O: This is one of the reasons I love beer. The fact that, to me, this is like drinking champagne, but is a beer, is phenomenal. The nose is really present on this beer and the flavor is pretty deep for being a lighter beer. I drank the whole bottle to myself. While I really enjoyed this beer, I would have preferred only 2/3 of the bottle. This one of the best representations of the style I have come across.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 05:04:34 | More by BJA

abrand

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap served in tulip glass.

This pours a hazy yellow color with a pure white quick fading 1 finger head. Plenty of carbonation seen on the pour. Smell is pretty funky with hints of bananas, malts, and grains. Taste is pretty solid. Truly unique tasting with sourness balanced with sweet fruits. Grains are also tasted. Pretty light bodied and easy drinking. Overall a very complex decent tasting brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 00:24:10 | More by abrand

Preismj

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

hazy watery light yellow. extreme head on a light pour. moderate lacing. Smell is over sour apple and yeast. mild spice on the nose as well. taste follows the nose quite well. A zesty green apple with a light spice tastes of corriander and clove. moderate flavor followed by a dry tartness and funky fruit. hay and grass in the finish. mouthfeel is creamy with a bit of fizz. pretty light bodied. very drinkable beer but the flavors are very strong. the sour apple could be more prominent and still present the sourness/funk this beer is striving for. Nice yeasty flavors in here, but overall the flavors are quite light.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 02:21:19 | More by Preismj

beertunes

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch # 318/319. Poured into straight pint glass. Poured a typical cloudy light yellow color with about an inch of white head that had good retention and left just the lightest traces of lacing.

As soon as I cracked the top a noticeable apple scent wafted out. As I poured the beer the apple scent grew and just a hint of vinegar was in the background, in a good, interesting way. The wheat was subdued in the back and the expected spices were noticeable but not strong. The flavors were fairly similar, a gentle wheat base, with apple, spices and yeast on top.

The body was nicely effervescent and typical for the style. Drinkability was very good, as I find most all Wits to be. Overall, a very nice example of the style. Certainly worth trying and probably worth some effort to get.

NOTE: I received this in a trade over a year ago and it got lost in one of my boxes 'o beer. I suspect that this would have much better fresh (and it was pretty good now). I also thank whoever sent me this, I've forgotten.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 02:43:46 | More by beertunes

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

served in a tulip. not sure what batch the keg was.

massive head from the keg but quickly dissipated leaving a hazy golden wheat color. a slight vibrance.

light green apple and tart lemon with a slight mix of funk and biscuit.

mostly light lemon tartness up front with a light underlying funky body. very little spice through out for a wit. the tartness really shined through out. a hint of oak.

moderate carbonation and very light. easy to drink. very slight dryness.

overall, this was super easy to drink and very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2011 13:35:28 | More by hooliganlife

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle from 2010

A: The beer pours a rather clear golden amber color with a massive white head that is very well retained.

S: A rather strong note of green apples and apple skins to the aroma. There is a light spice character to it as well as some musty oak and a little bit of grass and pear.

T: The flavor is sort of muddled. There are some of the same apple and pear notes with a light lemon zest tartness. Musty funk is there, as with almost all Jolly Pumpkin beers. Very light spice notes on the back end.

M: Light to medium in body with a rather high level of carbonation and a drying finish.

O: Good, but it didn't impress me as much as other Jolly Pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 04:18:39 | More by womencantsail