Luciérnaga, The Firefly - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On Tap at Memphis Taproom, served in a tulip.

The Firefly has a hazy bronze appearance with some gold trimmings. A whisp of off white foam on top that has pretty good legs, leaving some minor spots on the glass. Looks a shade darker than the standard Belgian pale ale. Smell is fruity, a lot of esters. bready yeast and some earthy hop aroma. I get a nice sniff of apple skins with traces of orange. Not sure if this is aged in any sort of barrel but some wood accompanies the pale ale, some floral aspect. Fruity in the middle with apple orange and coriander. A bready finish with yeast. Pretty light bodied, not as spritzy in the mouth as other Belgian pales, this could stand to be a bit crisper but im just nitpicking. A glass of this is ok for me, a whole bottle would be better shared.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2012 03:26:18 | More by onix1agr

malty

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served at about 45° with the look of a solid gold dancer; bleach blonde head with lots of movement down below. Tight, firm and smooth.

The scent is that of damp french oak barrel that just been drained of Sonoma valley Chardonnay, that accidentally rolled into a freshly mowed wheat field.

Taste is heavenly akin to Duvel with more acidic zing and lemony romping. So clean, refreshingly tart and ardently adventurous. Proudly made Michigan!

Mouthfeel is light on the tongue, but medium bodied in the gravity. Kinda like a middleweight boxer with one helluva right hook. It never will let down a true Belgian golden ale fan.

Overall this ale is stunningly adept and authentically astute. I'd be a damn fool to ever turn this down whenever/wherever it may present itself!

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2012 22:37:14 | More by malty

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a glowing golden orange, moderate cap of prickly white froth. Scent leads with tart notes of fruit, apple, pear, peach... earthy and musty oak, fragrant floral and spice profile. Really nice taste, tartness and fruitiness more pronounced than in nose, solid earthy backbone and just the right amount of spice. Medium bodied, active and prickly, dry. Solid all around, definitely a touch more tart and funky than other renowned BPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 14:29:46 | More by rfgetz

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden yellow in color and very well filtered. A small amount of lacing in the glass wall. As with most Jolly Pumpkin beers there is a very forward sour smell and taste. In this one I get some kumquat and tangerine - almost a seedy flavor from those fruits on the back end.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2012 20:00:38 | More by Oakenator

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz glass
On tap at Pinocchio's in Media, PA

A: Pours a cloudy pale orange color. Full finger of off white head. Lots of carbonation streaming off the bottom of the glass.

S: Lots of Brett funk on the nose. Horse blanket and wet hay. Some light citrus notes.

T: Right up front, you get that bite of tartness from the Brett. In the mid mouth, some fruitiness, maybe tart green apple and citrus. The close is dry and crisp.

M: Medium bodied.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2012 14:46:14 | More by inlimbo77

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap at devils den

Pours a hazed pale golden color with a crop of white head resting on top. Patchy lacing stretches across the glass with a collar of foamy retention.

Scents of spice and citrus in the nose with coriander and orange peel. Touches of lemon and biscuit malt with funky tartness and Belgian yeast.

Starts off a bit funky and tart with spicy coriander. Orange and lemon peel with some slightly sweet citrus juiciness. A bit acidic and tart throughout, with a mellow biscuit/cracker malt base. Finishes brisk and tart.

Medium body, slightly higher carbonation, dry and bubbly on the tongue. Another nicely done beer from JP - it's expensive, but they rarely miss the mark.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2012 13:53:56 | More by xnicknj

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear, glowing gold with a puffy, creamy white head.

S: Aromas of lemon, coriander, biscuit, caramel, oak, must, and vinegar fill the nose.

T: Notes of lemon peel, lime zest, bitter orange, coriander, green apple, grains of paradise, white pepper, caramel, biscuit, oak, must, and cider vinegar wash across the palate. The finish is sharp and clipped with notes of lemon, lime, spices, biscuit, and vinegar.

M: Light-to-medium in body and very dry. Carbonation is crisp and firm. Very drinkable.

O: Much like every other Jolly Pumpkin ale, La Luciernaga is very interesting and surprisingly drinkable. It's not as complex as some of their other brews, but it makes up for this minor flaw by being superbly balanced. All in all, I'd say this is one of their best efforts.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 14:46:38 | More by mrfrancis

denver10

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden yellow with a white head. A funky aroma mixed with some lemon, oak, and pepper. Flavor followed suit. A nice kinda creamy medium body with some acitivity. Overall, very enjoyable brew. One I would gladly drink again, though probably not one I would spend over $10 for via a bomber. I'd probably be more likely to check out if offered via a 4 pack/6 pack.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 05:53:32 | More by denver10

ehammond1

California

3.83/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Nearly clear orange and gold with a thick, heavy white head that leaves lots of stick, cling, and lace on the glass.

Bright and funky aroma: lemon, mild pine, lots and lots of funk (barnyard/horse blanket/hay and grass), some biting black pepper, and a touch of honey sweetness. Powerful and unique.

The funky yeast dominates. The powerful, unique Jolly Pumpkin funk is here in full force: lots of grass, hay, and barnyard. The citrus and bright lemon hop flavors are there right alongside it all. There's a ton of flavor here, and it's another uniquely Jolly Pumpkin beer. The alcohol plays too large a role in the flavor for a beer of "only" 6.5% ABV.

Medium to thick bodied with very high carbonation--a bit prickly.

A decidedly unique beer. Jolly Pumpkin always creates something unique and this is certainly no exception.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 17:54:11 | More by ehammond1

emmasdad

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My wife and I shared a glass of this one yesterday afternoon at Hops & Pie. Poured a hazy amber with a large lasting ivory head. Aromas of vanilla, spice, fruitiness, barnyard, leather and light caramel. Palate was light bodied crisp and slightly dry. Flavors of caramel, coriander, citrus and good barnyard funk with a crisp dry slightly tart finish.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 21:21:40 | More by emmasdad

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Capone's in Philadelphia.

The beer is hazy and yellow with a soft white head. The aroma brings spice, funk, citrus. The beer is quite tasty, and the funk flavor emerges much more as the beer warms. Citrus and spice add nice depth and complexity. The feel is thin bodied with a distinctive Jolly Pumpkin finish. An interesting and enjoyable brew, especially if you appreciate funky, eccentric beers.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2011 19:06:17 | More by Huhzubendah

drabmuh

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the time of this review, this is the #6 Belgian Pale Ale on the best of lists on beeradvocate.com. This being a top 10 beer for the style, I'm quite excited about getting to review it. Love finding top 10 beers.

Beer served on draft at Meridian Pint in Washington D.C. in a shaker pint for some reason. Wouldn't have been my first choice of glass but whatever. Beer is yellow and hazy with a big white head of small bubbles, some lacing, nice carbonation.

Aroma is mildly sweet with wood and funk in the nose. Interesting, a little grainy in the nose too.

Beer is thin and tastes exactly like it smells. It finishes a little dry with oak, tannins, and some grain, the forward is mildly sweet, some pilsen malt and some lactic acid sourness, the brett comes through nicely in this beer. Overall an interesting beer and I'd have more of it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2011 03:30:14 | More by drabmuh

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Ffej of July

A - The beer poured with a deep, orange-amber body that showed off a two finger, white head...nice head retention lead to attractive lacing

S - There are many dimensions to the nose with some farmhouse funk lingering, tart fruit, residual sweetness, and a surprising sourness

T - All elements from the nose can be pinpointed on the palate...the Brett takes charge and produces the farmhouse funk throughout the entire beer...there is a bit of a relief from some tart fruit (lemons, green apples, pears) and light caramel sweetness...the finish starts tart and funky but finishes with a long, spicy sourness

M - Medium bodied...the finish took some getting used to but in the end it was my favorite thing about the beer...long, tart, and sour

O - I had multiple offerings of this at the party...what a great keg to have around...this showed off the Brett just enough and provided a very pleasant finish

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2011 20:15:17 | More by thain709

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Ffej of July IX thanks to the ever generous BA--FooFaa!

A-Hazy, golden honey accented copper with a thin off-white head that reduced to a thin cap and left spotty lace.

S-Sharp, green apple sourness with a smack of spiciness and subtle underlying damp earth notes. Not overly aromatic but pleasant.

T-Complex spiciness with notes of lemongrass, coriander, musty earth and orange zest. Biting, tart green apple with a touch of honey sweetness in the finish.

M-Medium-light body, sharp and crisp with a long lingering spicy, sour aftertaste.

O-Still my favorite JP offering. A tart, spicy, honey sweet brew that holds my interest through and through. Easy to enjoy multiples pints of!

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2011 21:28:47 | More by Deuane

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Ffej of July IX

A - Pours murky amber orange with a thick two finger tall white head leaving thick rings of lace down the glass.

S - Smells of bright citric fruit, lots of barn yard funk, the typical JP brett, and just a tiny bit of acidic sourness.

T - Starts off with a big dose of dry barnyard funk from the brett slowly giving way to a mix of lemon, even more bready yeast, and a faint kiss of caramel sweetness. The finish is even more chewy brett, leaving the pallet dry for some time. This one really grew on me over the course of the weekend.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Lots of tart funk in the feel, lingering through the finish.

O - I had quite a few of these over the two days and it really began to grow on me. It had just enough funk without being too overpowering.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2011 17:01:13 | More by orangesol

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Ffej of July.

A: The pale ale is amber orange, a coppery color. More head than is good for anyone, the thick white foam clings and coagulates, taking a very long time to dissapate.

S: Funky horseblanket aromas, dirty brett, dominate, lending citrus and tartness to the mix. Lemons and fleshy fruits stand out.

T: Brett does a number on the ale, smoothing over biscuity malts with extreme recklessness. The brett dries the ale out, leaving tart citric acid flavors, maybe even a little acetic, behind. Lemons and vinegar, more of the former than the latter. Dry fruits, just a little sugary (the ale is quite dry, recall), add more flavor. In the end, though, it all comes back to the brett and how it completely controls the flavor profile. The tart recoil upfront and lingering lemon in the finish are nice.

M: The mouthfeel takes a bit of time to adjust to even though I've had the beer many times. That tartness is jarring, a refreshing citric blast.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2011 16:34:15 | More by akorsak

sidetracked

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Map Room.

Cloudy orange in color with the denser area of the glass an orange-red. Cream head. Some initial lacing.

A vinegar sourness dominates the aroma.

Sour, white vinegar flavor upfront. Sourness gradually reduces through the middle to the end allowing the Pale Ale qualities of the beer to come out. Finish is bready malts and floral hops with a light bitterness. A little lingering sourness at the finish depending on how it's drunk.

Medium body, kind of bubbly but only moderate carbonation. Clean finish.

Quite enjoyable and interesting. Medium sourness that's balanced well enough to allow other flavors to come through. Great for a warmer day. I'd drink this again.

6/26/2011

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 20:37:28 | More by sidetracked

biga7346

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Slight fruit, apricot, leathery notes in the nose followed by pear, honeycrisp apple, red wine sourness (JP's common theme from their 100% oak aged beers), champagne-like spritziness, low carbonation, a little dry tannins.

This beer is very drinkable, perfect for very hot humid weather, a refreshing apertif. Having had the Bambic in January and then having had this I can see some similarities. Mouthfeel was velvety, slick. Again, a very refreshing but nothing really lingered in the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2011 19:13:07 | More by biga7346

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes taken August 20th, 2010. $7.50 for a 10.5oz pour.

A: A huge foamy/frothy bright white head lasts impossibly long and forces the bartender to push most of it out a few minutes later with another pour. The head sticks in finely woven sheets on every surface possible. (Lacing continues nicely later but with less consistency.) The body is hazy, lightly golden orange in color and surprisingly opaque. The beer acts as a diffuser when backlit which further increases its hazy appearance.

S: Oak is immediately noticeable on the nose as is the trademark Jolly Pumpkin wild yeast strain. Light summer-y fruit esters create notes of pear, white or yellow melon and cantellope. Very clean. Minimally hoppy on the nose, but...

T: ...an adequate bitterness is present on the palate. The flavor falls short of expectations and is slightly less complex than the nose led me to believe. Stunning flavor on the front end of the palate but Luciérnaga finishes premature, abruptly and very dry at the end.

M: The body is medium-light with a texture leaning closer to thin than thick. Crisp, clean, perfectly carbonated and extremely refreshing. Damn near perfect mouthfeel.

O: Ron is a master of subtle sourness and incorporating everything oak has to offer to the flavor and mouthfeel of his beers. This one is no exception and comes highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 14:54:46 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

BieresDesMoines

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy blonde with a big head and some lace. The aroma is hoppy and earthy with some fruity notes, reminds me a bit of Orval in this sense. The flavor has a nice character of fruity hopes and a mild malt sweetness, but the beer is dominantly dry. There is a very mild tartness here but generally the beer is dominated by a blend between some spicy yeast notes and pleasant hop bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2010 19:00:54 | More by BieresDesMoines

impending

California

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

La Trappe. Poured a nice dull coppery gold. Great lacing.

Funk while not too overt is yet a dominant scent, spices and under ripe white fruits. Obvious hops.

Light and prickly body. Taste of citrus, hints of grapefruit. Finishes dry and ever so slightly tart.

Taste does not live up to the aroma which is very nice.
Wish I liked this more.
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 05:53:06 | More by impending

armock

New York

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a copper color with an off white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is a nose full of bretty funk and yeast

T - Follows the nose with the bretty funk and spiced Belgian yeast

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - This is a very good funky beer that I really enjoyed very good interesting taste I could drink a few of these in a sitting worth getting sometime to try

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 01:23:33 | More by armock

ncmussell

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Pairings. Nice orange color with big white head. Smell was somewhat muted but had some good citrus. Good carbonation. Taste and mouthfeel had the nice subtle funk that I find in many Jolly Pumpkin beers. This definitely had a few more subtle notes to it than the more standard JP beers that I cant put my fingers on. Overall I thought it was tasty and I had been wanting to try it for a while. But for some reason the beer doesn't really differentiate itself much from the likes of Oro de Calabaza or Calabaza Blanca.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2010 01:21:53 | More by ncmussell

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's beers like this that remind me I'm just not all that "in" to sours. On tap at the TDR hopfest event.

The beer pours a tawny amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is pretty wild, showcasing primarily white pepper and barnyard funk, with a hint of vanilla and tropical fruit. There is virtually no malt presense in the nose, which tends to accentuate the peppery hop aroma and the funk. The flavor profile tends to replicate the nose, but I'm really picking up some considerable hoppy bitterness in this lean, very dry and funky beer. Really, I'm not sure when I have ever encountered this type of flavor combination. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a long, bitter, sour funk finish.

Intriguing and unusual, this beer is surprisingly drinkable with the alcohol barely noticeable. Not my cup of tea, but even I can appreciate the craftmanship that went into the making of this beer, and what a quality beer this is. Impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2010 21:20:59 | More by johnmichaelsen

LittleDon

Texas

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

10 oz. pour in a tulip shaped glass at Downtown Johnny Brown's in San Diego.

Cloudy amber with a dense slightly off white head. Aroma is apples and on the acidic side. with a bit of floral characteristics. A bit of carbonation bite up front. Tart middle where a bit of caramel sweetness comes into play. Tart, but much more subtle than a Flanders Red or Gueuze. Slightly smokey backend with lingering bitterness. A nice contrast for your typical IPA drinker. Light mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2010 01:18:53 | More by LittleDon