Madrugada Obscura, Dark Dawn Stout - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A sipper,but a good one. Wild yeast aroma and a tad of sour. A stout, a wild, a sour. Very brown to black coloured body and lacey. The sour, or should I better call it tartness, makes it so drinkable.The sourness does build up, so share this with another sour fan.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 22:55:19 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Burnished mahogany with generous highlights of cherry and gold. The three finger head looks like frappuccino, or one of those other coffee-based beverages that I see people drinking. The foam melts in appealing fashion and is responsible for extensive sheets of Swiss cheese-like lace... that look better on subsequent pours than they do initially.

With a single sniff, I could have identified Jolly Pumpkin as Madrugada Obscura's brewery of origin given three guesses. That's because the funkiness of the Brett overwhelms all else. I didn't say 'obliterates all else' because roasted malt is present in the background. Much less Brettanomyces would have been much better.

I'll be the first to admit that I am not a Jolly Pumpkin fan because I don't think that every(!) single(!) style needs to be injected with bugs. Personally, I love wild ales, bieres de garde, saisons and all the rest. In fact, Russian River is one of my favorite breweries. It's just that there's a limit. And these guys blow right by it.

Having said all that, I'm not surprised that my two favorite JP beers are Oro de Calabaza and Biere de Mars, both bieres de garde. That's because they're *supposed* to be funky. Madrugada Obscura, against all odds, is delicious beer too. That's probably because the roasted malt is able to stand up to the wild yeast (unlike, say, wheat malt), keeping the base style from losing its identity.

It's still a close call and I'm unable to identify any subtleties that might be coming from the roasted and/or chocolate malt. At least the beer has some sweetness and bitterness to go along with the incredible tartness. Just think of MO:DDS as a milk stout brewed with spoiled milk. Mmm...

In order to be considered good, the body/mouthfeel either needed to be full and milkshake creamy (like an American stout) or silky and expansive (like a Belgian ale). The fact that it's neither is why the score is what it is.

Even though the final score won't necessarily reflect it, Madrugada Obscura is one of my favorite Jolly Pumpkin brews, following only the ones mentioned above. While this is an interesting ride, I'm unlikely to fork over $9.99 for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2008 21:42:27 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood Brewing

A: The beer pours a very dark brown color with a rather tall off-white head.

S: As with any Jolly Pumpkin beers, this one is quite sour and lactic. There's a nice earthy funk along with sour cherries and lemon zest. A fair amount of grass and straw as well as some light oak.

T: The flavor is pretty heavy on the wood and earth notes; much more so than the nose. A bit of dark chocolate, black pepper, lemon zest, and mild fruits. The tartness and lactic character is not as pronounced on the palate.

M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.

O: There was a slight booziness that came through as I drank a bit more of this. It was still good, but not the best Jolly Pumpkin has to offer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2011 19:36:17 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up at Connecticut Ave in DC.

Blend 6 -- Bottled February 2, 2011. Served in a Jolly Pumpkin tulip.

Pours a very dark brown with a good tan head and a bit of lacing on the sides of the glass as it goes down. Bubbles and a collar around the edges throughout. The nose brings a bit of roasted malt and chocolate, then comes through with mild acidity, a bit of cherry, and some dark fruits.

The flavor pushes the acidity through a bit more, focusing on the cherry with some dark malt in the background. Very slight roast. Light-medium body with good carbonation, a touch of oak, and dry acidity through the finish. Another very high-quality brew from Jolly Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 01:43:38 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a black body with a medium-sized, short-lived beige head.

Smell: Roasted barley aroma with notes of dark chocolate, plums, toffee chips, and licorise, all with a faroff sourness.

Taste: Roasted barley with a chocolatey bent. Sourness soon follows, never allowing the distant sweetness to advance. Hints of licorice, plums, and herbs. Roast, sourness, and a bright acidity fuse together for the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Fizzy carbonation.

Drinkability: As always, it's another weird, wild ride from Jolly Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2008 19:11:17 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 360/362

Appearance: Pours a suitably obscure dark color with a magnificent foamy head that leaves an impressive pattern of lace

Smell: Oak and sour cherries dominate the aroma, but underneath one can find, plenty of roast, dark fruit and chocolate

Taste: Opens with a wild and musty flavor of oak, sour cherries and roasted/charred meat; by mid-palate, a hint of sweet chocolate sneaks in underneath; after the swallow, the lactic sour flavors dominate the other subtle aspects into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body, somewhat creamy, with a lovely delicate foamy carbonation

Overall: Lots of complexity and very interesting; Jolly Pumpkin is a master at presenting lactic sour beers in a range of styles; my first review of this beer had lower scores but re-reviewing Batch 5 (bottled 1/21/11) was an eye-opener that bumped the scores up considerably

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 02:02:42 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.91/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle I brought to share at Retsinis' tasting.

Blend 3. Bottled 1/14/11.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour and tart with dark roasted malt, cocoa, and woody aromas. Taste is much the same with fruity and cocoa flavors on the finish. There are mild amounts of roasty bitterness and acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is a solid sour stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 04:23:24 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of Hogtownharry: Poured a deep black color stout with a big light brown foamy head with some good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of roasted malt is mix with some sour bretty notes. Taste is also a mix between some roasted bitter malt notes with some sour and bretty notes which didn't mix very well IMO. Medium body with some good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I am usually one up for experiment but the mix between stout and bretty Belgian is something I could do without.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2008 20:04:17 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.6/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Shocking the palate with sharp acidity, mouth puckering tartness, and coffee-like bitterness- this takes the taste buds on a journey miles long in a single sip.

The vinous ale pours with a dark barkish brown with the haze of suspended cocoa with the thin off-white head of lattes. Light on structure, the foam falls quickly with minimal lace. A fairly still beer in short order.

Very tart to the nose with acids that range from red wine vinegar to sour grapes, limes, and under ripened cherries; all are backed by a woody and coffee-like scent.

A burst of sourness and fruit tartness invade the palate with the serious flavors of the soured white grapes, tart cherries, and lemon rind have absolutely no mercy on the palate. The odd malt back of charred grains, roast coffee bitterness, and wood never allow any meaningful sweetness or starch to support the sourness- only providing an odd bitter-sour-ashy interplay that disagrees with the palate.

The mouth feel takes the brunt of the unpleasantries. Sour fruits start with a delightful and clean acidity before the ashy roast bitterness and oak derived astringency attack the sides of the tongue, inside jaws, and back of the throat with a powdery pang of saliva sucking needles.

Sourness and stouts are a complicated blend of textures, tastes, and balances- if it's going to work, I hardly believe that it could happen in a dry beer as it would almost have to have much more residual sweetness and body than what's on display here.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 17:59:30 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch 360/362

Madrugada obscura pours an opaque black body beneath a massive head of brown foam. The head retention is excellent, and it leaves sheets of interesting lacing about the glass.

The aroma is roasty, coffee-like, and darkly chocolatey with a hint of dark-skinned fruit and a short note of sharp tartness.

Everything in the aroma is present, but it's kind of backwards: the sour twang is fuller, and the roastiness is much more subdued. It's also a bit fruity with notes of apple, white grape, black cherry, and fig. Some cocoa and dark caramel sneak in as well. A solid bitterness backs it, and it finishes dry, no doubt in part due to the acidity and the oak aging. Bittersweet chocolate and a roastiness like ash linger in the finish. Surprisingly, the alcohol is very well cloaked, and doesn't appear until halfway through the glass; and even then, only in the finish. As it warms, a delicate spiciness becomes apparent, and it's a welcome addition to the lingering finish. (You should really let this warm for 10 minutes out of the fridge before opening it).

As to drinkability, it's certainly interesting. It's also really well done, and nicely balanced and rounded. I'm not sure it has a "quantity" appeal to it, but it's very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 22:10:02 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a snifter at Bad Apple.

Figured this would go well with my awesome burger... It pours a deep dark ruby-brown topped by a short finger of tan foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, light red wine vinegar, light cocoa, and a touch of tart black cherry. The taste brings in more of the same, with the vinegar and cherry evenly matched with the chocolatey roast. At least to begin with: the tide turns in favor of the sour components, but the finish still holds hints of the fallen adversary. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation, a generally smooth feel, and a sorta/kinda dry finish. Overall, the classic sour stout, the best of both worlds. I can't see drinking this all that often, but it is indeed a fine treat on the occasions it's employed.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 16:34:39 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep, thick brown, large, fluffy brown head.

Nose is sweet and sour, imfused with tart cherries, lambic-like...

Very carbonated, with continuing sour smack on the palate. And there's plentyof cocoa and coffee at play here, ....very interesting. And imagine, here we have an American microbrewery doing their take on the Belgian's take on the Irish take on a British style.

A bit big in the booze, but not deterrent in any way...

Lip-smacking delicious. Good one!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2007 04:13:45 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Thorpe,

Beer served in a snifter, beer is dark brown hazy, tan head, small bubbles, minimal lacing, low retention, moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is a little acetic, cherries, tart, lactic, nice.

Beer is medium to light in body, woody, cherries, some Brett character, a little lactic and a little acetic brightness. I like this beer, tastes good, nice finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 20:00:06 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to AmericanBrew for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a khaki head. The aroma is brown sugar, alcohol and dark cherries. The flavor is pretty tart with some sour cherries and a lot of notes from the oak aging. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice slightly sour stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2010 00:14:00 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is jet black in color and poured with a finger high creamy tan head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are strong aromas of dark fruits in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the initial taste has flavors of dark fruits and a bit of sourness; however, these are quickly followed by roasted malts and finishes with a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The combination of fruity and roasted malt flavors is rather interesting yet it also makes this beer one that needs to be sipped slowly.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 12:50:36 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is well carbonated, it pours with a dense, four finger thick, rich milk chocolate brown colored head. The head is quite dark, more than many stouts, even Imperial Stouts. It is fairly large bubbled, but forms a rocky surface as it falls back into the beer, all the while creating a layered lace pattern on the side of the glass. The beer itself is a pitch black color, and the body seems fairly thick as I pour it. The aroma is quite roasty with rich notes of espresso, acidic black coffee, a certain smokiness, and even rich dark chocolate notes. There is some definite fruit aromatics here underneath the roast character; I get notes of tart plums, fruit forward berries, and green apples. There is also some subtle funky notes here, all I really pick out is some un-specific spiciness and a light mustiness. The dark malt, which is really the dominant note, really suppresses the barrel and fermentation character quite a bit. Quite an interesting aroma.

It is quite well carbonated and in fact froths quite vigorously as it first hits my tongue. The combination of the ample roasted malt and the funky sour bugs really make this beer quite tart, almost in a shocking manner. The roasted acidity really magnifies the other sour notes, or perhaps it is the other way around, as the roast acidity seems to be quite dominant. The beer does have a certain fullness to it, but it is fairly light overall, especially when considering the alcohol content. The fermentation derived acidity reminds me of some sort of tart fruit, perhaps a very tart plum, or even a bit of a tamarind-type note. This beer finishes like a cold, concentrated cup of black coffee; amplified roasted notes, which maintains the burnt acidity through to the finish.

As the beer warms up it becomes a bit more balanced, the roast character really seemed like a bit too much when the beer was around 50°F. A bit of chocolate begins to become noticeable, and the basic malt character seems to peak out from the dominant roast character. Some notes of burnt raisin and burn fig start to become noticeable as well. This beer really becomes much tastier when warmer, I had almost written this beer off as a roasted-coffee bomb. I do think that this beer was a bit heavy handed with the roasted malt; heavy roast character would work with a stout, but does not in a beer brewed by Ron where I want to be able to fully experience the complexity from the motley crew involved in the fermentation. The balance though when this beer gets warm is quite nice; it picks up a bit more fullness on the palate and everything starts to come together. In the end this beer strike a great balance between the fruit character (both sweet and tart), the mouthfeel, the roast character and the tart acidity.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2006 04:27:17 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Damn, this beer poured out as a beer black color, there was a fizzy head that vanished rather quickly. The smell has no hints of sour at all. All roasted and burnt malt wooden aromas. The taste is sour as hell in my opinion, it gets more sour as it warms. The beer also gives off plenty of smokey qualities along with burnt or toasted malts. It has a touch of chocolate in there too. A stunning brew for sure. The mouthfeel was smooth and lightly carbonated. Overall it was a really great pairing with the spicy French toast, chocolate dipping sause and coffee cotton candy.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 02:01:41 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent mahogany/black with 4 fingers of mocha colored head. Insane lacing & head retention was damn good as well

S: Musty & sour with hints of oak & chocolate.

T: Sour & oaky up front. Slight iron & bakers chocolate as this warms up. Chocolate asserts a little more along with warmth, as this gets closer to room temp. Finishes really bone dry with acidic notes, cherry sourness & a hint of coffee & bitter chocolate

MF: Rich & sparkly at the same time, hmmm

Drinks okay for the abv, have to ding this a little taste-wise because I'm not looking puckery sourness in my American Stouts. If they called this a belgian dark/sour I'd give it more, maybe a fullpoint taste wise. I think they were too artisinal with this one, give me a big malt profile in my stout! Only my second Jolly Pumkin beer, niether have really impressed me. Paired well with triple choclate ice cream though.

P.S. Loved the label, very evocative of the mood I think the brewery tried to set with this beer!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2007 02:51:13 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark umber-black in the glass, plently of foam, sticky lace, slowly settling over time.

Roasted malt in the aroma, and some fruity plum. I know the house yeast is in here from the taste, but it doesn't assert much in the aroma.

Roasty chocolate malt, slightly sour brett, tart cherry, leather, almonds. Rough, yet still some degree of complexity. A unique take on a Belgian Stout, hybrid qualities of American/Belgian origin.

Mouthfeel is smooth, dry with tart fruit in the aftertaste. One 750 is ok if you're prepared for a wild ride. Probably best shared, it's still a solid experimental offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2007 02:05:54 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On cask at the Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours black/dark brown, with a thick milk chocolate coloured head, thick lacing, good head retention, big bubbles.

S: JP funk, chocolate.

T: Get a start with light coffee and espresso, dark chocolate, then the lactic acidity comes in and glides the beer to it's finish. An interesting take on a stout, a throwback to the days when porter and stout where aged in oak barrels, and sent across the sea. Possibly the closest one can get to a 18th-19th century stout contemporarily.

M: Light carbonation, acidity, I'd reckon' a pH around 3-4, refreshing for a dark beer.

D: An interesting beer to have on cask, really brings the darker flavours to the limelight, sour stout, now there's an interesting idea, but it worked.

Serving type: cask

03-09-2008 20:48:23 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a black color with a 1/4" tan colored head that slowly falls to a thick surface foam.

Smell: big funkiness, roasted malts, and a bit of sourness.

Taste: big roasted malt, prunes, some tart red grapes, chocolate, and a hearty bitterness. Alcohol is warming. Definite funk and sourness lingering throughout.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, less crisp and a touch dry at the finish.

Drinkability: a slow sipping beer. One bomber bottle is enough for an evening session. Interesting and different type of stout worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 21:31:15 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle - Blend 1, 2010 - poured into tulip glass:

Pours black as night - large brown head slowly descends to a lasting cover. Trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of roasted coffee, chocolate and a sour undertone.

The taste is sweet chocolate with a sour undertone that fits the "house character" of the brewery. It has a roasty, semi-sweet, hint of sour, finish.

It is creamy and hits full-bodied - though not thick. Bubbly carbonation isn't quite "effervescent", though close.

An interesting brew - has a "stout" character with the expected sour touch of this brewery. Having had other brews from Jolly Pumpkin, it's about what I expected. A strong stout with a "funky" undertone.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 23:23:43 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, batch 998, bottled 02-15-2012. What is with the Hawaiian references on this brewery's labels?

This beer pours a deep, dark cola brown hue, with highlighted edges, and one finger of thinly creamy chocolate milk head, which leaves some Swiss cheese lace around the glass as it duly abates.

It smells of sour, somewhat musty fruit - cherry, lemon, and red grape, some mildly roasted chocolate malt, earthy yeast, and herbal, grassy hops. The taste is moderately sour black liqorice, nutty roasted malt, dry cocoa, mildly astringent wood chips, fruity plum esters, a wee bit o' musty funk, and persistent herbal, leafy hops.

The bubbles are fairly tame, but do sustain a low-level raspy edginess, the body definitely on the light side for the style, and so-so in its smoothness. It finishes off-dry, I suppose, the sourness of the fruit muffling any lingering malt, with the wood taking up the vacated space.

An interesting big-ass stout, to be sure - light, sour, hoppy, and boozy (thought you can't overtly tell on that last one). Not the norm, but enjoyable enough for its melding of styles.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 19:52:06 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared with a couple friends, served in a red wine glass.

At first sniff, I wasn't as fan. The chocolate malts, mixed with the sour element, kind of smelled like sour chocolate milk. However, as it warmed, the two elements separated to create a please tangy cocoa smell with hint of oak barrel vanilla. The flavor follows suit with a sour tang mixed with dark chocolate and a hint of coffee that relax into a balanced, bitter aftertaste.

I'd call this an American Wild ale, as I think the wild elements define this beer much more than the dark malts - I'd also call this delicious. Give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2008 17:02:44 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 750 mL bottle purchased from Capone's.

A: The ale is nearly opaque black, punctuated with red highlights. The head is thick and white, nicely lacing along the sides of the glass.

S: The nose starts off with the tart aromas so closely associated with Jolly Pumpkin. The twist here though is that the stout body manages to sneak through the wall of sourness, allowing a fuller, roasted grain scent to emerge.

T: The beer trends closely toward a stout up front, showing off roasted grains with prominent coffee and chocolate flavors. The open fermentation, however, doesn't take long to assert itself, following the initial stout body with a delicious tart flavor that is quite dry. The flavors overwhelm the stout body in the middle of the sip before allowing the darker flavors to come through near the end. The finish is equal parts burnt toast and sour pucker.

M: The stout is intriguing, giving equal time to both the tart and stout elements. If you are looking for a plain vanilla American stout, avoid this like the plague.

D: The ale is intoxiating, not from an alcohol perspective but from a uniqueness one. The flavors mix nicely, especially because I never would have expected them to.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2007 15:24:29 | More by akorsak