La Roja - Grand Reserve - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.8/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to grub for opening up these two La Roja Grand Reserves! Side by side, La Roja GR maybe 16 or 17 month, unknown blend, and the La Roja GR 32 month in barrel! I'm just going to review the 32 month version. Day 1 of insane DrJay visit epic tasting.

Pours a crystal clear reddish orange, cleared up insanely well, thin bubbles form, almost no head, couple spots find their way to the edge of the glass. Smell is amazing, bourbon, oak, vanilla, melons and assorted fruit basket, very sour and funky middle, almost salty, tons of funk, caramel, barnyard, amazing. Taste is just as good, honey, sweet and sour, fruits, salt and vinegar, bourbon, oak, very sour and acidic lemon juice, malty, more wood, very smooth flavours, sour juice finish. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation, very sour in the finish but insanely well integrated and balanced. That long in the barrel really did some awesome things to this beer. I think I have a bottle around too, neat to see how it changes in a couple years. Thanks a ton grub!

The unknown batch was very different. Still pretty hazy, not as well integrated, and a little rough around the edges.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 16:50:23 | More by Viggo

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

330 mL bottle poured into a pint glass at cellar temperature. The bottle spewed foam upon popping the cap – just like ordinary La Roja did for me. Luckily, this time I saved it by letting the foam spill out into the glass instead of all over the counter, floor, and sink.

L – Hazy ruby-tinged amber-brown color with a 2-finger frothy tan head. Great retention and nice lacing. Extremely surprising head characteristics for a sour beer.

S – Red wine, dark cherries, musty oak, and a strong dose of vinegar acidity. Just like regular La Roja except with a little more vinegary perceived sourness and perhaps a bit more oak.

T – Wow. This is where this beer soars above ordinary La Roja. It starts off sweet with dark cherries and red grapes but almost immediately plunges into a wonderful puckering sour abyss. When the sourness finally begins to subside, a nice red wine and musty oak dryness appears at the finish.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a sharp and puckering mouthfeel, and a very sour and dry finish. Sour cherry and grape flavors as well as some oak dryness linger for a great amount of time.

O – This is an outstanding sour beer. I was impressed right off the bat with the fantastic amount of head formation and retention. I haven’t seen many sour beers with good heads on them. The aroma was fairly similar to ordinary La Roja, but the taste absolutely blew me away. It is leaps and bounds more sour than the regular stuff. Also, the time in the oak barrels gives the beer a pleasantly woody and dry finish that complements the puckering sourness very well. I’m so glad I happened to be in Ann Arbor when this was released. Phenomenal beer from Jolly Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 02:45:37 | More by BlackBelt5112203

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had a kickass JP tasting a while back... finally getting my notes typed up.

Pours a murky reddish brownish rust color. Minimal head, minimal lace. Some small bubbles stick behind in the legs.
It doesn't look bad.

The nose is super sour. And tart. Oak, sour cherries... smells great. It smells so great I shall pause and blow my nose to ensure my enjoyment level is where it needs to be. The oak is big. Little bit of vinegar. Very fucking nice.
The beer ends up being pretty dry... It starts off with a little sweetness and then dries out with some strong tartness before going full-out, over the top sour.

The body is medium, with really really light carbonation-- almost wine-like... But man does this work.

Overall-- just spectacular. This is in my top 3 from JP... I would love to get more of this one!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 04:38:33 | More by AleWatcher

mikecharley

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a 2012 stubby bottle into my new favorite glass: my Tripel Karmeliet tulip

Pours a semi-ruddy amber/ruby/copper/reddish hue with a small ring of head. Looks much like a light-ish oude bruin. It is kinda dull looking, really, but it is hard to majorly ding a beer this good for the looks, so I give it a 4.

The nose is OUT OF THIS WORLD for this beer. So much going on. Musty Cherries. Oak. Apple. Apple Cider Vinegar. Funk. More Vinegar. 4.5

Taste does one better, which is not very common for any beer. Usually it is unfortunately the other way around. The taste is such a soft vinegar. The malt is present, but not assertive. Some semi-sweet notes from the malt. Sourness does not over-power in any way. Cherries come through nicely in the flavor. One of the better beers I've sipped in a long time. 5

M/O The feel is medium, with a light amount of carbonation. I personally think it fits this style very well 4.5 Overall, one of the better beers I've had the pleasure of drinking in quite some time, and will be doing my best to seek some more out, however unlikely this success is... 4.5

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 02:08:58 | More by mikecharley

kzoobrew

Michigan

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 release

Rusted red colored beer. The body is rather murky and cloudy. A very modest one finger egg shell colored head rests atop momentarily. The head recedes quickly leaving a decent ring and scattered lacing.

Tart aroma up front. Combination of sour apple and cherries provide a pleasant introduction. A fair amount of earthy funk settles in just behind. On the back a vinous dry grape aroma develops. Soft oak develops and provides some continuity in the nose.

An assertive tartness is picked up right off the bat. A bright cherry flavor develops just behind, the transition is seamless. The oak comes into play on the midpalate. The oak dries out the flavor a bit and helps some more subtle flavor emerge. Soft earthy flavor noted on the back of the palate. A grape like tartness lingers long after the swallow.

Medium to light bodied beer. The carbonation is rather low. I did not think this would be appropriate for this particular beer but I am enjoying it very much. The finish is very dry.

La Roja is hands down my favorite beer from Jolly Pumpkin, La Roja Grande Reserve surpasses its younger version in so many ways. Intense flavor while maintaining impressive balance. Fantastic beer and highly enjoyable. Easily one of my favorite beers of the year.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 22:49:20 | More by kzoobrew

BigShel

New Jersey

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Well I have had this brew on my personal wish list for quite some time. I am happy to say it was well worth the wait.

Taste- Sour but not sweet like some fruit lambics can be. Lightly fruity with some apple and cherry. A good amount of vinegar but not so much to be off putting. Toasty with caramel and vanilla on the finish. The flavor really develops as the beer warms.

Appearance- Rusty reddish brown with a decent lacy head. It most resembles a raw cider. Plenty or carbonation, enough to rattle my 4 oz stopper placed on top to preserve the taste. The head was off white and persistent more than I expected for this type of brew.

Nose- Bourbon, Honey, Vanilla, Vinegar, fruit, Light spice.

Overall I give this beauty 4.5 out of 5.0

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 04:34:29 | More by BigShel

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This one was a blend of 12 and 14 month La Roja, purchased at the brewery store.
A bit hazy with a deep reddish amber colour topped by a solid cap of off-white foam. Pretty good head retention, with a thin skim and solid collar remaining throughout. Lacing was quite sticky, starting out as solid sheets and becoming more spotty towards the bottom of the glass. The aroma is great, lots of brett and wood character, but still mellow. A bit of tartness in the nose, along with plum and oak, faint leather. Tart, fruity flavour with some warming alcohol in the finish. Mild caramel sweetness, plus plums and apple skins, oak, tobacco, and very mild spiciness. Lingering tart berries. Medium bodied with soft carbonation, quite creamy with pronounced dryness. This stuff is simply amazing. It's mellow and balanced all around with some bold flavours. Highly recommended - I could drink this all night.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2008 22:10:55 | More by DrJay

biga7346

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a JP snifter

A - Very still, little to no head, a deep crimson rusty color, rubyish and turbid.

N - Pie cherries, old wood but very spritzy like a white wine, a rich suggestion of white pepper, charred oak; it's a very inviting smell and the JP brett aroma is nearly overpowering accented with some nutty, tart cheese aromas. There is some fruit-like qualities like lemon zest, very sour cherries.

T - Very smooth and carbonated, rolls off the palate like champagne; tart cherries and lemon zest up front, definitely not cloying in the sourness, the regular La Roja I think is almost a little more tart than this. There is some fruit juice like qualities and blackberries, a perfectly placed amount of carbonation; the oakiness and tannins is muted for just a really enjoyable, refreshing yet slightly drying sour beer.

D - Damn good stuff

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 01:40:20 | More by biga7346

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Batch 48
Pours a hazy deep amber/ copper color with a small white head. In the aroma, oaky, tart, and vinegar. In the taste, oaky, a white grape fruity tartness. A smooth and medium mouthfeel, with a dry tart green apple/ white grape aftertaste. Great tartness, dry green apples, oaky and smooth, it actually rivals Rodenbach Grand Cru.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 15:20:16 | More by OWSLEY069

xav33

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja - Grande Reserve
12 oz bottle
Recent release(04/07, batch #2(?)), blushed over 05/07
Medium pour in a tulip glass.

Poured a hazy orange brown with a small light brown somewhat lasting head with lots of carbonation. Very interesting lacing as I tipped the glass for a sip.

Smelt of strong fruity sour oranges and fresh fruit salad and moderate caramel, vinous.

Taste was upfront strong sour and moderate sweetness and light spiciness followed by a strong bitter and sour yeast on a long bitter finish.

Palate was light to medium bodied, softly carbonated, creamy to a dry finish, lightly alcoholic and puckering.

Overall, this is something special. The sour flavors are bold and striking, almost intimidating, but not off putting by any way. The aroma itself is a mystifying treat. I couldn't find myself drinking this in the winter though due to its puckering factor. It's a very odd style and sensory experience, somewhat new to me, but the balance of such strong sour flavors is simply amazing.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2007 04:19:39 | More by xav33

Westsidethreat

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks to northernbrews for this beer.

A: Very hazy and murky mahogony peach colored brew. Head is small but creamy, a flesh color with iron highlights.

S: Strawberry yogurt, fresh hay, bourbon, floral notes and pencil lead.

T: Mmmm, begins very bretty with loads of peach yogurt. Oak becomes immediately present at the front of the tongue with a zing. Then the bourbon comes quite powerfully but plays very well with the funky flavors. Interesting blend of vanilla, red apple and apricot make this an intriguing brew. Finishes spicy with lingering yogurt and a slight bitter bite.

M: Medium body with a soft yet slick mouthfeel.

D: This was so enjoyable. What an exciting and different beer for those that like both bourbon barrel beers and wild ales. Good stuff. This was better than the original.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2007 05:03:52 | More by Westsidethreat

jbtice0315

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Got to taste this 08 beer at a hombrewers Christmas party.

One of the most delicious and sour beers I've ever had. The sour will definitely knock your socks off, but it was amazing at the same time.

Had a wonderful nose.

After a few sips I could feel the lactic acid dissolving my entire mouth.

Loved it and glad that I had the chance to try it.

Would definitely have purchase some if I could get my hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 20:48:25 | More by jbtice0315

alexgash

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle served at 45 degrees F.

Muddled dark copper with a finger of frothy, glass-ascending, light khaki head. Strong aromatics of tart cherry, sour fruits, light vinegar, horse blanket, grapefruit, leather, and faintly caramel malt notes.

Sour, acidic fruits right off the bat. Intensely sour at first, but backs off a little revealing fruit peels/skins, tart cherries, and ruby red grapefruit. Gradually, caramely malt shows through, with hints of vanilla, earthy oak and alcohol. Dry, champagne-like finish. Medium-bodied with a lively feel. Refreshing and complex and delicious!

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2007 01:39:38 | More by alexgash

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Much thanks to hopdog for deciding to open this…
Appears a hazy brownish amber with a small off white head. Tons & tons of spotty lacing scattered about the glass.
Smell is of brett filled oak…f’in awesome with oak, vanilla, and whiskey.
Taste is of oaky, whiskey, vanilla in a complex brett dosed malty brew.
Mouthfeel is yeasty, sweet, fruity, oaky, and bourbonesque.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2006 23:05:20 | More by weeare138

grub

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 Biergotter Tasting, Day 1: Sour/Wild Ales. DrJay picked up the special oak aged blend for me and i purchased the 32 month aged bottle at the brewery. thanks jay!

12oz bottles. one is labeled "special oak aged blend" and was purchased in december 2007. the other is labeled as batch 48, barrel-aged 32 months. sampled side by side on nov 27/08. recorded score reflects the 32 month aged version.

32 month: 4.5/5/4.5/4/4 = 4.5
pours crystal clear deep red with only a small dense ring of very fine white bubbles clinging to the sides of the glass. no lace.

aroma is fantastic. oak, vanilla, bourbon. touch of lemon. lots of tannin and woody character. bit of dark fruit. light citrus. earthy. so much more depth than the younger batch.

wow. taste is excellent too. vanilla, bourbon, oak and tannin. lemon. bit of dark fruit. light alcohol. some vinegar too. bread. bit of cracker. leather. horse blanket funk. mixed citrus. malty and delicious

mouthfeel is good. just under medium carbonation level. just under medium body. bit of a lingering acidity.

drinkability is good. it's certainly more acidic than the younger batch and that does detract slightly from its drinkability, but overall it's still my favourite of the two. great stuff.

2007 batch: 4/4/3.5/4/4.5 = 3.85
pours hazy and slightly lighter red than the 32 month. a big fluffy white head forms, falling slowly and leaving lots of lace behind.

aroma is good. vanilla. light oak. maybe a hint of bourbon? lemon. touch of cider vinegar. white bread. cracker. light alcohol. white wine. light fruit, but nothing specific or dominating.

taste is good. light vanilla. lemon. malt vinegar. bread and cracker. there's a mix of some lighter fruit, but not nearly the depth of some of the other beers we've tasted and not as nice as it's older brother.

mouthfeel is good. just over medium carbonation level. medium body. fairly smooth even wtih the light acidity.

drinkability is great. the acidity is more restrained than in the older batch, improving it's drinkability. i'd still happily take the older batch overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 01:01:22 | More by grub

Brian700

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Kbaker for bringing this one over to my place to share.

This beer rocked my world. When tasting Jolly Pumpkin beers, the age of the beer has so much to do with what you are going to get. The beers are great fresh, great with a little age, great old...but the older they get the more they all kind of start to taste the same. The funk takes over and you get a great beer without some of the subtelties that it once had.

This one seemed to be less funk controled although it was aged for 18 months in a whiskey barrel. All the subtle flavors were well pronounced. It poured a nice amberish/brown with an off white head. The aroma was a tone of oak, whiskey, light vanilla notes. There is that funky bret/lactic presence.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation and is a pleasure to wash over the palate.

The drinkability is great. I wish I had a few 750s of this instead of a 12 oz bottle to split amongst 3 people. Nice one Spooky Ron.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2007 07:00:26 | More by Brian700

dbONE

California

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured form a capped belgian style bottle into a large belgian glass.
The head is a beautiful off white with good retention and nice lacing as the glass empites. The color emerging from the pour is a deep amber with a shade of red hiding throughout. The picks up first on the sourness followed shortly by slight cinnimon and cardamon hints. Caramel also comes through.
The palette gets a wallup of sourness. Imagine eating a grannysmith caramel covered apple at the fair. With a showing of vanilla and oak the spice is in force in the back as it dries up init sour wood.
My parents live in Dexter and I havn't forgiven them for not telling about Jolly Pumpkin when I visited a few years ago.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2008 18:02:06 | More by dbONE

beerhan

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage. 11.2 oz bottle

A-Pours a very dark ruby. Looks like very dark cider and a murky brown from the top. Carbonations does not look promising. Pours thin with a slowly rising white head that fades fast and remains thin.

S-Smell is dominated by apples, straw, chardonnay-esque aroma.

T-I was a little vary of the taste when I poured this beer but this blows the regular la roja away. There is a lot of oak up front as well as some dried fruits (strawberry and grape). It is very unique. Pleasantly sour but not overpowering.

M-The sourness of this beer varies with how long you let it sit in your mouth. It is very smooth but if you let it stay in your mouth for a long time it is like a warhead. The alcohol is nonexistent.

O-I went into this beer with no real expectations since i did not know what it would be like. I think it is fantastic and just a treat. Not quite as good as the biere de mars grand reserve but not one to forget.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 04:24:03 | More by beerhan

camil1mj

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Most recent relase. Served slightly below cellar temp.

A: An orangeish red color. A little cloudy. A small amount of white head.

S: Vinegar sourness.

T: This one is sour on the nose, followed by some vinegar and fruit notes. Very good.

M: Medium bodied and a decent carbonation.

O: A great sour. I wish this was more readily accessible.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 19:14:54 | More by camil1mj

timtheenchanta

South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very dark red with thin creamy head and webby lacing.

Very sour nose reminiscent of some grapes and some very prominent woody character that's not unlike vanilla and bourbon. Tart and fantastic smell.

The taste is less in your face than the smell. It's tart and woody like grape juice out of a wooden chalice. Hints of vanilla and bourbon and funky yeast (brett?) It finishes extremely dry and is a little bit thinner on the tongue than expected.

Fantastic beer that I would love to come across again. I haven't actually tried the La Roja yet although I can get it in Georgia and North Carolina. I was going to save this one to have them side by side but just couldn't wait. Many thanks to trbeer for this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2006 02:12:22 | More by timtheenchanta

Wasatch

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to CRJMellor for this brew.

Oak Aged - 20 months
12oz. Bottle

Poured into a chalice a cloudy darker amber/burnt brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy tannish head, some islands and sticky lacing follows. The nose is tangy, malty, slightly spicy, and a nice touch of caramel. The taste is tangy, malty, grapey, some spice thrown in, nice touch of caramel. Medium body, a pretty complex brew. Alcohol is hidden pretty well, but there is a nice warm feeling. Very drinkable, glad to have had a chance to try this awesome brew out, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2007 02:00:05 | More by Wasatch

emerge077

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Jay23 for providing the extra...2008 batch, aged 32 months.

Holy acetic acid batman! That's about all I get from this at first. The tan head bubbles up and fades fast. Nice crimson glint, with a brownish surface. Leather, honey, and tobacco in the nose, with a sharp vinegar and blue cheese element. Sharp tartness to the flavor, with plenty acetic notes lingering afterwards. Mild oak and balsamic notes. Full bodied with a nice elevating level of carbonation , keeping things dry.

Gives Rodenbach a run for the money, for sure...

08-08-2007:
Received in a generous trade with JesseDaniel...thanks!

12oz. bottle, neck label states:
"Grand Reserve oak aged - 20 months"

Pour is a deep reddish mahoghany, with an orange ring around the top where the light gets through. Body has a muddy clarity, not completely opaque. A large cap of foam rises, leaving spotty webs of lace. Very tiny particles hang in suspension.

Tendrils of vanilla, oak, coconut, and spice waft from the tulip glass. Swirling produces a sourish fruit and mild sharpness in the nose, hinting at it's strength. The alcohol is sophisticatedly hidden under levels of complexity. A touch of wild yeast is apparent in the sour funkiness.

Woody earthiness of oak, dark berry tartness, vanilla, with mysteriously mild spices lingering long after. Carbonation is present, but fairly toned down. Dry, bittersweet, with tannins similar to a red wine, but more resembling an Oud Bruin. Pepper tingles on the tongue long after the first sip. A definite sipper, it took the better part of an hour to savor this one. The empty glass still smells rich and woody.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2007 02:18:22 | More by emerge077

sweemzander

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330mL bottle poured into a tulip. Huge thanks to Matt for sharing this long time want! 07/25/2011 Bottled date. #438/439 Batch.

(A)- Pours a hazy reddish caramel amber hue. Some froth and lace.

(S)- A subtle cheesy funk with lots and lots of barrel wood. Some subtle spice. Very mild lactic bits.

(T)- Some nice tart/acidic fruits with the same superb dry wood barrel and subtle spice. Not as funky as the smell, but again, some lactic bits in there.

(M)- A nice carbonation level and balance. Has a great flow of sour fruit to dry oak and subtle funk. Very harmonious despite the heft oak barrel profiles.

(D)- Very nice stuff here. Great smell, taste, and feel with not one part standing our from the next, so it is a well balanced and integrated beer. Regular La Roja is one of Jolly Pumpkin's best beers, and this just got even better than that.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 17:00:50 | More by sweemzander

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up at the release in Ann Arbor. Shared with a few people at AgentZero’s birthday tasting. Batch number 438/439.

Appearance – Pours into my trusty tulip with a murky orange/reddish color. About a half finger of off white head is achieved with a moderate pour that leaves slight lacing.

Smell – Musty barnyard funk, cherry vinegar, heavier caramel, toasted bread, and malt than the BdM GR. Slight oak and lactic.

Taste – Similar to the regular La Roja, though heavier oak and just a bit more tartness. Overall, it is somewhat close to the regular version of this which is a bit of a disappointment. Nice cherries, earthy barnyard funk, and must. A nice tartness.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, lively carbonation.

Overall – Easy to drink, a bit more sour than the regular. However, I hope this gets a bit more tart with age.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 04:03:34 | More by SpdKilz

bigman147

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours amber almost pinkish with very solid sticky head that slowing faded to an odd lacing.

Aroma: Smells of grape wine and bourbon. Slight funky tart cherry or ripe fruit with a sherry alcohol note.

Taste: Drying and astringent. Tart apple or lemon. Surprisingly refreshing with a yeasty wheaty character. Alcohol aroma doesn't lend itself to a huge alcohol note on the palate.

Mouthfeel: Tart (astringent) with drying end. Excellent representation of style.

For drinkability, this is not something that you would sit around and session with. It was a nice tart after dinner beer. Warming alcohol and bourbon/sherry notes really make this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2007 17:36:49 | More by bigman147