Bière De Mars - Grand Reserve - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

joshuaseresse

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from auroracrisis, thanks for the trade Ben! Batch #472/473, 11.2oz, bottled on March 22, 2011. Split with my girlfriend and poured into snifters:

A - Pours a deep, dark brown with ruby tints throughout. Semi thick foam ring around the edges with sworls of foam in the middle. Numerous bubbles cling to the sides of the glass. Light lacing.

S - Green apples, grape skins, pears, touch of peaches, oak and a bit of funk. Little bit of citrus notes like lemon and orange peel. Not as funky as I expected but what can I say, this is my first Biere de Garde.

T - Really smooth and nice funk tartness. Grapes, pears, peaches and a bit of lemon zest. Oak and a tartness usually coming from cranberries comes through nicely. Oak and mixed berries also follow, while green apples round out the flavors. Really well done.

M - Smooth and velvety. There is a touch of drying toward the end, but I think that comes from the tartness. The tartness also grips the jaw. I think this is the best part of the brew.

O - I'm really happy with the one. Great smell, flavor and fantastic mouthfeel. I've had a couple offerings from Jolly Pumpkin and this is by far the best one yet. I'd really like more to age...or just drink right away. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 05:54:01 | More by joshuaseresse

BrokenStones

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-19-2013 21:34:31 | More by BrokenStones

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -14.4%

05-19-2013 18:00:40 | More by tom10101

dbc5

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-08-2013 16:56:50 | More by dbc5

SaisonRichBiere

Michigan

4.79/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a stubby 11.2 oz bottle into a Jolly Pumpkin snifter.

Appearance- Pours a dark, cloudy reddish-brown with only enough bubbles to rise, and disperse to the edge of the glass. Looks very aged for a beer.

Smell- Tangy pungent sour fruit followed by robust oak, caramel, allspice, burnt Santo Marron wood, candied figs, red currant jam. Very complex aromas akin to a very long oak-aged spirit.

Taste- Tart citric acid blasts the palate- like sour candy. Followed up with cherry wine, sweet grapes, prune, tobacco, maple sugar, oaky tannins, earthy cinnamon and cardamom. This finishes quite dry for how tart it starts off.

Mouthfeel- Very dense and smooth with very little carbonation.

Overall- A very unique brew that has complexity written all over it. Justifiably so, given its lengthy aging. Reminiscent of a tawny port, or a fine cognac in all of its complex character. Not to be missed if you are afforded the rare opportunity to try this. I will look forward to future bottlings if they do them again.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:10:56 | More by SaisonRichBiere

jefferyc

Michigan

5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-06-2013 18:00:38 | More by jefferyc

szmnnl99

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-05-2013 03:09:45 | More by szmnnl99

Benny3000

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

04-29-2013 15:56:37 | More by Benny3000

tectactoe

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor for the '13 Biere de Mars Grand Reserve release. It pours a cloudy mix of deep copper that cascades from a dense and red-tinted brown at the bottom to a lighter, nearly amber color at the top. The thin, grey-hinted head is small, most likely due to the pour, but it still leaves some nice, wet, dripping lace in its path. Very interesting gradient of color, especially when held up in front of a light.

One whiff and mmm.... You can immediately smell the tartness of the beer. A good amount of acidity jumps out at the nostrils, attached with plenty of hearty vinegar notes all around. The vinous aromas with this one are strong, too; tons of grapes, oak, and tannin. Successive whiffs draw out more fruit aside from grapes; cherries and apple skins are relevant as well. There's a mild, horsey and barnyard aroma that prances in eventually, revealing a mild funk amongst the tart brigade. I would've like the aroma to "pop" just a little more than it did, but it still did a fine job of getting my taste buds excited to finally bring it to my lips.

The first sip stings the taste buds and gets the saliva glands working - quite sour, with a heavy initial tartness; it has got me puckering and smacking my lips right away. Vinous notes are even heavier on the palate with plenty of oak and barrel flavors, tannin, grapes, and a mild hint of alcohol. Vinegar is almost equal in strength as it comes charging in right away, contributing to the brash tartness of the brew. Acidic to the core while remaining devastatingly drinkable.

Just like with the aroma, allowing this beer to open up reveals some more complexity and more fruits; cherries, sour lemon juice, tart green apples. The problem is, I finished this one pretty quickly - very easy to put down. The tail end reveals some moderate funk; wet hay, soaked wood, and a slight musty barnyard, but it's safe to say that this beer is more heavily pronounced on the sour side rather than the funky side. Thin-medium bodied, lively with carbonation, giving an almost crispy mouth feel. The finish is bone dry, ending with a sharp tartness, lightly vinous oik, and very tame funk.

Phenomenal brew from Jolly Pumpkin. Excellent sour. I was sad to look down at my glass and find that it was empty so quickly. I couldn't keep this stuff away from my mouth. It's exceedingly sour and tart, but still to a highly drinkable degree - you won't have to worry about it burning a hole into your stomach. Light funk is a welcomed accompaniment to the complex tart and fruity flavor profile. The vinous and vinegar notes were lovely. I wish this was released more often, but I heard it spends 24 months in barrels... I guess you can't really argue with that.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2013 11:41:54 | More by tectactoe

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

04-28-2013 20:41:31 | More by JohnnieNepal

decadance

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

04-28-2013 15:21:27 | More by decadance

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

02-15-2013 15:07:36 | More by ROBSTARR

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -8.7%

02-06-2013 15:15:17 | More by DarthGuitarHero

Spider889

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -3%

01-20-2013 01:42:14 | More by Spider889

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3%

01-12-2013 19:11:10 | More by spycow

Sean9689

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3%

01-09-2013 15:20:00 | More by Sean9689

chugalug06

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Zero head comes from the caramel colored brew. Kinda boring. But it has nice clarity.

Spicy apple vinegar. Slight kick of peach. Black tea has a bit of a presence too.

Sour, but not as much as it's little brother... Very smooth and flat. Very few bubbles. Not sure I like BdM GR without carbonation. Very wet.

For what I expected, BdM GR let me down... I was expecting amazing-ness and it was only mildly great. JP nailed it, but it needs more carbonation and a bigger bottle ;) Overall-4.38

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 02:58:30 | More by chugalug06

gaberoller

4.25/5  rDev -3%

08-17-2012 08:39:55 | More by gaberoller

biga7346

Michigan

4.73/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2011 poured into JP snifter

A - Really deep chestnut color, oil soaked wood like wood stain, firm like most JP beers, relatively flat.

N - Gourd or pumpkin, grape skin, wet cement, white peppercorn and spices like cinnamon, very vinous, tart apple, lemon juice and lemon zest, tanginess; as it warms there's some phenol-like, medicinal notes, wet hay, some nutty cheese.

T - Wonderful finish of soaked wood and tart grape skin, healthy punch of acidity, fresh citrus, more oily and acidic than La Roja GR; subtle floral notes, rose hips, dirt, soda water, oak barrel. Mouthfeel is dense, chewy for a JP beer, good carbonation after more than year in the bottle.

D - Great complexity, the color alone is one of the most unique I've seen.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 18:55:00 | More by biga7346

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark red almost brown with little head or lacing.

Aroma is apples, sour berries with oak.

Very sour up front with more apple and pear notes. A little bit of fruity sweetness creeps in and it finishes with a puckering dry oak presence. More sour than the typical JP offering.

On the lighter side in body with low carbonation.

Very enjoyable although the extreme dry sourness may limit drinkability. A small pour was excellent though. Definitely different than the typical JP offering and offering some surprising gueuze characteristics at times.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 16:49:54 | More by jmarsh123

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

04-16-2012 17:37:20 | More by deapokid

bauermj

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

04-11-2012 03:47:13 | More by bauermj

Khazadum

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

03-31-2012 23:08:20 | More by Khazadum

DovaliHops

California

4.8/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle. Bottled 2-19-10...A tad bit over 2 year old. Pours an almost-clear, ruby-amber color with a hint of brown. Very minimal white head. Scent is...out of this world! Such a great smelling beer. JP always has a distinct aroma to them...that lovely barnyard funk they specialize in...with just the slightest tart aroma. This is that same scent, but kicked up a notch. A huge amount of oak with some sweet bourbon (I'm not sure if the Grand Reserve edition is aged in bourbon barrels, but I get a hint of it). Sweet cherries and some acidic notes. A bit of spice as well. Very lovely and complex. Taste is just as complex... Sour cherries up front. Followed by lovely wood/oak flavors and some lingering bourbon sweetness. ABV is so well hidden, it's ridiculous. Not as acidic as the nose is, but definitely leaves a sticky feeling on the gums and teeth. Mouthfeel is very dry with a sticky finish. Drinkability is very high. I could sip on this beer all night. Overall, this was such a great experience. It should be a crime to bottle this fantastic beer in such small bottles. This one is meant to be in 750ml and shared amongst friends. Amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 06:36:47 | More by DovaliHops

cbeer88

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle poured into Duvel glass. 3/22/11 bottling (1 year old)

Appearance: Dark amber in color, almost no head to speak of, just a few bubbles. No lacing, and only a thin outside rim lasts throughout the drink.

Smell: Apple, cherry, nebulous sour fruit, and oak.

Taste: Very tart lactic bite up front with a smoother fruity blend on the aftertaste. Oak, a hair of sour apple cider, wood, and some brett-y/barnyard funk.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and low carbed. Very dry and puckering.

Drinkability: Low - it's delicious but this bottle size is perfect. 750 of this would be too much.

Overall: A very nice "true" sour. Whereas most JP beers are more funk than sour, you wouldn't think twice about it if somebody blindly poured you this beer and told you it was from Russian River. Tart and complex. This is JP's highest rated beer, and with good reason.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 00:29:37 | More by cbeer88