Luciérnaga, The Firefly - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

wrycon

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Batch 791/79? Bottled 5-11-20?? (right end of the label is smudged off)

Quite pretty - a lighter golden amber. Smells very tart, very yeasty, with some citrus. A bitter tartness hits initially, which you expect to turn sweet, but the acidity kicks up another notch. Then the funk presents itself, rounding the back end and making it really interesting. The final taste is bitter. Good, complex stuff.

Like it? Sure Do

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 01:58:51 | More by wrycon

bruachan

Rhode Island

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

chillhazy but a nice reddish copper color. sudsy suds up there, releasing funky scents.

light-bodied and refreshing. very little malt essence. i would prefer a little more to bite into, although perhaps i would feel differently in 7 months (it's October right now). some nutty malt flavor appears with patience. do i detect grains of paradise? the bottle says yes...and coriander

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 02:17:50 | More by bruachan

pleasewearpants

California

3.78/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into the only clean cup in my sink. Ha. Hazy light amber orange color. I only have fluorescent lights in my bungalow so its hard to tell sometimes. Minimal head dissipates quickly. Nice brett aroma, not much else in there, maybe some light spice. Hard to tell when you've had this much reconstructive surgery. Taste is very nice - funky, mild brett sourness, real clean and light. Comes off like a dry latex glove. Sense a little citrus and spice. Nice bitterness too. Good solid Jolly Pumpkin beer. Going to Taco Bell, hope this is still here when I get back.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 04:40:45 | More by pleasewearpants

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

Inflatablechair brought this bottle over tonight.... Thanks Sammy!! Batch 801/803 bottled on 5/25/2011. Poured into my HotD goblet... nice foamy off white head atop a hazed light orange brew. Good lacing..

Nose is bretty with a not as much JP funk as some other brews... good phenol presence with a big blast of fruit basket.

Flavor is much more approachable than I was expecting.. tangerine with lemon zest ... coriander like spiciness.. a bit of stone fruit comes swinging mid palate.. still is pretty damn dry.. the heavier than most JP body helps add to a perceived sweetness... carbonation is spot on.

I normally don't care for Jolly Pumpkin too much... but this was a refreshing change. Thanks Sam.

All 4's

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 04:40:52 | More by JohnGalt1

morimech

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch 796/799 Bottled 5-24-2011

Hazy copper colored with two fingers of head that had excellant retention. The head eventually settles to a thick cap. Nice rings of lacing is left on the glass.

Brett funk aroma with tropical fruit. A unique aroma.

I am really enjoying the flavor. About as funky as Orval but being more acidic and fruitier. Has some nice vinous qualities. Finishes dry. My only complaint is that the flavor falls off in the finish.

Body is light and lively. Nice considering the ABV. Carbonation compliments the flavors.

A really enjoyable beer. Moderate funky, fruity, and acidic. Hit all the highlights for this drinker.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 18:23:55 | More by morimech

mntlover

Tennessee

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

Pours a light copper color with a thick thumb sized head that falls slowly to a ring that laces pretty well.

Aroma is nice light fruity notes grapes, mango and tart apples on nice malt base. Light funk barnyard style, light floral hops and hints of dry wood. Smells wonderful.

Taste is Jolly Pumpkin, good fruit notes with lots of funk notes, on a wheat like malty base. Tartness mingles with coriander for a spicy tart finish.

Mouthfeel is light medium with fairly active carbonation.

Overall an enjoyable brew in Jolly Pumpkin fashion.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 01:32:00 | More by mntlover

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from Fitzgerald's in Eagle River, MI. Poured from bottle into DFH Signature glass. Batch 796/799 Bottled 5-24-2011.

Appearance: Pours a relatively clear/clean light copper color with a thin whispy white, but lasting head. A deep shaded clover like shape dissipates into a foamy swirl.

Smell: Some sour apple notes and citurs. Bit of wet wool funk, yet has a bright aroma of tropical fruit, almost margarita like. As Luci warms up, she begins to reveal sweet vanilla and oak, every so slightly.

Taste: Great citrus with a minimal amount of hop bitterness and hardly any hop flavor. Great fruit body supported by the right amount of earthy coriander and cloves. Not a WHOLE lot of funk, but it's got a bit of sour tartness, more so than I expected.

Mouth: Crisp and lively mouthfeel. Light to medium body. This is a fun beer. The tartness really challenges the back of your tongue. Sour, tart, and drying.

Drink and overall: I'm a homer, so it's hard for me to hate on any JP beer, BUT if I did, it wouldn't start here. Really nice expression. The balance between oak, sour, and lively body really make this unique. Not cloying, bright, enjoyable. Drinks like a dry Sauv Blanc.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 03:11:02 | More by MarcatGSB

litheum94

California

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 802/804. Bottled 6/1/11.

Copper color, with a bronze middle. Not much of a head to speak of, just some whispy trails of bubbles.

Sour apples and cherries, with some caramel. Very light spicing. Some jasmine flowers on the nose, and a vague sweetness.

Slightly tart cherry flavors with a light coriander flavor. Very grainy and dry mid-palate. Vanilla and oak. Grains and malts last throughout to the end.

A very nice, surprisingly sour ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 04:01:35 | More by litheum94

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

FanofHefe

Illinois

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

Bomber poured into a tulip; batch 813/814 bottled on 6-6-2011. Hazy, darkish yellow body with a two-finger eggshell white head. Good retention and sticky lacing.

Less funky and less tart aroma than most JP beers I've had. Still, a bit of sour apple, grain, and a light sweetness that seems more fruity than malty.

The flavor doesn't disappoint after the aroma. Slightly tart flavor, more reminiscent of the Belgian yeast tartness I'm used to in other beers as opposed to the sour normally associated with fruit. A very light note of grain and hops, with no real flavor from the malt that I can detect.

Medium consistency in the mouthfeel, and very drinkable overall. Not the most complex JP brew I've had but an excellent effort, as expected. Does Jolly Pumpkin even make a bad beer? I've never had one yet, but will keep searching and hoping for the best!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 02:36:04 | More by FanofHefe

StaEva

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

great hazy apricot/caramel color. subtle ruby glow on the edges.
rocky head that fades slowly and caps.

smells of rotting fruit in a great way. the smell of a fermenting apple/pear/apricot droppings in a fresh air orchard. not much in the way of hops, good yeasty funk.

taste follows aroma, but so complex with biscuity grain, fruit, tangy pucker-inducing funkiness.

get into this beer!

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 19:04:22 | More by StaEva

metter98

New York

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear amber in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of citrus and coriander with notes of citrus.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has a light amount of sourness with flavors of tart fruits and notes of citrus and hints of spices.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation. There are some hints of dryness.
O: The sourness makes this beer quite interesting compared to others in the style; I would definitely want to try another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 23:37:42 | More by metter98

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

StarshipPoopers

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Very hazy orange. Fine white head, good retention, and decent lacing. Insane carbonation, popped the cap and it overflowed for a solid 3 or 4 minutes, wasn't ready for that so be aware.

S - Sour apple/citrus and spices. Funkiness gets more pronounced as it warms.

T - Sour apple funkiness and Belgian yeast, earthy straw notes.

M/D - Quite a light mouthfeel, condensation produces some pretty fine bubbles. I drank it pretty slowly but it had easy enough drinkability to it.

O - It was nice to try something pretty different. The funkiness overpowered everything else, and sort of detracted from the enjoyment. I like sourness, but it seemed dominant.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 07:19:27 | More by StarshipPoopers

seand

California

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear slightly dark amber with a large amount of dense off white head. A thick blanket retains well, and leaves full walls of lacing.

S: Floral, funky, and fruity. There's also a noticeable yeastiness.

T: Sweet floral notes to start, with the funk starting to appear mid palate and in full force by the finish, accompanied by lightly bitter grapefruit.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation.

Overall I like this a lot. It's interesting, complex, drinkable, and not too boozy, which is an unfortunately uncommon combination.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 04:18:41 | More by seand

jeffjeff1

California

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up a couple weeks ago at Monument Wines and Spirits.

Appearance- cloudy dark orange color, half inch head

Smell- fruit(banana, citrus), spice

Taste- fruit, spice

Mouthfeel- medium bodied, highly carbonated, Be careful when opening!

Drinkability- I thought it was really good except for the fact that it is so highly carbonated that it foams out everywhere when opening. The bottle wasn't even touched until I opened it.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 20:33:21 | More by jeffjeff1

ianjsullivan

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

ST: 750ML poured into a chalice. Batch: 806/809. Bottled: 6-3-2011.

A: Copper amber with a light misty head, light carbonation, and very nice lacing.

S: Grapefruit hops, dark fruit (plum), dry earthy yeast, and lost of sour notes.

T: Tangy sour fruity, dry hops, dry yeast biscuit, grapefruit, and earth.

M: Medium body and smooth.

O: Delicious beer with nice use of hops, earth, and pleasant sour, which adds nice contrast to bitter hops. I have yet to be unimpressed by a Jolly Pumpkin beer. If you do not like sour notes in your pale ales, or beers in general, do no pick this one up. However, it is an excellent beer and worth the money.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 17:26:51 | More by ianjsullivan

weller1js

West Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

6/3/2011, batch 806/809

appearance: pours a clear copper-amber, with light carbonation with creamy white foam, with similar lingering lacing.

smell: sharp essences of dark fruit, sour notes are present throughout, yeast notes are aromatic to the point that they come off as almost dry-like; hops are both floral and sour.

taste: very to the point, the dry hops and yeast bring forth a tangy-sourness; soft at start and throughout but sour at the finish, which als has a lightly spicy lingering.

overall: on point; first experience with JPAA, ingredients are well utilized that makes for a well-sequenced, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 01:21:57 | More by weller1js

Vengeance526

Louisiana

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark golden color with a large pillowy white head that has great retention and leaves a lot of fine lacing.

Aroma of green apples and lemon upfront with hints of spice in the background.

Taste starts with bready malts and quickly transitions to notes of sour fruits...apples, lemon and grape. The brett character is there as usual, and hints of coriander show up towards the end.

Medium bodied with a lot of carbonation. Good stuff overall, lightly sour and refreshing all around.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 20:30:31 | More by Vengeance526

DovaliHops

California

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, orange color with a medium white head that disappears quickly. Scent is typical JP funk that I love, Belgian yeast, sweet citrus, spice and green apples. Taste is initially hoppy with some subtle floral notes. Tart green apple and tart mellon flavor. Nice yeasty flavors with pleasant hopiness. Mouthfeel is light, but it doesn't affect in lack of flavor at all. Drinkability is high. Overall, this is another great beer from JP. I would drink this on the regular.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 05:44:00 | More by DovaliHops

match1112

Illinois

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

bottle has a date of 05/10 but still pours and tastes great.

a: cloudy straw color. the bottle foams over as soon as the lid is popped. a slow pour results in half the pint glass filling with a thick sudsy head, as well as three inches of the bottle.

s: belgian yeast, citrus and spice.

t: citrus and yeast with a funk to it that was awesome.

m: medium body with a ton of carbonation. goes down smooth with a spicy finish.

o: a great beer that i wasnt sure of being over a year past it's best by date. will try to find a fresher bottle to compare, but this was great.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 01:23:51 | More by match1112

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

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Paired this one up with spiced lamb rack and apple relish. This beer is really nice. The poured gives off a orange copper color, thin head that faded quickly. The smell of the beer was sour and funky without a doubt. The taste is wild at first, tart and sour, but mellows really really well into a beautiful malt aftertaste with some sour still lingering. The mouthfeel of this beer was really nice, bubbly and light. Overall the beer tasted really nice and paired well with the lamb.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 01:31:06 | More by Knapp85

schwaeh

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle- bottled 5/21/11

A:Pours a pumpkin orange color with as much frothy white head as you care to pour. These JP beers are always crazy carbonated. Nice lacing.

S: Smells of sour apple, brett funk, oak barrels, and a nice delicate hop presence. This has some nice fall spices going on, very cool. This is the hoppiest smelling Jolly Pumpkin by a landslide.

T: This tastes very funky- hay, horseblanket, pears, grain, and some rotten apple. This has some nice use of spices- nutmeg, coriander, and some pepper are all noticeable; These all add some very nice warmth and depth to this brew. Its almost as if the finish isn't there on this beer, the flavors fade fast in your mouth until a light amount of hop bitterness shows up. There is a citrus quality to this(from the hops?), maybe clementines. The hoppiness builds and seems slightly out of place in this beer.

M: A little thin here but not too bad. Lively carbonation(brett, Jolly Pumpkin, duh). Lingering bitterness.

O: I can really appreciate this beer, especially when grouped in this style, but for me I would really let this one sit a while. The use of fresh hops is kind of distracting with the funk and spice going on here. This is good but time might push this up a notch.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 23:30:40 | More by schwaeh

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