Madrugada Obscura, Dark Dawn Stout - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

dciBA

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Nice loud psshhh upon popping the cap. Foam started spilling out immediately. After quickly pouring into my tulip the beer was black with billowing caramel head. Classic stout look from a not so classic take on the style.

The nose has all the usual stout smells. Cocoa, milk chocolate, and roasted coffee beans all coming into play. What sets this beer apart from your usual imperial stout is the classic Jolly Pumpkin funkiness. The brett funk mixes in perfectly with the other smells. Very unique nose, but very appetizing from brett fans.

Taste follows smell, with the brett being more dominate than you would expect. Despite the funk coming so hard, the other flavors are still shining through quite well. Lots of dry cocoa, and freshly brewed coffee working with the musty barnyard flavors surprisingly well. I wasn't sure what to expect flavor wise with this brew, but it works perfectly.

Here's where this one doesn't quite work. The carbonation was way too high initially so I let it sit for a while. After it flattened out a bit the flavors and mouthfeel were much more suited for the style. The finish is also quite dry which is a little odd. Both high carbonation and dry finish are classic Jolly Pumpkin I just think they could have adjusted things for this brew. Overall still a very tasty and unique beer. Well worth seeking out for fans of the funk looking from something a little(alright maybe a lot) different.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 00:11:23 | More by dciBA

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%

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

themind

New Jersey

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

A sour stout...well I am not a big sour fan but this beer is interesting. As I was drinking it I was battling myself in a love hate relationship with this beer. It's faily creamy and has a decent stout background but up front in your face is the sour. I have to give this a 4 across the boards simply because it's a well made beer with a good mesh of flavors. Would I buy again? I am not sure since sours are not my thing.

Bottom Line: Well crafted beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:05:17 | More by themind

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-20-2013 04:35:51 | More by Kmat10

beergorrilla

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-18-2013 22:40:53 | More by beergorrilla

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.25/5  rDev -16%

05-18-2013 20:54:17 | More by Photekut

Rand_ale_Thor

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-18-2013 15:35:43 | More by Rand_ale_Thor

jtladner

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2013 14:00:56 | More by jtladner

6thstreetbrewpub

District of Columbia

2.5/5  rDev -35.4%

05-17-2013 23:50:40 | More by 6thstreetbrewpub

HarmonMW

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-14-2013 01:18:42 | More by HarmonMW

drbenderdo

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-13-2013 00:57:53 | More by drbenderdo

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.54/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 981
Bottled 02-07-2012

P: A pitch black abyss graced by a cappuccino micro bubble head that dissipates to a wake of air bubbles hiding the beast beneath.

S: Typical JP funky yeast backed by rich bakers chocolate and cocoa powder. The aroma reminds me of a caramel Cadbury egg. Sweet prunes, berries and dry white grapes.

T/M: Super sour and acidic start that is flanked by rich cherry brownies, chocolate covered berries, coffee liqueur and cookie wafers. Moderate acidic zesty body that prickles the tongue.

O: An interesting beer that challenges the palate and questions the stout boundaries. I wasn't sure about this at first and it took it a while to sink in. I like this for its complexity but not really something I would drink often.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:59:02 | More by Hopswagger

bbadger

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

05-11-2013 16:16:06 | More by bbadger

macher0

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft to a snifter.

A: Very dark brown. Slight head that quickly retreats to a faint amber rim. No lacing. An amber layer when the glass is swirled. Highly viscous.

S: Not fragrant at first, then as the beer opens and head space becomes available in the snifter, the aromas become more apparent. A lot of sour yeast a little oak.

T: This is where this beer takes off. Multiple layers that work very well together. Oak. A little sour. A little bitter. Espresso. The dark roasted malts of a traditional stout are apparent. Boozy.

M: A full bodied beer. Low carbonation . Fairly smooth considering the bitterness. A minor lingering taste from the bitterness.

O: I wanted to try this for a while and I really dig JP. I was lucky and caught this gentle beast on tap at Winos in Bowling Green, KY. A very interesting beer with a lot going on. And it works. Defiantly a sour, defiantly a stout. More stout than sour. Nice oak balance. The booze comes through big time.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2013 01:55:41 | More by macher0

SaisonRichBiere

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -16%

05-02-2013 03:05:24 | More by SaisonRichBiere

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

04-29-2013 05:39:07 | More by Kelp

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-27-2013 16:17:31 | More by Jason1337

MSandahl23

Indiana

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-25-2013 13:30:15 | More by MSandahl23

JDD419

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-21-2013 22:59:12 | More by JDD419

PatGreer

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%

04-14-2013 21:55:38 | More by PatGreer

Haybeerman

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-13-2013 17:52:05 | More by Haybeerman

claytong

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

04-13-2013 01:43:54 | More by claytong

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.06/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

hard to put that farmy funk into a darker beer sometimes. it can get crowded out by the roasty malt, but not in this case. here, its exactly dialed, and given BA's penchant for funky brews, im shocked this doesn't have higher scores. it pours an intimidating black color with a creamy thick mocha head with fine retention. the nose is almost sour, bretty maybe, definitely strange on the yeast front. that hits me before its intensely dark roasted malts do, which have a touch of smoke to them and quite a bit of attitude. the flavor is quite the opposite, finishing with that wild ale taste and starting with the bitter barley. there is some vanilla, charred oak, and almost fungusy earthiness to this. its dense in feel, but the carbonation is there to make it a bit more drinkable. still, it leaves a considerable residue in the entire mouth, reminding me of that dark funk that was. you could blindfold me and give me this, and I could tell you it was made by jolly pumpkin. not sure what it is, but they have a distinct character to their beers that is entirely their own. I really enjoyed this, and will anticipate my next bottle with much vigor. super stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 18:40:02 | More by StonedTrippin

Hallertau

Wisconsin

1/5  rDev -74.2%

04-12-2013 02:25:49 | More by Hallertau

Dope

Massachusetts

3.21/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Blend 11, 2-17-2011

A: Gusher bottle. Pitch black pour with an enormous foamy, frothing light brown head. Head fades very slowly. Great head retention and thick swathes of lacing.

S: Lots of smoke. Some tart dark fruits to boot along with some char.

T: Lots of tart cherries mixing in with char and smoke. Pure sour dark fruits in the middle. Acrid, burnt wood and smoke in the finish. Lingering, drying campfire aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied, very dry.

O: A sour stout. Pretty much tastes like rotten fruit that's been sitting in an ashtray, unfortunately. Not very appetizing if I'm honest.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:19:59 | More by Dope