Madrugada Obscura, Dark Dawn Stout - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

BumpkinBrewer

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours jet black with a huge foamy head. You can tell the bugs are still working their magic.

S - Roasty, slightly sour/funky smell with a little coffee and chocolate lingering in the nose.

T - Much like the smell. The funkiness is prevalent up front but if you let it linger on the palette a few, the chocolate and coffee notes start to shine through.

M - Very dry, light on the palette, the sourness leaves a bit of a tang on the tongue.

O - Not a huge fan of the funk, it's just not my thing. But this brew was still tasty and may open my palette to styles the like.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 00:59:46 | More by BumpkinBrewer

Scalawags

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.4%

06-18-2013 15:57:44 | More by Scalawags

shand

Florida

4.01/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark Dawn is a solid sour that doesn't have all that much to do with a stout flavor-profile wise. I would have liked to see a bigger melding of American Wild and Double Stout flavors, but instead this is all acidity, tartness, sweetness, and fruitiness. It's still a very good beer, with plenty of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 03:00:17 | More by shand

doremite

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

06-13-2013 21:29:55 | More by doremite

Pat316

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.4%

06-13-2013 12:27:21 | More by Pat316

freebirdbm14

New York

4/5  rDev +3.4%

06-11-2013 18:33:20 | More by freebirdbm14

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

06-10-2013 03:06:14 | More by jarrgal

dcs1548

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A small to medium foam head, a smooth jet black color, and a very nice funky smell of chocolate, toasted cocoa, oak, and tart apples. A nice taste of cocoa and sour funk, with a nice finish of pleasant apple sourness and rich out. A very unique beer and a well crafted beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 00:01:33 | More by dcs1548

savagepm

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

06-06-2013 01:03:13 | More by savagepm

flayedandskinned

California

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Blend No. #3, bottled on 1-11-13
Poured into a standard tulip glass.

Appearance: (4.5)
Pours a thick, impenetrable obsidian with a 3.5 fingers tall, dark khaki head which lasts for quite a while, considering that this is a barrel aged, soured stout. The head even leaves some light lacing behind as it recedes.

Aroma: (4.5)
Some soft lactic acidity greets your nostrils immediately as you bring the glass to your face, taking the form of light lemon juice and fresh cherries. Some traditional Belgian abbey yeast esters are present underneath the tartness; light stone fruit and raisins. Behind the tartness and fruitiness, there is a growing malt presence; roasted coffee, rich milk chocolate and even a slight hint of smokiness. All of these diverse aromatics are encased in a subtle, barnyard funkiness from the wild yeast strains of Jolly Pumpkin. Some whispers of vanilla become apparent as the beer warms. Truly unique smelling beer.

Taste: (4.5)
A soft, lemon forward acidity lands gracefully on your palate as soon as the viscous liquid enters your mouth. This lactic acidity, with some subtle barnyard characteristics, and faint stone fruit notes, slowly transforms into a dry, slightly tart, roasted malt finish. There is a growing toasted nuttiness and creamy chocolate presence on your tongue that is left intermingling with notes of acidic, bitter coffee and vanilla from the oak barrel. A light tannin presence adds some lovely texture to the ale.

Mouthfeel: (4.5)
Robust and creamy with a medium body. Soft, deliberate carbonation.

Overall: (4.5)
An amazing, complex stout that has been very well crafted and artfully blended; There is a tart, lactic presence, but it is very restrained and allows the more refined, traditional characteristics of the stout to breathe. This beer is very complex, but it is blended perfectly to allow the drinker to pick apart and dabble in it's subtle nuances. I do find my wishing that it had a stronger barnyard funkiness, but perhaps that will come with some age on the bottle. Highly recommended.

Final score: 4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 01:55:11 | More by flayedandskinned

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

06-05-2013 00:10:33 | More by DarthGuitarHero

themilkman87

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

06-04-2013 23:43:21 | More by themilkman87

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -22.5%

06-03-2013 16:33:13 | More by JeffreyJDavis

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

06-03-2013 02:20:48 | More by mportnoy

AndyP612

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%

06-02-2013 21:43:43 | More by AndyP612

Anonymous1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.4%

06-01-2013 15:32:15 | More by Anonymous1

speedvagen

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

06-01-2013 13:41:44 | More by speedvagen

Jessenimmo

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%

06-01-2013 05:10:36 | More by Jessenimmo

ADTaber

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-29-2013 00:22:15 | More by ADTaber

GetTheYayo

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-28-2013 20:43:39 | More by GetTheYayo

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

05-28-2013 03:42:04 | More by smooth_aleing

bwarren82

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-26-2013 23:54:49 | More by bwarren82

Metalaero

New York

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-26-2013 06:15:02 | More by Metalaero

Rekrule

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

05-26-2013 02:00:49 | More by Rekrule

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4.56/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

What a pleasant surprise this beer was! Had it on-tap at a butcher shop in Union Market. Was there to pick up some bacon, ended up staying because of the good tap line-up. Picked it on a whim, and have been thinking about it ever since trying.

Was sour and full and toasty and light and refreshing all at the same time. It's the best of both worlds: a sweet desserty stout and a crisp and fresh sour all at the same time. Found a bottle at Whole Foods recently, and am looking forward to having again!

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2013 00:12:14 | More by alysmith4