Maracaibo Especial - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.51/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 931
Bottled 12-02-11

P: Gushed once the top was popped and tumbled into a murky burnt sienna body. Head has moderate retention and presented itself as a mound of dense frothy cappuccino that settled to a bubbly big with filmy lacing.

S: Astringent medicinal aroma, chocolate oranges, funky basement yeast, sour dough bread, moldy rye, foam shoe polisher with mink oil, and faint whiffs of tropical fruit bubblicious.

T/M: Taste comes off as a Flemish with sour lemon tea flavor that brings a spiced lemon pinesol essence that coats the palate like cooking oil. Funky basement brett, old leather, oak, cayenne pepper, and berries. Burnt cocoa, very faint cinnamon, linger in the background. Moderate body with spicy carbonation.

O: An interesting beer to say the least. I was unsure about this from the first taste but as it warmed it began to grow on me. Funky and tart but not as spiced as I expected. It's not a fantastic beer but I like the approach Jolly Pumpkin took on this. Probably wouldn't buy it again considering the price.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 22:38:45 | More by Hopswagger

stegmakk

New York

3.1/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75

Batch 931 bottled 12-2-11
Drank 4-19-13

Appearance-Brown orange...liquid leather. Nice head fine bubbles dissapated fine lacing.

Smell-Sour fruit. Some bready malt mixed in.

Taste-For what is labeled special brown with cacao, cinnamon, orange flavors...none of that is present. Sweet sourish taste yes...helles yes. I dont have anything against a sour belgian kind of beer. I just expected more flavors and a better blend.

Mouthfeel-went down smooth with fine carbonation tingling on my tongue.

Overall-Not a "drainer"...but I Would not buy again. At $16 for a big bottle...not worth it. Much cheaper sour beers with more flavor out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:10:16 | More by stegmakk

GuzzLah

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A - pours a hazy dark amber with a light beige head. Some lace. No bubbles.

S - spice, leather, bubblegum and citrus.

T - orange, cocoa, cinnamon, and soft caramel malt. Mildly acetic.

M - dry and somewhat astringent with a mild tartness. Soft, peppery bitterness with a medium sustain.

O - certainly not a bad beer, but it's probably one of my least favorite Jolly Pumpkins. That isn't a diss, because I've liked all of them quite a bit. The taste was a bit weak upfront, but it had a pleasantly spicy, citrusy aftertaste that lingered nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 23:05:09 | More by GuzzLah

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From: Binny's, Schaumburg, IL
Date: Batch 937, Bottled 2011-12-19
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

At one year, four months of age, the beer resembles a fairly solid Flemish brown ale more than a spiced Belgian brown ale as the label describes. While solid, there's not much that differentiates this from others in the style. Overall, a good beer, but also a bit steep in price considering some 750s and four-packs of some Flemish ales from Belgium are less than the price of one 750ml bottle of this. I would try this again, fresh, to see if there was a difference, but would not keep one to age.

Pours a 1cm tall head of beige-colored foam, made up primarily of small, densely packed bubbles, a few medium-sized ones mixed in for variety. Retention is about average at one minute, the foam leaving very modest lacing along the sides of the glass, a few spots and thick lines. Body is a dark, cold amber brown, very hazy (about 80% opacity), with light bringing out brighter orange-brown hues to the beer. Carbonation is visible moving up the sides of the glass, slow and not particularly numerous.

Aroma is acidic: tart with a Brettanomyces influence, cellar must, tart raspberries and/or cherries, and a very slight cinnamon and cacao nib edge as the beer warms.

Flavor is like a Flemish sour brown ale, with amber and pale malt sweetness heavily touched by Brettanomyces-influenced raspberry tartness and hints of oak, must, cacao, super-faint orange peel, and spices. Front of palate finds mildly sweet pale and a touch of caramel malts with tart raspberry esters and a bit of cellar mustiness. Tartness appears in mid-palate, bearing sour raspberry or cherry flavors with it, along with continued malt sweetness, a bit of oak, cellar mustiness, and just a hint of cacao. Back of palate finds continued tartness, raspberry esters, oak, slight tannins, and super-faint orange zest. Aftertaste is of caramel and pale malt sweetness, slightly bready, with lingering Brettanomyces-influenced tartness, hints of raspberries, oak, and vague spices.

Beer is with carbonation levels of medium-high intensity. This leads to a mouthfeel that is slightly fizzy at first, but quickly becoming smooth and foamy. Closes semi-dry, slightly puckering, with little residual stickiness on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 03:18:15 | More by falloutsnow

Thickfreakness

New York

4.61/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- A touch candy-apple red, a hint mahogany brown. A fluffy tangerine tinged head stays strong and falls gently back into the glass. Little islands of lacing stick and hang onto the glass as it fades. Not much in the way of carbonation.

S- Sour cherries, green apples, huge notes of funky Brett yeast. A touch horsey, composty, and weird as it may sound... candy-cornish? Some hints of Luden's cherry cough drops, White and green tart grapes, some cinnamon, anise and lemon pepper. This really has brilliant depth.

T- Nicely tart and full of dark sour cherries, lemons, granny smith apples, strawberry hulls, funky horse blanket yeastiness, and spices. Picking up the cinnamon and maybe some chile heat on my lips. Not really tasting any cocoa. Not really understanding how this is a brown ale... but it's really good! If I'm truely rating this by style it'd be a 2 or so, but I'm really loving this so it's gonna be a...

M- Tart and full of fruit! Cherry, raspberries, lemon, green apples, and spiced with horse poop, cinnamon and pepper. Truely mouth puckering.

O- This brew couldn't not fit the style more, but it's absolutely brilliant! I feel bad about grading this one on a curve. As a brown ale it sucks, but as a WILD brown ale... it's crazy good! I will be getting more of this immediately, drinking some, and cellering a few.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 00:06:01 | More by Thickfreakness

merc7186

New York

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Ruck in Troy NY, poured into a snifter glass.

A: Brownish/Amber Hue, Passes Mild Light, Off White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Brett, Pears, Mild Green Apple, Mild Buckwheat Honey

T: Bosc Pear, Apples, Grainy Malt, Mild Brett

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Funky, Mildly Watery Finish

Overall, not a bad Wild Brown Ale, got some intermittent fruit notes throughout the glass.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2013 22:36:48 | More by merc7186

mntlover

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a murky brown with amber highlights sports a nice brown two finger head that falls to ring with some sparse lace.

Aroma is nice sour malty notes big orange notes or more like those chocolate oranges you can buy. Nice spice notes with cinnamon dominating.

Taste just like the aroma nice malty brown ale with a good sour brett kick. Orange pops out after sour dies down some. Finish is lingering brett, orange and spice cinnamon dominating but some earthy notes also perhaps from the yeast.

Mouthfeel is medium with lightly peppy carbonation.

Overall an enjoyable brew nice brett notes on brown ale the orange was a nice addition. Hear Jolly Pumpkins all taste the same as a knock sometimes. Myself I enjoy the funky notes in all there brews.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 01:32:06 | More by mntlover

cfrobrew

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A Very opaque brown with a small head

S Heavy brett smell with a few other bugs in there too but largely brett, some sort of sour barrel smell as well, very nice

T Very similar to the smell , which I was pleased with. Dry with a tartness that isnt terribly strong . I would imaging thats much from the brett, there isnt a lot of sweetness left.

M Somewhat thin but not more than should be expected from a brown, very nice for the style

O I really enjoyed this beer. I liked it more while it was cooler and the brett was subdued so the other characteristics could come out. As it warmed up and breathed it became much more dry and brett heavy. I enjoyed it cool so I cooled the rest down after my curiosity was sufficed, to bring back some of the other flavors. Great beer, pricy but worth trying since I cant get it back home in TX...

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:17:19 | More by cfrobrew

weonfire

Kentucky

4.21/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter

A - Deep Copper. full finger and half head. dissipated within a minute or two.

S - Awesome. deep aged orange? sweet molasses. pear?

T - Mellow sour flavor. cinnamon. very nice

M - Could be fuller. From the smell I expected more. But i do like.

O - very nice. I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 02:44:31 | More by weonfire

MarioM

California

4.34/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: dark Ted, almost mahogany in color maybe a dark red with a delicate creamy head with little lacing, lingered for a while. Light to moderate carbonation with small creamy boubbles.

S: Fruity, lift malty characterwith a little hint of Belgian yeast and dried fruits along with some brown sugar or dark syrup.

T: Tart, a tad sweet, fruity with a little alcohol and slight sourness from the barrel aging. A little but of floralness and some spices. Balance is more towards a tart fruitiness but well within the Jolly Punpkin style of brews.

M: Slight bitterness but still moderately sour character. A little fruty and phenolic but quite different and makes me want to continue drinking this ilunique brew.

O: A must try for the Belgian Brew Advocate who thinks he's/she's had all Belgian brews available. Not as strong as I would expect, abv wise but the flavor and experience is there. A must have for those Jolly Pumpkin fans, especially on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 07:38:29 | More by MarioM

Fanhitter

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Served at JP on draft, in a snifter.

Pours a nice, deep auburn-red color with a light foamy top. After a few sips, a light amount of lacing lingers and dissipates down the side of the glass. A nice ribbon of bubbles remains across the top of the beer halfway down. Looks like a nice cold-weather brew for a sour.

Smells sweet and sour with a nice spice-laden aroma as well. The citrus note takes a backseat to the sour cinnamon nose.

Tastes nicely seasoned, with a warm cinnamon burst. For lack of a better comparison, i liken it to a fresh cup of tea with lemon and honey after its sat on the countertop for a few hours.

Mouthfeel is very smooth. This is a no-brained for a breakfast/brunch beer. Easy drinking to say the least.

Overall, I'd say this is one of my favorite JP brews I've tried. Would definitely order it again. A great seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 20:20:43 | More by Fanhitter

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.69/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Half finger of head on a cloudy, light brown body.
The aroma is orange chocolate, alcohol and nuts.
The taste is quite boozy and sour throughout, a big dose of lemon bitterness in the middle, finishes with a touch of sweetness. It's a bit confused.
Crisper texture, moderate carbonation and medium body.
It smells amazing but the flavor didn't back it up. Fairly bitter for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 04:48:38 | More by Fatehunter

wesbrownyeah

Florida

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

Maracaibo Especial special brown ale by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Dexter Michigan. 7.5% alcohol 1pt. 9.4fl. oz. capped brown bottle with a firey plum tree design.

A- Pours an glowing orange brown fluid that radiates red in the sunlight. With a subtle pour it produces a mildly active off white head that leaves a thick quarter inch froth on the top with heavily lingering lacing from the beginning to end of the brew.

S- Sour green apples come to mind on the first sniff on to more complex cinnamon and sweet brown sugar like alcohol esters on the back of the nose.

T-M- Citrusy orange peels and lemon come to me on the first bite but with a little warmth and charactor defining I find a spicy carmel hint that is followed by oaky backbone. Mouthfeel is smooth with a astringent bite that tingle the taste buds to lead you to a refreshing brown ale only to be made by a brewery that barrel ages all their beers.

Overall a excellent beer but to little on the brown ale charactor and slighty more wild than normal... but hey whats normal? Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 06:29:10 | More by wesbrownyeah

kylehay2004

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Single finger head with excellent lacing on a murky copper body. Aroma of tart dark fruit, caramel and toasted malts, breads and candied citrus. Flavor follows very well with caramel, candied fruits, brown sugar and bready malts. Light to medium body, oily and light to medium carbonation. Almost has the sense of a brown blended with a sour beer. By the time I finished this one I loved it and wanted another. A very nice and complex brew. It's just a little too thin for me.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2012 03:45:32 | More by kylehay2004

jbeezification

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1 pint 9.4 oz bottle, sticker on back indicates 'Batch 349'. Served in a Trappistes Rochefort oversized wine glass at 49 degrees.

First off, this is a gusher. I felt the carbonation as I was popping the top and luckily I made it to the sink before it poured everywhere and had my glass ready.

Obviously there is lots of head, but it settles to a fine pencil thin head which stays around for a while.
Smells of nut and sour orange peel.
Quite a bit of orangey sour with a cacao bitterness. This is quite complex and very enjoyable.

I can't help but call this a weird beer, its labeled as a brown ale, yet it is sour and brewed with cacao and cinnamon. This is not a introductory beer because it would take a strong palette to appreciate the complex flavors and depth of this one. I almost don't feel worthy to appreciate all that this beer is made of and am greatful to have been able to get a bottle in Texas where it is not distributed (yet(hopefully)).

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:51:45 | More by jbeezification

MadScientist

New York

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

A: A hazy medium-dark copper with glowing red hue. The head is a persistent light-tan foam about a finger thick that leave long thin streaks of lacing.

S: One of the richer sour aromas I've experienced with a strong, well rounded fruity aromas mostly of red currents and tangerine. There is a complementing malt support with some malt sweetness, a touch of chocolate and Pils malt character. The cacao nibs come through at a moderately-low level along with a cinnamon that seems more oak derived. There is some spicy phenols at a low level and a moderately-low perfumey alcohol note.

T: A complex fruit flavor with orange peel, plums, currents and tart cherry finish. The malt is low with a light chocolate note and light sweetness. There is low hops bitterness and a no hops flavor, not that it's needed the sour and tart fruitiness are balancing the malt being moderately sour over all. The finish is pretty dry with an orange and cherry aftertaste.

M: Medium-full bodied with a moderately-strong carbonation. There is a slight astringency probably from the spice additions.

O: A fruity, well balanced sour with orange peel, currents and plums. The oak and cacao add to the light spicy yeast notes. This would be great beer to introduce your friend to sour beer.

Batch 930
Bottled on 12-01-2011

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 01:23:49 | More by MadScientist

AaronHomoya

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a little pour from Anita at Great Fermentations. Thanks!

A light brown color with some auburn notes. Quite a bit of foam and carbonation, as it wanted to foam out of the bottle. Smell was really neat, with sour beer tang, a bit of spice (maybe cinnamon) and some richness from the cocoa and brown malt. The flavor is equally complex, with a fair bit of sourness and a pretty dry finish. Some pineapple notes in there, too. Mouthfeel is pretty light and zippy. Overall a neat beer. Very interesting ideas that really came together well.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 20:50:23 | More by AaronHomoya

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle - $13.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Blend 1 - Bottled 11-9-10.

Appearance: Dispenses a clouded, medium-brown body with a tall, gushing, slowly receding, off-white head.

Smell: Presents a slow shambling toasted, molded bread maltiness and toasted, earth-strewn nuts with a quick snap of phenols bringing one to attention, then, the cacao and cinnamon slips past followed by ripe fruits, a even little berry.

Taste: Toasted maltiness, slight caramel sweetness, and with more chocolate flavor than I'd ever have expected. Pinch of cinnamon, but also a clovesque, peppery note alongside acedic berries soothed with umeshu. Becomes predominately earthy and acidic as it progresses. Finishes with a flourish of engaging, burp-inducing carbonation.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. High carbonation.

Overall: As always, it’s another weird, wild ride from Jolly Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 01:02:04 | More by ChainGangGuy

libbey

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Blind beer #7 from trxxpaxxs. 750ml poured into my new Pretty Things glass!

A: The beer pours a murky red/brown with a nice dirty cap of head that dissipates into a thin film that stuck around throughout the session leaving a trail of spotty lacing. 4/5

S: It would appear we are in sour country. The nose is tart with layers of brett, barnyard funk and hints of dark fruit. Layers of oak and tannins become more pronounced as it warms. Smells great. 4.5/5

T: Not as tart as the nose had led on but it still has a crisp funky bite. The oak and hints of green apple skins come forward as it warms. Pretty sure this is a Flanders of some sort. 4/5

M: The carbonation is bright and bubbly for this medium bodied beer. The finish is dry and snappy on the pallet leaving lingering layers of funk and oak. Very good. 4.5/5

O: Overall this is a very tasty beer and one I would look forward to having again if the opportunity presented itself. 4/5

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 04:52:42 | More by libbey

Boz12

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first beer from Jolly Pumpkin! Poured from a bottle into my Lost Abbey teku glass.

A: Dark orange color with a half finger off white head. Hazy.

S: Some nice funk. A little cinnamon and bread. Tart apple.

T: Smooth subtle malt character with a liberal dose of a mildly tart brett funkiness. Apricot and bitter orange peel. Maybe some apple and cinnamon.

Overall a really interesting beer. The fact that it says "Special Brown Ale" on the bottle is something that should be noted. It is definitely not your typical brown ale. It almost reminds me of a sour helles bock, who knows. Regardless, it's a really tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 10:20:00 | More by Boz12

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml capped bottle poured into a nonic.
7.5% ABV, Batch 937, Bottled 12-19-2011

A - Maracaibo Especial glugs from the bottle with moderate vigor, crowning the mostly clear crimson walnut color with a thick pile of light khaki foam. Depleting somewhat quickly, the suds leave sticky webbing on the pint.

S - With the release of the cap a familiar, inviting, and subdued wild yeast wafts into the air; the Jolly Pumpkin staple. Despite the beer's unfortunate age, this brown ale is robust with character! Light toffee and caramel blend with the toasted amber malt base which, hides coyly behind the ever-present yeast sensation of lightly acidic lemon juice and mild barnyard funk. If age has taken a toll on anything, it's gotta be the almost absent cacao nibs and cinnamon spice, though it's hardly a reason for downgrading the fantastic aroma.

T - Cinnamon spice enters the picture nanoseconds before my first sip, spicing up the brown ale nicely. Tart yeast raises the barnyard a notch in flavor while suggesting Belgian influence with earthy clay and white pepper notes towards the back. Citrus juice and rind play nicely juxtaposed to the amber malts. Toast, caramel, toffee, and a sliver of shaved chocolate complexity finish out providing a great malt base; one that plays well with others.

M - Smooth and medium bodied, this brown ale departs style categorization the second it's wild yeast grips the tongue with tartness, mild acidity, and a higher level of carbonation. Feeling a little lighter than it actually is, the crispness aids in drinkability but this beer would work wonders in fall.

O - I think I was too jazzed to buy this beer for a celebration than I was actually paying attention, hence the old bottled date. Regardless, Maracaibo Especial is pretty fantastic, shining with deep, rich malt complexity, funky yeast, and a twist that puts a unique and welcome spin on a fall classic. I'd love to find this fresh and compare it's cinnamon spice and cacao additions to the aged version, though.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 00:45:56 | More by BeerFMAndy

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Maracaibo Especial
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: American Brown Ale
ABV: 7.50 %

LOOK: Pours with a fierce crackling off white head. In the shade of a very dark brown, certainly not clear, and a little thick looking.

SMELL: A bit sour smelling, with notes of apple cider vinegar and muscovado sugar, old lemons, leather, oak, bourbon.

TASTE: Sugary malts tempered by a nice lactic sour, not unlike a good flanders red from Belgium. This has a more biting sourness, delicious malt body, and notes of sour dark cherry. A bit of cocoa, some mild bitterness, oaky tannins and more sour to go into the finish. A complex ale.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, and drying with flavors lingering into the after taste.

OVERALL: A complex sipper worthy of being sipped and savored. Would pair well with stronger cheeses and fresh meats.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 15:04:11 | More by Stinkypuss

flagmantho

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip.

Appearance: medium amber-brown hue with very little haze and almost no effervescence. Head pours a fat finger of frothy ivory foam which leaves a nice lace on the glass. Attractive!

Smell: sweet malt with a light hint of chocolate, plus a definite sour aroma. This seems more like a "wild ale" than an "American brown ale". I like sours, so I like this.

Taste: super sour right off the bat, followed by a sweet, caramelly, nutty malt flavor. A good example of a sour brown ale. I like it!

Mouthfeel: medium body with a huge carbonation and concomitant creaminess. Bodacious!

Overall: I like this beer quite a lot. I think it is misclassified as a simple brown ale and needs to be set up as a sour ale or wild ale. Still, I like sours so I like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 02:07:44 | More by flagmantho

davewlfpckfan29

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

We got this bottle from Julio's in Central Massachusetts.
The batch is from January 8, 2011. So we had it eight months later in August.

Carbonation and lacing is a really nice brownish red color, the body of the beer is a nice unfiltered looking mahogany colored brown.

Really nice tartness to it, and also a sour taste. It has a great complexity of both a sweet and sour side to it which I really appreciated. We also believed that it has a slight lactic taste to it as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 15:24:24 | More by davewlfpckfan29

mrfrancis

Kentucky

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

A: Pours a hazy brownish amber with a creamy, lingering khaki head.

S: Aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted nuts, caramel, cocoa, oak, must, and cider vinegar are present on the nose.

T: Opens with malty and spicy notes of dry bread, caramel, biscuit, roasted chestnuts, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, and nutmeg chased by notes of pickle brine, oak, must, and cider vinegar. The finish is tart and well integrated with a combination of bread, nut, cocoa, spice, oak, must, and vinegar flavors.

M: Medium in body, chewy, and very, very dry. Carbonation is firm, but quite expressive. Alcohol presence is minimal. This ale can easily sneak up on the unsuspecting drinker.

O: This is an excellent sour, one that is reminiscent of a dubbel, an American brown ale, and a Flanders oud bruin all at once. For fans of sour ales, I highly recommend Maracaibo Especial. It is definitely one of Jolly Pumpkin's most unique and interesting efforts.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 14:36:52 | More by mrfrancis