E. S. Bam - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml served in a Duvel tulip.
Batch 1063/1064 Bottled: 04-05-2012

A - Murky brown body with 3 fingers of moundy head slowly collapses into several different textures of foam. Excellent retention with minimal lacing.

S - Fresh fruity esters, green apple, watermelon, lemon, green grass, dry funky yeast, earthy and spicy herbal aromas. Salty wood and white balsamic come out as it warms.

T - Moderate grassy and zesty citrus hops add aggressive bitterness that pushes against a mild grain malt. Hints of berry fruit and tannins coat the back of the tongue. Salty and woody with a dry bitter finish.

M - Moderate prickly carbonation, medium body, dry finish.

Well it's definitely hoppy. More so in the flavor than the nose. Very complex nose though. Crunchy herbal dryness. The hops are right on the edge of choking all other flavors out. I haven't had the original so I can't compare the two. If you feel like a hopped up Saison this should feed your craving well.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 23:58:40 | More by StaveHooks

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazed amber with a huge cap of foam that climbs over the lip of the glass despite a gentle pour.

Nice lemony tartness, coarse grassy bitterness, slightly salty sea air aroma, brett funk, leather. Firmly bitter.

Despite the "more malt, more hops" claim, I find regular Bam more expressive. However, this is still a serious farmhouse ale and the amount of flavor packed into a sub 5% beer is pretty remarkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 20:19:21 | More by bump8628

claspada

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a very hazy medium copper with some orange tints. Initially a massive khaki-colored head that slowly settles down into a small foam cap and leaves a decent amount of lacing behind.

Aromas begin with some earthy, floral and citrus hops reminiscent of orange pith. Alongside this comes a good amount of rustic Farmhouse funk. Some toasted pale and bready malt in the background emerges as it warms.

The tastes follow the nose with the hops being a little little less pronounced. Main flavors are earth, Farmhouse yeast spice and funk and a bit of toasted Enlgish style bready malt.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to high amounts of carbonation. Finish has a solid dryness accompanying the funk, with a substantial body for much a low ABV beer; something I always greatly appreciate.

Overall this was very flavorful and complex; a lot going on and certainly enough to keep me occupied for half the bottle that I split with a friend during our Sushi BYO dinner.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 15:35:18 | More by claspada

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Somehow, I feel like I've been taken back hundreds of years as the first sip of this beer takes on the character that I'd expect in those early versions: Raw rustic yeast elements, strong hop character, and moderate strength; yet not lacking complexity.

Muddy copper in color, the rusticity begins with the eye. Opaque with its yeasty haze, the beer builds a rocky eggshell white head that's as creamy, firm, and withstanding as you'd ever want it to be. It's a true Belgian ale appearance through and through.

Weedy and acidic hops work over the nose with the scent of grapefruit pith, lemon, muddled grasses, and under ripened grapes. An underlying brine of sea air, saddle leather, burnt plastics, and horse hair character create complexity and intrigue that extends well into taste.

Where the most terse of malt character was claimed in the aromas, the taste starts off with a cracker-ish taste of bread crust and baked barley before turning dry and giving the flavors over to the hops and yeast. Acidic flavors limes, grapefruit skins and pith, fresh cut straw bridge the taste of hops to the taste of fruit-forward esters and spicy yeast phenols. The plastic taste approaches almost-smoke and medicinal notes before steering toward the brine of mussel shells and iron-like snap. Turning from fruity to sharply acidic bitterness in finish, the beer closes with fleeting malt taste and spicy hop aftertaste.

Medium-light in body, the light malt presence allows the carbonation to play out on the palate with a semi-creamed, but mostly prickle feel. But the finish ushers in slight woody dryness, resinous dryness, and minty alcohol warmth. Only the bitterness of hops and a memory of brine last into an extended finish.

With so much earthen character and unrestrained mineral and wild yeast character, I appreciate the value that Jolly Pumpkin places on the raw taste of Saison- done the upper Midwest way.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 05:33:05 | More by BEERchitect

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 1058. Bottled on 04-02-2012.

A: Pours a very hazy to cloudy dark golden yellow to orange to copper in color. The beer has a three finger tall dense foamy light beige head that slowly reduces to an inch thick cap towards the center of the beer - this beer has great head retention properties. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: There is a light to moderate amount of earthiness along with yeast spiciness and some notes of sour. The strength of the sourness in the aroma gets much stronger as the beer warms.

T: The taste starts out earthy with quite a bit of yeast spiciness. After that the sour notes set in, and persist through the finish. The sour flavors are stronger than those in the smell and also strengthen as the beer warms. Light hints of some grainy/wheaty malts.

M: Just heavier than light bodied with heavy amounts of carbonation. Very dry, especially in the finish.

O: This beer is delicious and refreshing - the spices, sourness, and dry finish make this beer a very easy drinking beer. While it is a big bottle, the low ABV and easy drinking feel make this one no problem to put away.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 18:50:53 | More by dbrauneis

homebrew311

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at whole foods. Pours a hazy orange with generous amount of fluffy white head. Tons of lacing. The aroma is somewhat subdued featuring waves of clove spice along with some earthiness and funk. The taste is more pronounced with waves of tart citrus and spIcy cloves. The body is light with high carbonation. Overall, a nice and refreshing Saison with a moderate funk level.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 00:29:31 | More by homebrew311

hosehead83

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a big 750ml bottle into a wine goblet.
Deep, cloudy apricot in color, with a super-thick, rocky head of foam. Beautiful.
Aroma-Herbal, spicy yeast
Taste-Big onrush of herbal hops, earthy spices. Complex, herbaceous flavor. Incredible character for what could be described as "session" Farmhouse ale due to the only 4.7ABV. Lacking only in the sour/tart flavor that is JP's signature, this offering is a pleasant diversion.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 15:58:11 | More by hosehead83

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Hazy orange - copper with a massive white head that settles slowly. Decent lacing sticks to the glass. Complex aroma of grass and citrus, light hay and mustiness, pepper and floral notes.

The flavor is somewhat less attractive than the nose and is overwhelmed by bitterness; some pithy citrus and floral hops; subtle hay and grass. Hints of tartness and funk, pepper and other spices, but bitterness dominates and leaves things feeling a little bland and one dimensional.

Medium light bodied with assertive carbonation. Clean drinking, crisp, with a dry finish. Not bad butb ultimately, not tremendously interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2012 13:32:52 | More by tobelerone

SHODriver

California

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

A: pours a nice shade of hazed bronze with an ample fluffy and rocky slightly off white head with excellent retention in a duvel tulip
S: smells of citrus, green apple skin, some funk and a bit of spice
T: bready malt, funk, peppery spice slight citric hop kick, some floral notes, and a bit of lemon zest. swallow brings more citrus hop and spice plus a soft tartness.
M: light with soft but prevalent carb, sightly drying buy some juicy hop prevents it from being overwhelming
O: another tasty offering from Jolly Pumpkin. just enough funk to keep things lively without making you think that you're sucking on a horse blanket. not a lot of malt after the initial hit but enough to keep everything else from taking over. Definitely meant to be drank fresh with the extra hops but I guess you could give this one a bit of time to let the hops die down a bit.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 10:19:59 | More by SHODriver

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a capped bomber into a tulip- pours a murky amber/brown color with an HUGE head (more head than beer when pouring for me). I got a couple ounces into the tulip before the head was already at three fingers. Good retention just very strange- dissipates quicker in the middle while leaving a concave wall of lacing.

Smells pretty funky and hoppy. Nice combination.

Taste is consistent with smell- hard to believe this is below 5 abv. Tartness up front, followed by a nice light malt sweetness, then some piney hops, finishing semi-tart and kinda dry. I like it.

Mouthfeel is great- light body, full carbonation. If you're not into bold funky flavors, stay away. Otherwise, go for it!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 02:01:19 | More by Hopdaemon39

daledeee

Iowa

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Been trying the Jolly Pumpkin line. This is another 750 ml bottle.

It poured a dark cloudy orange with a wonderful fluffy white head that absolutely does not go away.

Nose is fruit, hops, earthy.

Taste is pretty strong with Belgian hops intensity. The funk is not as apparent as others. Citrus rind is around too.

Mouth feel is nice and carbonated.

I was a tad disappointed with this one. I think it is what they intended to do but not to my taste for the style. Could be personal.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 00:09:58 | More by daledeee

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into tulip. Batch 1037/1038, bottled 3/6/12.

A - Pours an apple cider color with a huge pillow of off-white head that towers above the rim of the glass. Lacing paints the glass.

S - Smells of citrus, coriander, and some serious grassy hops. Just enough funk to round it out.

T - Lime up front combines with the funk to give a very tart flavor. Grass and bitterness on the finish, but the aftertaste is clean. Doesn't leave the strong grass flavor in my mouth that other hoppy saisons/blondes do. Impressive.

M - Intense carbonation and a light body. Refreshing.

O - This was the perfect beer for such a hot day. Surprisingly tart with a great hop bite. Great combination of two of my favorite styles: saison and hops. A little bit pricey for a low alcohol beer, but I thought it was fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 02:51:19 | More by NoLeafClover44

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Two fingers worth of densely packed cloud like white colored head with a bit of a rocky top... Excellent retention... A lot of small bubbled very rapid paced swirling carbonation... The color is a pale golden copper... A bit of lacing clings tot he sides of the glass...

S - Fresh apples... Golden raisins... Pears... A slight vinegar component... A little bit of funk... A little bit of Belgian yeast... Bread pudding... Very pleasant and fairly complex aroma...

T - Surprisingly bitter and tart... Lots of grassy notes.. A bit of Belgian yeast... Some farmhouse funk... Some light tannins... Some lemon zest...

M - Medium bodied... Slightly lush... Limited carbonation... The finish is a touch dry... Very interesting mouthfeel and as complex as I've encountered...

D - The whole doesn't quite equal the sum of the parts... There's lots of good going on, but the it doesn't quite come together in a coherent fashion... Is it a sour beer... Is it a Saison... I'm quite not sure and that takes away from the overall experience...

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 02:57:34 | More by philbe311

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Poured a cloudy amber-brown color with a finger's breadth of foamy eggshell head, moderate retention and lacing. Bready malts and yeast in the aroma, fruit and spice. Taste of bready malts, woody, lightly spiced fruit and potpourri, vaguely zesty, more sweet than tart, a bit of grassy funk, fairly bitter in the finish. Medium body, generously carbonated. An okay brew, nothing amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 13:06:55 | More by Rifugium

n2185

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a murky brown with three fingers of beige head that fades into a rocky cap with good lacing

S: there are dry, funky barnyard aromas up front followed by sweet citrus and grass notes from the hops. Smells great.

T: again, those funky farmhouse notes strike first. There are some grass flavors along with slight citrus from the hops.

M: medium-light body with medium carbonation, this beer is light and drinkable.

O: a good beer overall, though I'd like more hop presence in the flavor. Still, it smells great and is nice and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 23:24:07 | More by n2185

bsp77

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Tulip.

Appearance: Murky orange with a giant dollop of head and fantastic lacing.

Smell: Very musty and dry, with barnyard funk, tea, toast, pepper, and light citrus.

Taste: Extremely musty, with wet blanket, dirt, wood, burnt toast, tea, pepper and other spiciness. That sounds terrible, but certainly is not. Fairly bitter finish, with a light tartness throughout.

Feel: Light, refreshing body with high carbonation. Bone wrenchingly dry.

Overall: This refuses to be placed in a style, with elements of a Saison, a Bitter, and a Wild Ale. What it is is extremely refreshing and delicious. And it is under 5%? Wow!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 21:44:37 | More by bsp77

gatornation

Minnesota

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

from batch 1050 bottled on 032012

A- pours a hazy light copper with a khaki 2 finger head and copious amounts of lacing

S- was grassy musty funky floral and hoppy

T- was musty funky slight sour fruit with spice and hops lemon peel and pepper bready malts wet grass

M- dry and spicy hoppy and crisp sourness on the palate

O- fresh dry and crisp easily drinkable slightly sour delicious

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 21:10:53 | More by gatornation

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Unfortunately purchased a year old bottle 3/27/2011
Into tulip

A- Slightly murky dark copper pour. Three finger soapy, sticky, chunky off white head that deflates leaving gobs of lacing everywhere.

S- Sweet malt, bright floral hops, citrus (grapefruit, mandarin oranges and lemon zest) Grape skins, Belgian yeast and a nice earthy presence.

T- Full on Bam Biere assault, the extra hops and malt really stand out making this a chewy and dry monster of a good beer.

M- Light and refreshing, huge carbonation.

O- I really wish this was a fresher version, as good as this beer is I can only imagine it's a millions times better fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 23:08:04 | More by korguy123

webmanspidey

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a pint glass. This is a murky brown color with a nice inch or so of fluffy head. The smell combines some funky sourness, lemonheads, and light grassy hoppiness. The dominant flavor in the taste is bitter citrus and lemon, blended in with a slight funkiness. This is very drinkable with little alcohol presence. Mouthfeel is creamy.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 00:42:17 | More by webmanspidey

onewetpaw

Tennessee

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my JP tulip glass.

A- Funk predominates. Gentle fruity notes reminding me of belgian yeast esters are present. I don't detect a hop nose.

A- Dark golden slightly hazy. Brilliant large white head.

F- Awesome dry drinkable wild beer. Complex brett character along with a strong sourness. Fruit notes echoing the nose are present.

M- Highly carbonated. Dry and cleansing on the palate. Drinkable without being overly thin.

O- Love this one. The JP house flavor is there in spades. I've brewed a clone that approximates this, but the original remains elusive.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 00:16:21 | More by onewetpaw

draheim

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle (batch 775 - bottled 4/7/2011) into a saison glass. Cap comes off w/ a vigorous pfft!

Creamy foam peeks out of the mouth of the bottle before I can even start pouring - because I'm writing this instead. Reminds me of Saison-Brett in this regard.

A gentle pour yields a glass about evenly divided - the bottom half slightly hazy amber liquid, the other half a dense creamy off-white head that leaves behind a nice coat of lacing as it slowly recedes. Despite the rich head, not much carbonation rises from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma is Belgian yeast, spice, citrusy hops... as it warms more fruity esters, funk and a hint of wet hay become evident.

Taste is mostly a balance between Belgian yeast and ample bitter hops. A little apple/pear and subtle spice, perhaps ginger. As it warms a soapy, slight band-aid taste emerges. Generally lacks complexity on the palate.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied but a little flat, perhaps not aided by the lack of carbonation.

Overall an interesting saison, but not in the top tier for the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 05:54:26 | More by draheim

ianjsullivan

Maryland

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

Review is written from notes jotted down while drinking.

ST: 750ml (I forgot to write down batch).

A: Cloudy amber brown with lots of sediment. It had a thick white head with huge lacing.

S: Grassy and herbal with grapefruit, sour fruity, and flinty earth.

T: Flinty, herbal, citrus hops, malt backbone, and lots of sour fruit notes.

M: Medium and dry.

O: Beautiful body joins an enjoyable dry grassy sour flavor. It is easy to see why this beer comes out in spring. It has enough body to not be light, but it is very herbal and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 01:06:04 | More by ianjsullivan

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

INtersting bottle, love the label!

Poured into a nice belgan beer glass on XMASS 2011.

Aroma is pure funk. Since my cat is sitting next to me, i'll say a bit of wet-cat in there with some hoppiness. Minimal, but present malt.

Taste, funk, sour cherries, some piney and floral hops. Craziness. Reminds me a bit of Orval, but less complex and balanced.

Interesting beer nontheless, i think it'll age well and perhaps improve with time. I'd give it another year or so if I Had another.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 16:58:35 | More by jbonapar

VoiceOfTheSoul

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz into a tulip at Pinocchio's in Media, PA back in June.

A Pours a cloudy orange brown with a thick, pillowy off-white one finger head.

S It's funky and light, hints of pee (which isn't all that bad a thing), greens like celery or lettuce, slightly musty like a barn, citrus, hops. There's a spice I just can't place along with some pepper.

T Crisp, refreshing, light, slightly tart with some bready almost like spicy rye malts up front and in the middle. Bitterness in the finish with some sweetness and mustiness along with some acidic urine. Citrus on the tip and at the back changing from sweet lemons to tart limes.

M Thin, light, somewhat watery with decent carbonation especially at the front and sides. Something you'd expect from a summer beer.

O Refreshing, light. Great beer on a lightly breezy spring day to a schorching hot summer one. Nice complexity with intriguing undertones, some of which I can't quite pick out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 19:10:18 | More by VoiceOfTheSoul

wrycon

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch 753. Bottled 3-17-11.

Prior to tasting I opened the bottle and went upstairs. Came back down and a white snake of foam was creeping out the top. Never known that to be a good thing

Primarily gold with some slight amber hues. A bit muddled- looking. Some slight floral hops notes mixed with some yeasty funkiness. Not much nose. Initially pretty tame and seemingly sweet. Lots of carbonation up front with some lightly toasted malt. Midway, the signature JP funk presents itself, adding an always welcome element. The hops dominate the back end with a pronounced bitter jab and linger long afterward. It's a unique take on the pale style. Seems a bit over-carbonated, hence the creeping bottle foam. Not sure if that's s product of it aging 8 months.

Like it? Yes, But Not Bowled Over

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 02:20:56 | More by wrycon