La Roja - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

mhenson42

Texas

4/5  rDev -0.5%

10-08-2012 22:52:21 | More by mhenson42

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-19-2013 01:23:01 | More by NJB145

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-19-2013 00:58:28 | More by Photekut

beergorrilla

Michigan

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-18-2013 22:41:31 | More by beergorrilla

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-18-2013 03:09:23 | More by hotsudge

TreyIsWilson

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

05-17-2013 04:34:49 | More by TreyIsWilson

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-14-2013 13:52:39 | More by ncstateplaya

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-14-2013 05:34:00 | More by baybassboy

HarmonMW

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-14-2013 01:17:53 | More by HarmonMW

Lledd

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-14-2013 01:13:54 | More by Lledd

KWMiles

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -25.4%

05-14-2013 01:12:03 | More by KWMiles

vrbulldog22

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-13-2013 18:53:44 | More by vrbulldog22

drbenderdo

Michigan

5/5  rDev +24.4%

05-13-2013 00:55:53 | More by drbenderdo

MCImes

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-12-2013 17:56:56 | More by MCImes

deuce9259

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-11-2013 23:06:36 | More by deuce9259

JamesQuaff

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-09-2013 20:20:59 | More by JamesQuaff

ewright

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-09-2013 01:15:40 | More by ewright

majaqua

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-07-2013 22:21:02 | More by majaqua

NateMac13

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-06-2013 22:39:24 | More by NateMac13

alex_hart

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-05-2013 02:37:49 | More by alex_hart

pearljam118

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%

04-29-2013 21:00:08 | More by pearljam118

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-29-2013 05:38:03 | More by Kelp

Bnoise11

California

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

04-28-2013 17:22:11 | More by Bnoise11

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

04-27-2013 23:53:01 | More by Phillyz

hagbergl

Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bought a 750 mL bottle of Jolly Pumpkin's La Roja at Downtown Wine & Spirits in Somerville, MA. Poured into my Dogfish Head snifter.

Appearance (4.25/5): La Roja is unusual for a Flanders-style sour red ale because of its white head (I'm used to off-white or khaki colored head on beers of this style). It has a reddish-brown color with red highlights. Very cloudy, as you'd expect from a Belgian-inspired, bottle-conditioned, yeasty beer like this one.

Smell (4/5): Smell is fairly typical of Flanders Reds, perhaps a little less acidic/vinegary than others. Some tart cherries, lightly apple-like, winey/vinous and some oak barrel aromas are worked in, too. I would say the aroma on La Roja is muted relative to standouts of the style (like Rodenbach Grand Cru), and in this way it reminds me of Monk's Café. Solid aroma, nothing offensive here, but also nothing that really "wows" me.

Taste (4/5): Tart and acidic in the foretaste but doesn't linger too long. Mellows and left with some barrel woody and leathery qualities. Wine like and cranberry and red apple flavors. This one is a tad muted, and thus not the most impressive example of the style. Beautiful woody aftertaste. Gets more tart and full flavored with warmth.

Mouthfeel (3.75/5): Smooth mouthfeel. Light puckering. The beer could have had a little more "bite" and carbonation to it. This may seem like a minor quibble, but it's not; a tart beer like this needs a good level of carbonation to make the mouthfeel and flavors really "pop."

Overall (4/5): Jolly Pumpkin's La Roja certainly is a good beer, but it's a tad expensive for what you're getting. A Belgian import like Rodenbach Grand Cru is a better value. If you prefer your Flanders Red Ales very sour like I do, La Roja isn't exactly the ticket for a sourness-fix. It has complexity for sure, but if you expected a puckering palate walloping, this is not the beer that'll do it for you. La Roja is an easy-going Flanders Red.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 18:17:30 | More by hagbergl