Luciérnaga, The Firefly - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

jrallen34

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I drank this from the bottle into a chalice.

The beer pours a dark honey gold or cider with a big white head. The head rises about two fingers and falls quickly to a quarter finger full cover. Great retention, great lacing, covers the whole glass.

The aroma starts off pretty sweet with honey and apples, then fades into some oak and a lot of beglian yeast to finish. Really robust and complex.

The taste is pretty good, really reminds me of damnation 23, a nice pale ale with a ton of oak. Oak really cominates though, not overly complex, but if you're in the mood for an easy to drink oaky beer I would definetly grab this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 01:50:50 | More by jrallen34

cokes

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A silty bronzed amber body piled with a buttery vanilla puff of several inches and several minutes.
Caramelized ginger nose augmented with electric coriander, lime leaves, cedar, and menthol-lemon-eucalyptus.
Enters with a sere maltiness right between graham crackers and sourdough. Vapors of fruit arrise, mostly via peach, mushmelon, and blood orange. Spice-issued hammerstrokes resound throughout the middle with bangs of coriander, rosemary, and suede. The finish is tart-leaning via a very convincing mime of lime rind, along with a flinty oak-cum-cedar wood nuance. The finale is all menthol hops, full of oil and wintergreen and concentrated citric-herb bitterness. My sole complaint is pretty major, as it pertains to the burgeoning aspirin astringency that blooms as the bottle empties.
Broad and big in the mouth up front, but it generally dissolves into a lightly clingly waifness. The product is wider than it is deep. The flavors it chooses to manifest are bright and neon and boardering on gaudy. For this reason it- despite its overall tastiness- is not as drinkable as it would appear. Though it is special in that "one-hitter quitter" sense. And of the JP's I've had thus far, its the only one I'd actively try to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2005 07:50:44 | More by cokes

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

I think this stuff (and all Jolly Pumpkin beers) only comes in large bottles. That's all I've been able to find, and that's what I had this time.

I think the major take from this beer is Orval. It has some kind of wild ale flavor to it, completely reminiscent of Orval. I still don't know if I like Orval or not, it's just so different from my usual styles. So same with this one.

If you like Orval, give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2006 16:44:25 | More by TurdFurgison

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.65/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle. Pours a cloudy deep orange with a huge, thick frothy off-white head. Aroma of sweet fruits, lemon, citrus, bitter hops, and sweet tart candies. Flavor is sour/yogurty at first with a dry, malty, slightly bitter finish. Palate is thin, sort of watery. This is alright, certainly easy to drink but underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 14:45:43 | More by LilBeerDoctor

bluejacket74

Ohio

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

750 ml bottle, Batch 296/297. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a hazy orange/brown color with about a couple inch frothy off-white head. Head retention is excellent, lacing is good. The aroma is musty and fruity, the beer smells like coriander, sour apples, yeast, pineapple (and other tropical fruit), peppery spice and citrus. Taste is similar to the aroma, it tastes like tart apples, yeast, coriander, pineapple, oak, pepper, spice and lemon. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and has high but soft carbonation. Drinkability is very good, it's smooth and the soft carbonation makes this easy to drink. I think this is a good and enjoyable beer, I'll definitely buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 21:52:27 | More by bluejacket74

AgentZero

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Very cloudy gold, almost a brownish, big head, had to go easy on the pour with this one. Some nice lacing left behind.

S - A little tart, slightly sweet, some nice grass, spice, and a bit of belgian yeast. Reminds me of a slightly sweet saison.

T - This was a nice surprise, a very good tasting beer. Tastes like a slightly sweet saison, or a not-sweet-enough wild. Oaky, pears, grass, little bit of yeasty funk.

M - Bubbly carbonation, light bodied, little sugary sticky.

D - Pretty easy drinker, did the bottle fine, could probably get through a bit more of another.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2010 16:26:05 | More by AgentZero

Brent

Kentucky

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

Unlike the other beers I've had from Jolly Pumpkin, this beer didn't strike me as being tart, which is a characteristic of their beers. Some Belgian candy sweetness, with a bit of yeasty spice. Malt was substantial but not heavy in the mouth. A nicely done beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2006 15:06:46 | More by Brent

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

dank ass beer. pours a darker red shade with a jovial white head. smells like a sour brett concoction. flavor is great, really sour brett up front, but more nuanced unrolling, with some red licorice and caramel malt. had a very funky memorable finish. tart and assertive. mouthfeel is great, very very lively carbonation with a piquant conclusion. great example of an american wild beer. way way better than the blue one, and more seductive than the red one. sessionable

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 07:31:58 | More by StonedTrippin

champ103

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Pours an attractive hazy amber/orange color. A large beige head rises to over two fingers with excellent retention. As the rocky foam gently recedes, lots of patchy lace is left in rings around the glass.
S: Big pepper notes up front and center. Really spicy as well. This has a kick to it for sure. Some light fruity aromas come out, along with the typical funky yeast.
T: Again, just a huge pepper and spice flavor that makes me cough a little every time I take a sip. Some yeasty funk and a light fruity apple flavor as well. Interesting, but is not all that well incorporated.
M/D: A medium body that is well carbonated. Crisp, creamy, and smooth at the same time. The odd combination of flavors makes for a slow sipper.

Very interesting. Though just to much peppery spice character. Add the typical Polly Pumpkin funk to the mix, and this beer just does not mesh right for me. Worth a try, but not one of their better offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 02:47:28 | More by champ103

alexgash

Connecticut

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

Murky copper apricot body with a huge, rocky, glass-slathering, off-beige head. Wow. Fresh hay, light powdered sugar, tart fruits, lemon sorbet, and faint spices. Nice and complex nose. Toasted grain and bitter herbal hops up front. Quickly turns acidic and sour. Hints of tart cherries, lemon, and oak. Winy fruit, wheat malt, hay, and more oak into the long, tasty finish. Medium-bodied with a very lively feel. Another great JP brew!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2007 23:17:10 | More by alexgash

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

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

750ml bottle into half pint on 4/1/09, courtesy of Deuane.

A - Slightly cloudy amber body with vigorous carbonation and one-finger off-white head that settled into a quarter inch of retention and deposited a modest amount of lace on the glass.

S - Spicy and mildly astringent nose with some funky yeast. Hints of clove, coriander and citrus rind round out the aroma.

T - Spicy flavor with hints of clove and coriander, as well as a funky sour green apple character. Earthy hops provide some mild bitter notes in the finish.

M - Light to medium bodied with a syrupy texture and lively carbonation, resulting in a prickly mouthfeel. Finish is spicy and slightly bitter on the palate.

D - Quite a complex Belgian-style ale, yet not something of which I could drink a full bottle on my own. I definitely admire the character of this brew, and I will certainly try other Jolly Pumpkin offerings in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2009 23:15:49 | More by ffejherb

merlin48

Kentucky

4.63/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours into a goblet a hazy, rusty orange body topped by a large and billowing head that is offwhite to beige. Retention is excellent and lacing is in abundant sheets.

Aroma is very floral, a plethora of herbal, fruit, and flower blossoms. Some toasty grain adds to the allure. White pepper and coriander front a heady aroma of spices. Bretts lend a wild, earthy, and pastoral aspect to the complex bouquet.

Lovely mouthfeel is effervescent and well carbonated to the point of being velvety. Body is light medium. This just feels wonderful to swirl on the palate.

Taste id dominated by herbal hops which provide a clean and dry bitterness. A bit of toasty grain seems understated but works well here. Sour white grapes, woody oak, mint, and coriander add to the complexity. Reminds me of a well crafted Saisson. Excellent all around!

Another delightful artisan ale from the Jolly Pumpkin folks. Complex and intriguing, a sheer delight to enjoy. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2006 13:07:15 | More by merlin48

flagmantho

Washington

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 750mL bottle into a tulip. Bottled 6/13/12.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a touch of haze to the body and a robust effervescence. Head is two thick fingers of frothy ivory foam; quite attractive.

Smell: sweet malt aroma with a little bit of funk and a hint of tartness. There's also an interesting lemongrass-type character in the mix. Interesting and alluring, if a bit atypical for the style.

Taste: lightly sweet malt with a nice, Brettanomyces-like funk and and just a mild hint of tartness. The lemony character persists from the aroma, and the overall effect is quite enticing.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a very robust, mouth-filling creaminess. I guess that's the bottle conditioning, eh? I love it.

Overall: an interesting and tasty beer. Very refreshing and each sip leaves me wanting more. Perhaps a bit exotic for the style, but intriguing and quaffable nonetheless. I'd love to have this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 20:18:12 | More by flagmantho

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

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

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured into the chalice deep amber golden with an off-white and frothy head which rose tall and fell slowly to lace the glass.

The aroma was oaky with a strong fruity presence that was grassy and earthy with a bit of sulphur. Also present was a bit of acidic sour aroma. Light and in the background was a caramel presence. The aroma also contained a bit of pepper and some citrus.

The flavor was bitter with a fruity citrus bite. The flavor was earthy and interesting with an oaky character. The bittering was well done and highly present with a peppery spice component.

The finish was bitter with lasting citrus presence and pepper spice long and pleasant into the aftertaste. The body was medium and the carbonation added a creamy texture to the mouthfeel. The ABV was low and no appreciable alcohol was perceived. Listed as a Belgian Pale Ale, but teetering between one and a Saison. The label lists coriander, but I don't pick it up except in perhaps a muted spice complexity. A nice drinking beer, but as it warmed it took quite a while to consume.

750 ml capped bottle. Thanks beerinator!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2005 00:34:07 | More by GCBrewingCo

lordofthewiens

Maine

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

A 750ml bottle poured into a tulip glass. Hazy dark orange color with a thick, sticky white head. The head was like meringue. It had a spicy, flowery aroma. Taste was upfront spice, then it became a little sweet, then a tiny hop taste at the end. A thoroughly enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2007 15:29:03 | More by lordofthewiens

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Clear golden-amber with a finger of frothy off-white head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet caramel and grainy malts, oak, vanilla, Belgian yeast, coriander, pepper, other spices, lemon zest, tart green fruits.

T - Sweet caramel and grainy malts, oak, vanilla, lemon zest, Belgian yeast, coriander, pepper, other spices, tart green fruits, a bit of citrus hop.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a dry, tart, spicy finish.

D - Very nicely balanced BPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:39:27 | More by ngeunit1

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Malto for the beer

This beer poured tawny brown with a big white head( flecked with brown swirls). Nose is spicy and redolent of a Saison. The beer tastes of corriander and Grains of Paradise layered on top and behind a solid Belgian yeast base. Bitterness in the finish gives this beer the ability to perfectly match with peppercorn pate and sausage. Overall this is a very complex beer that opens up new nuances as it warms up. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2005 19:31:40 | More by canucklehead

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a cloudy red-orange color. The head is massive, fluffy, and recedes very, very slowly into thick chuncky lacing. The aroma is of roses, coriander, leather, earth, and bretta with a nice tart sourness. The taste is like the aroma but not as pronounced. The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with very high carbonatioin which gets in the way a bit. Overall, this is another fine brew from Jolly Pumpkin. I would drink this again, but I would still prefer an Oro De Calabaza..

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2007 21:53:03 | More by KarlHungus

billab914

Virginia

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

750ml bottle into my Shipyard glass. Hazy and golden yellow in color with a thick white head nearly overflowing from the glass.

The aroma has a moderate funk to it with a little bit of a musty, slightly sour flavor coming through. I get a little malt sweetness and a Belgian yeast spice to it as well.

The taste shows more of the funky, musty flavors to it up front while more of the pale malts and belgian yeast come out towards the finish.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side with carbonation being high. Overall it was a flavorful, easy drinking and complex beer. The sour, funky flavor really worked well for me. Very nice overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 01:05:33 | More by billab914

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

Floydster

California

3.45/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle given to me as an extra from OHLRangers, thanks for the opportunity Ed, fresh batch, poured into my Duvel tulip glass

A-Light orange with some golden highlights, two and a half inch creamy white head that stays around for a long time, nice retention, some lacing at first
S-Aroma was the best part of this beer by far, wild yeast is what hits you first, then funkiness, lemons, Belgian sugar, orange peel, oak, champagne, minimal sour notes, hoppiness, spices, and grassy accents
T-Starts off slightly tart and then fades into some toasted malt in the middle that is a little sweet, finish is super dry because of the yeast, more fruit comes to the surface as it warms, nice mix of sweet and dry until it warms and it becomes only dry for the most part, expected this one to be more sour but it lacked in that complexity, never really tasted the spices I could smell either, great nose but the flavor lacked what was going for it there, still enjoyable at times
M-Sparkling and bubbly feel until it warms, dry and slightly sweet mouthfeel, taste lingers for some time, medium bodied, lots of carbonation
D-Goes down pretty easy but the overly dry aftertaste could cause some problems later on, ABV is pretty low and it is light on the stomach though, crisp but not as smooth as it could be

One of my least favorite Jolly Pumpkins yet, smelled great but the flavor was just lacking in my opinion, hopefully the grand reserve sitting in my closet will be better than this one, probably would not drink again if I had others from this brewery to choose from, still worth trying

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2008 16:20:00 | More by Floydster

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. Blend 3, bottled 4-28-10.

4.5 A: Hazy orange brown color. Three fingers of pillowy white head with excellent retention and plenty of lacing.

4.0 S: Brett comes off as the strongest aroma. Lots of different spices going with pepper, corriander, grains of paradise and even cinnamon, but none of them are very strong. Pretty decent, I like what the brett is doing here.

3.5 T: Surprisingly drying on finish is what I noticed first. Grains of paradise show up big time with corriander and pepper on the second front. Very pear like fruitiness. Brett funk blends in with the other flavors as opposed to being the focus. Good, but lacking something I can't quite put my finger on. I wish I could give this a 3.75 for taste.

4.5 M: Medium body. Good actively spritzy carbonation. Good creaminess as well. One of the highlights of this beer.

3.5 D: It's an okay beer, but certainly not worth the price. Flavors seem okay on paper, but it's missing some of the intangibles that make a beer great. I'm not a huge fan of pear flavor in beer and this one has a lot of it.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 04:37:14 | More by DavoleBomb

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a ton of puffy foam over top that is maintained by a huge cascade of bubbles. Head falls pretty slow. Nose is really nice. Great balance between zesty lemon, noble hop floral character, light spun sugar sweetness, and very nice spicey esters. Wow. Lots going on there. There is a nice zing to this beer. Medium tartness and lemon flavor with a moderate spiceyness and a medium residual bitter that just plays on the sides of my tongue. After things fade, it leaves a light sugary sweetness with nice light spiceyness. I really like it. Feel is moderate with a moderate carbonation. Highly drinkable brew. Nothing to get in the way. I will have this one again. Another good brew from JP.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2005 01:04:58 | More by kmpitz2