Bière De Mars - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

aasher

Indiana

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

I had to pick up one of these in Ohio since for sme reason this is the only regular Jolly Pumpkin that Indiana doesn't get.

Biere de Mars pours a lighter bodied dark amber in color with a one finger, very soapy off white head. The nose is sharp and vinous. I get a good amount of lactic acidity and a red grape, tannic side as well. The flavors too, very sharp and crisp. I get a lot of sour red grape character in both a lactic and acetic manner. It also has a slight, juicy, fruity sweetness to it as well. This is definitely one of the more sour Jolly Pumpkins and definitely one of the most acidic. Because of this it isn't quite as approachable as some of their other, highly rated beers but it is a nice beer and a decent sour. Really, I would call this a darker version of Petrus if I had to relate it to anything.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 05:33:35 | More by aasher

breakingbland

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

06-09-2013 15:31:57 | More by breakingbland

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

06-04-2013 00:21:11 | More by wisrarebeer

bird22

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

06-03-2013 04:06:03 | More by bird22

MarshallBirdhouse

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

06-01-2013 21:22:55 | More by MarshallBirdhouse

macher0

Kentucky

4.51/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Blend 2. Bottled 2/28/13 Poured into a snifter.

A: Dark Amber. Barely translucent. Poured a finger head that retreats to a frothy rim and film. Awesome lacing.

S: Sour JP yeast. Cherries and blackberries. Nuts. A little raw oak.

T: Tart/sour. Oaky. Dusty. Taste follows the nose. A very slight sweetness that comes through as cherries. The flavors are subtle. The cherry flavor become stronger as the ale opens.

M: Very smooth. Moderate body. Fine carbonation. High carbonation.

O: Another great beer from JP. Very solid and consistent across the grading metrics. I strongly recommend this ale if you like Jolly Pumpkin ales and/or sours in general. I love JP beers and Biere de Mars is 2nd to my favorite: La Roja. Perfect for a rustic meal or a cold day. As the beer opens, this ale could easily be confused with a dry kriek. This is in no way a sweet beer but has a very slight sweetness from the fruit notes, likely contributed to the barrel-ageing process.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 17:10:15 | More by macher0

SDG1070

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-28-2013 00:36:16 | More by SDG1070

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-26-2013 23:54:51 | More by cnbrown313

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-26-2013 01:43:53 | More by williamjbauer

Nutwood

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-25-2013 15:53:04 | More by Nutwood

JDD419

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2013 01:30:04 | More by JDD419

BrokenStones

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-19-2013 21:19:38 | More by BrokenStones

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 21:20:07 | More by Photekut

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

05-18-2013 03:09:38 | More by hotsudge

alelover

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-18-2013 00:39:06 | More by alelover

Michigan

Michigan

4.09/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Duvel Tulip. Blend 1. Bottled 2-27-2013

A- Deep translucent candy orange glow when held to natural light. 2 finger vintage ivory head. Not fizzy but rather calm and slightly frothy.

S- Tart. Oaky. Crisp. Fresh apple. Cherries. Touch of honey

T- Juicy fruitiness. Short finish. Citrus rind in the back of the mouth. Doesn't leave many lingering tastes. Acidic. Unwashed apple skins. Quite refreshing.

M- You know that feeling when you grind your teeth after drinking too much Pepsi? Yeah, it has that. Medium body. Very little carbonation left after a short bit.

O- The look of this thing got my hopes up! I was a really good Biere de Garde, and one of Jolly Pumpkin's best offerings. I'd be interesting in trying one after a year.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 19:39:30 | More by Michigan

Zaphog

Michigan

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-17-2013 04:09:33 | More by Zaphog

Brew33

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-15-2013 18:47:29 | More by Brew33

drbenderdo

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-13-2013 00:51:33 | More by drbenderdo

dbc5

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-08-2013 16:55:34 | More by dbc5

scottfrie

California

4.36/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into tulip, bottled 3/8/2012.

A: Pours a deep amber color with a finger of fuzzy film that lasted a few minutes before falling into a faint collar.
S: Smells awesome. Tons of dry oak barrel, woody tannins, musty straw, damp earth, spicy hops, a hint of citrus, and bready yeast.
T: Tart notes of oak mixed with crackery malt, acidic citrus, and earthy spice. Gritty tannins cling to my throat in the finish and the aftertaste is faintly sweet with caramel and black tea.
M: Very dry, spritzy carbonation, gritty tannic mouthfeel, clean and crisp.
O: Another awesome sour from JP. Clean, dry, and balanced. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:48:00 | More by scottfrie

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Decided to tackle this guy fresh, as we crack a bottle stickered as “Blend 2, Bottled 2-28-2013”. It pours a ruddy chestnut coloring, putting up a one and a half finger head of active, off white bubbles, showing nice retention. This leaves spotted lacing all around the glass. A chill haze cuts the clarity, and no sediment is noted. Carbonation appears to be moderate. The aroma gives wild bite from the start. This comes as grassy, barnyard funkiness that doesn’t quite approach the sweetness of Brett, but fortified with sourdough bread, lactobacillus, white vinegar, pretzel mustard, tobacco leafiness, rummy booziness, wet lemon rind, and penicillin medicinals. To balance are lighter, more creamy pale malts, lightly contributory caramel malts, acetaldehyde, nutmeg spiciness, mango sugars, and cabernet dryness. Powdered florals come out with warmth. Our first impression is that the flavoring shows good funk, as the nose would suggest, but with much more general mildness to it. The taste opens with all of that glorious yeasty funk, with basement musk, pale and muddy maltiness to base, light floral hops, citric rind bitterness, soft yeasty metallics, dried grassiness, and grilled asparagus. The middle comes to a peak with pale and crystal maltiness to cleanse, floury malt inclusions, white wine fruitiness, and a returning bite of winey oakiness, under ripe strawberries, and green plums. Washing through the finish are watered clovey phenols, mild soapiness, green vegetals, sticky yeasty funk, vinyl plastics, mineral water, soft white flour, slick metallics, and more of that bright lemony zest. The aftertaste breathes of raw lemon bite, musk, chardonnay grape skins, moldy woodiness, light fusel booziness, parmesan cheesiness, raw flour pasta, and that continued and drying soured yeastiness. The body is medium, and the carbonation is medium. The mouth is left wet and crisply coated at first, with eventual lemony pucker and soft woody dryness down the hard palate. Otherwise the slurp, sip, and smack are all there, but froth and creaminess are a bit lost. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was its aroma. Things were just so funky, creamy, musky, bright, soured, and grassy, all while sitting in the nice malty base of a country ale. The flavoring followed nicely, as did the sip, but the big boldness of the nose was lacking. All the components were there, but they were just not as robust as we were hoping through the flavoring, or as creamy as we would have liked on the sip. Regardless, as a whole this is a fantastic take on the style, and a great showcasing of the tricks, punch, and excitement that Jolly Pumpkin has up their sleeves.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:17:52 | More by TheBrewo

Hugonaut13

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-06-2013 01:30:16 | More by Hugonaut13

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-05-2013 01:09:48 | More by outoffocus

superspak

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass; Blend 1, bottled 3/1/2011. Pours lightly hazy reddish copper color with a 1-2 finger foamy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big tart cherry, sour apple, raisin, caramel, clove, pepper, toast, oak, hay, leather, red wine, grass, funk, vinegar, and earthy yeast spiciness. Incredible aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast notes with moderate malt balance and barrel character. Taste of tart cherry, sour apple, raisin, caramel, pepper, clove, toast, oak, hay, leather, red wine, grass, vinegar, funk, and earthy yeast spiciness. Moderate fruity tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart fruits, caramel, clove, pepper, toast, hay, grass, oak, leather, red wine, vinegar, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity and balance of fruity/spicy esters with moderate barrel character and malt balance; with a great tartness/sweetness balance and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy, slick, and moderately acidic mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an incredible wild Biere de Garde style! All around great complexity and balance of flavors; and very smooth to sip on with moderate acidity. An extremely enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 05:03:54 | More by superspak