Maracaibo Especial - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

davewlfpckfan29

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -1%
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 +0.3%
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

ricknelson

Vermont

2.13/5  rDev -46.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Six of us attending a beer tasting that I hosted in my man cave pub gave this beer a score of 8 out of a possible 30 for and an average score of 1.33 It ranked dead last out of the 12 beers we tasted. The group of six were divided evenly, 3 that favored IPA's and 3 that favored Stouts. It actually was so bad that no one even finished the 5 oz pour, and a good portion of it was dumped down the drain. It had a very vinegar taste. Maybe it was a bad bottle, I still have another one un-opened. But do I dare try it!

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 22:05:07 | More by ricknelson

Dope

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Blend 2, bottled 11/10/10. Closing in on 2 years old.

A: Pours a murky reddish-brown with a huge, ridiculous fluffy tan head. Fades very slowly, leaving a huge island of foam behind with lots of fluffy lacing all over the glass.

S: Green apples with lots of cinnamon. Leather.

T: Tart apple mixed with some cinnamon. Sour throughout, not tart. I get some cocoa and toast and other spice. Ends drying and cinnamony. Lots of spice. Kinda tastes like a sour winter warmer.

M: Medium bodied and astringent.

O: Well, definitely not a brown ale, that's for sure. Quite sour and very little brown ale character. Judging by the other reviews, this is supposed to be sour and not a brown ale. Ah well, should have read them before I wasted my money on a miscategorized brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 01:43:30 | More by Dope

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Have a big, thirsty towel handy when you open this - the sample I opened fizzed like a bottle of champagne in the locker room of the team that just won the World Series. It pours a hazy mahogany with a VERY thick light cinnamon-tan head that settles down after a bit. Aroma has a strong overtone of sour apple with a little pear mixed in and a malty hint. Flavor has a malty core, a strong overtone of sour apple, and a woody undertone. Is this a Belgian, or a Sour? Whatever, it’s tasty. Texture has good tang and fizz, though body is a bit on the thin side. Lovers of sour ales should enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:13:01 | More by Cyberkedi

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very lightly hazy amber to garnet red in color. The beer has a finger tall creamy light tan head that reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant lacing is observed.

S: Moderate to heavy aromas of sourness (likely from brett) along with some much lighter notes of cinnamon and orange peel.

T: The taste is very similar to the smell with a light amount of sourness (brett) upfront. After that there is a strong presence of oak along with lighter hints of orange peel bitterness and some light spiciness (cinnamon).

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin.

O: This beer is really very interesting - very unique combination of flavors and smells. I like the sourness and the barrel flavors in the beer but it is not the easiest to drink. Good beer for sipping and the alcohol is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 22:50:18 | More by dbrauneis

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Batch 958 bottled 12/14/2011. Served in a Dogfish Head snifter. Like every Jolly Pumpkin beer I've had, the bottle was a gusher (good thing I opened it over the sink). When the beer was safely in the glass I was treated to a slightly hazy, dark reddish-brown brew with a huge, well-sustained head. The nose doesn't say Brown Ale. I get woody, nutty notes, but also some tart fruit, spices, and a slight herbal quality.

The flavor is something unusual. You get a slightly fruity sweetness up front, reminiscent of toast with marmalade. Almost immediately, the sweetness turns slightly sour, like sweetened iced tea with lots of lemon. I definitely get cinnamon and orange peel at mid-palate and a nice, drying finish. The mouthfeel is a bit thin.

I'm not sure this beer should be classified as an American Brown Ale. The barrel-aging, spices, and wild yeasts may take some by surprise if they come looking for a mild, malty beer. This is a mild, acidic beer. An American Wild Brown Ale. Definitely something new and different. It reminds me that I still have much to learn.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 00:37:14 | More by deadonhisfeet

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Slightly hazy mahogany with a thin layer of dense head.

S: Complex aroma that reminds me a little of a flanders red. Tobacco, oak, grape juice, cantaloupe, cinnamon, cocoa, cherries, some diacetyl, lemon peal. Fantastic aroma, mellow compared to the other JP beers I've had.

T: I think this beer finds an interesting sweet spot in terms of acidity. It's a lot less tart than Calabaza but the darker malts round everything off nicely. Highly drinkable.

M: Low carbonation with a creamy and very pleasant mouthfeel.

O: A great introductory sour beer, very complex and highly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 23:57:51 | More by mattsander

57md

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance is brownish-copper with no appreciable head. There was some fine lacing on the glass, but not much.

The nose was too mild to discern much of anything - there was a touch of sourness, perhaps. The taste offers a quick shot of cocoa and then fruity sourness that was like biting into a beer flavored jolly rancher.

I've heard a great deal of good hype about Jolly Pumpkin, but my first try at one of their offerings was a complete disappointment. I will certainly try another of their beers, but I will certainly not believe the hype again until I taste the proof.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 04:26:37 | More by 57md

superspak

Michigan

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

750 ml bottle into tulip, bottled 11/30/2010. Slow gusher upon opening as expected. Pours slightly hazy reddish orange color with a nice 3-4 finger dense light khaki head with incredible retention that reduces to a thick cap that lasts. Some nice lacing on the glass, with plenty of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of tart apple, cherry, oak, pepper, grape, allspice, caramel, light cocoa, and the usual funk. Nice and well balanced aromas with good balance and complexity. Taste of big cocoa, citrus, molasses, dark fruit, pepper, biscuit, cinnamon, tart apple, cherry, and yeast spices. Light tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of cocoa, molasses, light fruits, pepper, and spices on the finish for a bit. Great balance of flavors with good complexity. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a nice creamy mouthfeel that shows up after the carbonation dies down. Alcohol is pretty much invisible at 7.5%, hardly any warming after the finish. Overall this is another great beer from Jolly Pumpkin as expected. Nice complexity and great flavor balance; that is very smooth to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 07:08:08 | More by superspak

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle into a nonic pint.

I've had this before and loved it-- and since I don't want to waste time reviewing this beer at my upcoming Jolly Pumpkin tasting, I figured I'd get to it tonight.

I don't usually go in for brown ales, in fact I tend to eye brown ales with the same regard as a man that just found a caterpillar in his salad.... The only brown ale I really regard highly is Coffee Bender, which is very different from most American brown ales. This beer also falls into the same category.

I cracked this open to a nice hiss like an adder that has just been stepped on by a careless mule. The body of the beer is a reddish brown color with a caramel colored head. The foamy head sat at attention long enough to make me sit up and take notice before it settled to a clouded map. Nice thick sheets of foamy lacing. Shiny and glowing. Just a gorgeous goddamn beer.

The nose holds some oak, tart over-ripe cherries, and a healthy dose of some malt. Not overly sweet, but sweet enough to make me think this may have originally begun life as a genuine brown ale. The dry malt and tart notes are great. Light oaky vinegar at the backend.

Feel is medium full with ample carbonation. It works well enough.

Overall-- this is now in the running for my favorite brown ale. Just a tasty and pleasant beer to drink.
Well done Jolly Pumpkin!

PS-- this was the 2011 vintage. At our upcoming tasting we will try a 4 or 5 year vertical... So I'll update with my favorite!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 03:52:18 | More by AleWatcher

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Thanks Thorpe, serves in a snifter. Beer is brown / black with a thin tan head, low carbonation, no lacing.

Aroma is a little roasty, some acetic and lactic.

Beer is a little chocolatey and a little lactic forward. It is fine but doesn't blow me away. I might have it again in the future but this isn't my favorite from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 15:33:36 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle picked up at Connecticut Avenue in DC.

Blend 4; bottled November 19, 2010. Served in a Jolly Pumpkin tulip.

Pours a clear chestnut brown color with a single-finger off-white head and some good lacing on the way down. Thin cap throughout. The nose has a bit of cocoa as well as some mild earthiness. Just a touch of funk in the background.

The flavor has a bit of dark cocoa. There's a bit of light oak and earthiness toward the back. Not nearly as much going on as other Jolly Pumpkin beers; this is more "normal." It's a pretty good brew, but there's nothing there to take the complexity to the next level.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 18:40:44 | More by Thorpe429

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Worthy of note: this did not come off as a brown ale in any regard whatsoever. I don't think "special brown ale" qualifies this as a brown ale...it wasn't. Labeled as a sour ale on the beer list.

Served in a 9oz. snifter, this beer poured some kind of orange-brown-pink hybrid color that I can only really otherwise describe as "imperial topaz;" hazy, with a thin cap of delicate bubbles on top. Aroma was a bit subdued: tart, but actually pretty mildly so, with soft notes of wood and leaves. Taste of cherries, orange pith and apple skins, again, like the aroma, tart, but not overly so, sour, but not lip-puckering, oak and leafiness, tannins, citrus, and light spice with the lightest dusting of cocoa powder. Very nice and complex. Medium-bodied, very drying, very easily drinkable, but nice to sip on slowly.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 15:04:33 | More by Rifugium

champ103

Texas

3.55/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark ruby red/brown color. A one finger bubbly white head forms, and recedes after a minute. Light lace.
S: Lightly acidic and sour in the nose. Dark fruits of plums and figs. Sweet cinnamon, and zesty orange peal.
T: Lightly tart/sour. Some wood flavors and sweetness. Not bad at all, but really lacking in depth (especially for JP).
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. A bit on the thin side though. Not hard to drink at all. Something I will finish without a problem.

This is kind of a miss for me. Nothing bad at all, and quite enjoyable. Though not one of JP's better offerings IMO.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 00:37:13 | More by champ103

MBrausen

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A. Pours a dark ruby red, a minimal head that settles to a thin ring.

S. Smells of sweet fruit, some figs and a tart finish.

T. Tastes of sweet strawberries, tart cherries, with a nice level sour. Mild barrel flavor in hints of vanilla.

M. Medium body, thick feeling with a wet finish.

O. A good sour, with a tart finish and body. It was very delightful to drink. Lots of bold flavors and a wonderful finish. I can't wait to try more Jolly Pumpkin offerings.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 03:45:19 | More by MBrausen

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Draft pour into a 10oz tulip for $7.50. Sampled 1/15/11.

A: Served with a quickly receding foamy white head of one finger. Thinnest of collars remain and there is no film to speak of. The body is hazy, opaque amber orange in color, and vibrantly radiant when backlit. Lacing is loosely strong in fair amounts.

S: The aroma has a light and pleasant lactic sourness which leads into a gentle bouquet of fruits. Sour apple and golden raisin plus light hints of fermented pineapple and tangerine.

T: The taste gives faint impressions of the cacao, orange peel and cinnamon it was brewed with. These flavors are very subtle, however, and I doubt I would have picked them out over the funk. Speaking of which, Ron sure does have a winner-of-a yeast strain, doesn't he?

M: Medium-light body with a wonderful effervescence and modest lactic sourness.

D: [DRINKABILITY] All of Jolly Pumpkin's offerings are supremely delicious and easy to drink - and Maracaibo is no exception. The light sweetness that rides out the palate helps to maximize this beer's drinkability. As always, masterfully done.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 14:18:23 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

thepeter

United Kingdom (England)

3.83/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Light Brown, great head sticking to the sides and leaving incredible lacing.
S - Tart vinious cherry, plums and nut, as well as a bit of metal adn leather
T - Slightly sour with a decent malt profile. some bitterness and nuttyness in the flavor, very clean aftertaste.
M - Thin, light bodied and a bit overcarbonated
O - The weak palate hurts this beer more than I would like. Good beer that has great other qualities.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 16:40:36 | More by thepeter

SHODriver

California

3.58/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a light brown, more of a bronze color due to the orange hue with an ample off white head that retains very well. Very well carbonated as bubbles can be seen rising from the glass constantly.
S: The nose on this one is very yeasty. There are also the smell of spices and a bit of fruitiness.
T: A little tart at the start but quickly goes a bit sour with a bit of the spice flavors. Sour on the swallow with a hint of the cacao, the aftertaste is very short and drying on the palate. As the beer gets warmer a bit of dark malt flavor comes out in the back end.
M: Full bodied but soft on the palate, carbonation is adequate without being prickly
O: I don't agree with categorizing this as a Belgian strong dark. Granted it has some Belgian influence but lacks the major hallmarks of the style. It is an interesting brown ale with a Belgian twist and for that it isn't bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 19:58:28 | More by SHODriver

litheum94

California

2.45/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

750 ml bottle. "Blend 9 Bottled 12/7/10."

Light tan head explodes out of the bottle, filling the entire glass. I had to pour this beer in stages; it seriously took me 15 minutes just to pour a quarter of the bottle. Very annoying.

Aromas of vinegar and socks. Some orange peel and spices, with a ghost of chocolate bitterness.

Wow. Where to begin? Spices go from faint to overwhelming. Is that chocolate in the background? Who knows. Sour orange zest and cardboard. Here's where it almost ended up in the drain, but I forged ahead. I was slightly rewarded, as the spices start to meld with the sourness as the beer warms. But I still call this a mess.

I don't know what the person who wrote the label description was drinking, but it wasn't this beer. There's cocoa nibs in there? Could have fooled me. Not good at all, especially considering I paid $16 for the bottle. No thank you!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 03:44:45 | More by litheum94

suspect

New York

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Duvel tulip. Split with my buddy Scotty. Blend 10, Bottled 12-8-10.

A: First off, when I popped the cap, a huge amount of carbonation smoke came out the top and it started foaming up over the top. Pours a clear medium brown color with a HUGE 4 finger head that fades over 10 minutes and leaves thick fluffy lacing.

S: Spices, malts and alcohol hit first and foremost and follows up with funky bretty wood smell and the smell of the belgian yeast rounds this hugely complex aroma.

T: Sour citrus mixed with spice and Brett yeast. It's really wonderful how well it mixes with the spices.

M: Overly carbonated yet thinner in the feel. Dry finish, no alcohol.

O: A decent shot at brewing a brown ale with Brett yeast but I'm left wanting more. This is my first JP and it's really an eye-opener for what this brewery is doing with beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 03:19:55 | More by suspect

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff!

Blend 6
Bottled 11-24-10

The beer orange hued with a thick, tan head that leaves copious lacing on the tulip glass. The aroma brings more funk and yeast - I would expect nothing else from Jolly Pumpkin. The flavor introduces more than was presented in the aroma. Cocoa emerges, along with some tasty spices. Really smooth feel with a nice, lingering funky aftertaste. Good stuff. I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 00:48:31 | More by Huhzubendah

jayhawk73

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Blend 6 Bottled 11-24-2010

Pours a nice brown/amber color w/ orange highlights when held to the light. Great two finger cocoa head which sticks around for a long time. Somewhat cloudy w/ good carbonation and great lacing. Nose is that of yeast, malt, cinnamon, orange, some funk. Very subtle nose, but really nice and balanced/complex. Taste is similar, although the cocoa makes an appearance, and the malt/funk really come out more. Very nice. Feel is fairly carbonated, with a battle between the funk and malt. Overall, this is a really unique and excellent brew. I would definitely buy and enjoy this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 00:39:59 | More by jayhawk73

ehammond1

California

3.65/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Light brown with orange and auburn edges. Thin light brown and creamy head. Regular lacing down the glass. Very pretty.

Spicy (peppery) and tangy aroma, dark fruits, some mild funk, and a light tart sourness as well. Interesting and unique--and distinctly Jolly Pumpkin.

I don't think the flavor marries quite as well as the aroma. The yeast, funk, and mild tartness dominate, hiding the dark fruits, and sweeter, maltier elements of the beer. Mild bitterness. Again, interesting, and distinctly Jolly Pumpkin, but not a beer I particularly enjoy drinking.

Light to medium mouthfeel.

An interesting wrinkle on the style, but not a beer I'm crazy about.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2011 16:41:35 | More by ehammond1

rootbeerman

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours cloudy brown with a two finger tan to light brown and leaves minimal lacing.
S: nutty sweet malt, very light chocolate. There is also a light vinegar tart/sourness.
T: tart and sweet nutty brown ale. Get sweeter, maltier, and more nutty as it warms. Also as it warms the tartness also seems to move from upfront to more on the back.
M: not as creamy as some browns but the tartness gives a nice feel.
O: bought this by accident I do like it but really meant to pick up the Madrugada Obscura stout.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 02:53:27 | More by rootbeerman