Weizen Bam Bière - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

nataku00

California

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle, batch 817 bottled on 6-16-2011, poured into a tulip glass quickly as the beer started foaming up after opening. Beer pours a hazy light yellow with a finger of loose foamy head. Head dissipates quickly to a collar. Decent amount of fine carbonation.

Nose is light sweet lemon, some light earthiness, and wheat. Some yeast esters that bring a bit of banana and bubble gum as it warms a little.

Taste follows the nose, light lemon, yeast esters mainly banana, then some light sweet wheat flavors. Finish is dry, with some sour lemon and some earthy funk.

Light body beer with abundant effervescence that makes it very refreshing. Flavors are all light, but works well with the refreshing nature of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 03:04:34 | More by nataku00

xenjoiii

New York

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first beer from Jolly Pumpkin

Batch 821/822 Bottled 6/15/2011

Poured into my Founder's tulip

A: Poured a golden straw color with a fluffy white head (about two fingers) which receded into a thin layer of froth (about a half finger).

S: Apples, clove, lemon peel and pressed grapes. There is also a faint presence of the Oak.

T: Tons of apple/ white grape juice tartness up front, that settles into a nice oaky dry finish.

M: The beer is heavily carbonated and has a light to medium mouth feel.

O: Tart (but not overly tart) and very refreshing; this beer goes straight to the point. Impressed. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but this is very berliner weisse-esque, and there is nothing wrong with that. I could only imagine how well a traditional styled berliner would be from these guys. I will be purchasing many more of these to enjoy throughout the summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 20:57:57 | More by xenjoiii

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled October 2010 into tulip.

A- Hazy yellow pour with a two finger snow white head that is short lived. Lacing is spotty.

S- Typical JP aromas, lemons, apples, grapes, white wine, slight oak. Not getting the weizen aspect of the beer. Still smells delicious regardless.

T- My goodness! Pucker power, yum! This is almost into berliner weisse/ gueuze territory. Tart lemons, apple, grape skins. White wine oak and just floral and refreshing.

M- Light, effervescent, prickly and refreshing.

O- Shame on me for not checking JP's super easy to read dates. Shame on Siciliano's in Grand Rapids for keeping it on the shelf so long. If it was anything other than a JP beer I don't think the review would have been so stellar. Luckily their beers hold up.

Regardless, this is spectacular. I don't taste a huge difference the wheat makes but it is still very good. Can't wait to get a fresh bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 22:23:55 | More by korguy123

schwaeh

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 829, bottled 6-29-11.

A: This started rushing for the bottle opening as soon as I uncapped it. It's an extremely active beer, turbid bubbles go crazy in the glass. The color is a very light golden color with plenty of clarity. I had to pour slowly since the loose white foam would sprout to the top of my tulip nearly instantly.

S: Spicy wheat, sour green apples, hay, chardonnay, plenty of funky bugs, and oak. Real complex aroma with bright refreshing qualities amongst a sea of tartness.

T: I can see the beliner weiss comparisons right away, it is very light and refreshing with a bright tartness and very low alcohol. Somehow the this ends up being much less dry than regular bam biere. Everything I picked up in the aroma comes through nicely in the flavor. Sour apple and hay may be the most prominent but the wheat-y spice adds a welcomed depth to the flavor profile.

M: Very light, very crisp, dry, and refreshing.

O: Really good beer from Jolly Pumpkin, I wouldn't expect any less. Great purchase during the warmer months. This is an easy beer to drink a lot of on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 15:12:51 | More by schwaeh

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Violent gusher – jumps right out of the bottle. Rich straw – just short of golden, very hazy but not quite cloudy with some floaties that settle out. Multiple streams of steady bubbles, surprisingly small bright white head. Keeps an alright ring & leaves a little bit of lace.

S: Tart lemon. Zesty. Spice that is more clove & just a touch of soft pepper. Green apple, citrus fruit, & a hint of tropical. Background doughy, wheaty malt. Touch of earth with hints of leather & barnyard. Soft hint of tannin oak. Ghost hint of herbal / grassy. Mostly tart, but lots of other fun stuff too. Pleasant & inviting. Good strength/ fun to sniff and pull out more aspects.

T: Largely follows the nose, but proportions change a bit. Zesty, tart lemon grows. Other fruits fade quite a bit. Except for some firmly tannic grape skin that is new. Spicy clove & soft white pepper are there about the same. Malts are more crackery, but still wheaty – and lighter overall. More brett. Earthy, lots of leather, and bits of dusty loam, barnyard, & musty funk. Hints of phenolics. Lots of tannin, acid, astringent – wine-like – character emerges as it warms. Hops are barely noticeable as a vague background herbal, tea-like bittering. Different and very nice once you get past the initial “whoa” effect.

M: Nearly suck your face in pucker, at first anyways – but then you get used to it after a few sips. Just on the medium side of light. CO2 is mouthfilling & expansive but in a soft way with super fine & tight bubbles. Tart pucker drying is accentuated by the powdery earth note. A tad much for me personally at first, but quite good for what this beer is going for.

D: Wiezen meets Berliner Weiss meets Saison with a touch of the wild. This one pushes my boundaries, but I like it. It really grows on me. Such subtle complexity wrapped up in an encompassing tartness. At first it seems one-dimensional. And if you had it cold it would be quite the quencher. But let it warm a bit and wow!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 00:50:44 | More by SickGnar

SpoonMeForkMe

Illinois

5/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Well I had written up a review for this but Gosox8787 wrote exactly what I wanted to write.

Appearance: Champagne, light, golden, straw. Excellent carbonation that shoves the funk up your nose. Gorgeous white head retires to a nice lacing

Aroma: Funky, brett, barnyard, wet wool, lemon, cherry, tart fruit, grass, herbs.

Taste: Grassy, tart cherry, lemon zest, yeast, funk, funk, fun k, a slight herbal quality. Balanced and complex. Very complex!

Mouthfeel: light, crisp, refreshing, the carbonation dances in the mouth. Yeah, I typed that.

Very sessionable, refreshing, cool, crisp and complex brew. I paid $10 for a bomber of this and I'm certainly happy with the purchase.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 01:25:41 | More by SpoonMeForkMe

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 750 mL bottle served chilled poured into a Cigar City tulip glass. Batch 833, bottled 7/18/2011. Opens with a bit of a gush, but anything that was going to spill still ended up making the glass.

Appearance: Really light golden straw yellow in color. Some aggresive carbonation yields a nice, fizzy white head the recedes into a nice lacing.

Aroma: A lot of barnyard funk upfront. Really nice horse blanket and brett notes, a touch earthy and herbal. Some nice notes of lemon zest and tart green apple. Really balanced and complex.

Taste: Really light tart notes of lemon and green apple sourness upfront. The wheat really makes it take on an almost berlinner weisse quality the is really nice. An earthy, grassy character belnds nicely with the funk note here too. Really light and balanced. Extremely unique.

Mouthfeel: Really light and prickly on the tongue from the big carbonation.

Overall, a really interesting and refreshing beer with a really nice funk profile , especially in the aroma. Not overly sour, but refreshing nonetheless. Definitely worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 20:58:28 | More by Gosox8787

laituegonflable

Australia

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy pale champagne colour with some yeast sediment at the bottom. Head is very generous and white, quite fluffy but decent retention. Clumps of lace left behind on the glass. Quite nice.

Smells tart and bretty. Plenty of orange peel on there that provides both tart and sweet notes, hint of pineapple and some funky barnyard character as well. Tart, fresh and lively. Very refreshing and hugely enticing.

Taste is tart and fresh as well. Quite a sharp acidity on the front that's almost overwhelming with its bretty and slightly citric flavour, yet so beautifully mellowed out by the end with sweeter citric notes - orange peel and a touch of cake batter coming to meet it. It's possibly a bit on the sharp, sizzly side still, but the finish is clean, with a pleasant refreshing acidity and just a touch of spice - cumin and fenugreek mostly. Fragrant and musty to balance out that lovely tartness being the dominant character. Just fresh, crisp, complex and delightful.

A bit of a pull from the acidity, really. There is body there, but not quite enough and it comes across as quite sharp as a result.

Notwithstanding, that's a refreshing and delightfully complex beer, full of personality and charisma with intriguing flaws in just the right places. Just a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 22:28:50 | More by laituegonflable

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A Christmas gift from my wife. Thanks babe!

Served in my Oberdorfer Weissbier glass.

The beer appears a light yellow hue and moderately hazy. The head is towering, filling the upper third of the glass, fading slowly and leaving spotty lacing on the walls of the glass.

The aroma offers wheat, lemons, hay, light funk. Smells inviting.

Really nice flavor. Delicate tartness, with lemon, green apple, subtle citrus, grass, hay. A nice take on a German classic. I'm a big fan of tart and/or sour brews, and this one delivers.

Light in body and even a bit watery. This beer is chuggable. Low alcohol and easy drinking.

Overall, very enjoyable. Another gem from Jolly Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 04:25:25 | More by Huhzubendah

DovaliHops

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy, bright golden color with a large, frothy white head that takes some time before it goes down completely. Scent is packed with barnyard funk and some lovely lemon and citrus notes. A bit of Belgian yeast with some tart scents and just a hint of clove and green apple. Taste is initially bitter hops, immediately followed with tart lemon flavors. Some brett flavors with some wheat and green apples. A little bit of oak as well. Finishes lemony and funky. Mouthfeel is highly carbonated, dry, and crisp...champagne-like. Drinkability is very high. Overall, this is another amazing beer from Jolly Pumpkin. I very crisp, sessionable, refreshing offering that I could drink every day. Very tasty!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 07:12:37 | More by DovaliHops

Monkeyknife

Missouri

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle a light hazy lemon color with four fingers of bubbly white head. The head eventually reduces to a single finger with generous lacing.

Aroma of lemon, sour apple, clove, fresh earth and yeast.

The taste was sour apple and lemon, wheat and a ton of funky Brett notes.

Medium bodied and sticky with a crisp carbonation.

Jolly Pumpkin definitely knows how to add their own flair to the classic Farmhouse Ale. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 20:46:10 | More by Monkeyknife

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Weizen Bam
25.4 fl. oz. bottle; $15 @ Capone's, Norristown, PA
Batch 838 Bottled 7-14-2011

Appearance: A hazy (not cloudy) golden-orange body rests beneath a full head of bright white foam. The head retention is very good, but the lacing is limited.

Smell: Wheat and spice. The clove is clear - I had no idea that this used weizen yeast until I read the bottle - as well as the mineralish notes, wet straw, and soft leather of the brett and other funkiness.

Taste: There's more tartness to it than the aroma lets on, yet the Bavarian weizen character still comes through - quite surprising! As might be expected, the funky characteristics are fuller as well. The oak is drying, and although it's not very bitter, it finishes tart and dry.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium in body with a very fine-bubbled, bristling carbonation.

Overall: Quite interesting, and actually very unique. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 21:06:25 | More by NeroFiddled

nate8767

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber (thanks, gonuts31!) into Jester King tulip:

Beautiful light golden, cloudy pour with two-finger head. Minimal lacing on glass, and I considered rating a 4.5 before changing to a 5 because I'm not sure I would change anything about its appearance. Easily agitated in the glass, receeds maybe a taaad too quickly for my taste.

Clear lemony notes reflective of its hefe-backbone, though it's not difficult to pin down the farmhouse strains. Would appreciate a more complex bouquet as it's fairly one- (two?) dimensional.

On first taste, perhaps served still a little too cold, and I was disappointed that it feels a little thin. Less creamy than I anticipated, though this may have been foreshadowed by its nose. On warming, the tart comes to the forefront, much more than I would have expected initially. Finishes smoothly and cleanly, with little lingering aftertaste. Spice is notably absent, by which I'm sort of surprised considering it's a JP, but I'm not complaining.

The labeling promises a tart wheat experience, and this is exactly what it delivers. I've yet to be let down by a Jolly Pumpkin offering, and I wouldn't even say this is in their top 1/3rd of beers. Such a delight, can't wait for a second (or third, etc) bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 01:44:31 | More by nate8767

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased in CA, brought back to Sydney and shared with @LaitueGonflable and @tobeerornottobe.

Pours a lovely, bright yellow colour, hazy with protein, and riddled with tiny clumps of disturbed sediment. Head is big. Big, frothy and bright white, looking jolly and exciting. Lacing is solid, but frothy and slightly insubstantial, like the head itself. Looks exciting.

Nose is funky and bright, with citric overtones to smoother vanilla and banana weizen yeast characters. Slight sharpness of vegetation or something to give it yet another lilt of oddness. To be honest, the two characters are slightly at odds—and seem to clash a little bit more violently than the wild characters in other Jolly Pumpkin beers. But it's still quite interesting.

Taste is lighter, but smoother and more integrated. Here the funk gives it a slight earthiness, while the acidity really thins the palate. Very little on the back, although this gives it a bright refreshing character. Unfortunately, it also leaves it feeling a little empty.

Not bad, but one of the lesser experiments from the Jolly Pumpkin stable. A bit thin, a little weak, but still with enough interest and oddities to make me smile.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 05:11:13 | More by lacqueredmouse

Immortale25

Florida

3.24/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a Shiner Bock pint glass. No freshness date but there's a sticker label on it that says 10/21/11 that was, no doubt, put there by a liquor store employee.

A- Pours a light straw color with a one finger head (note: this is the first Jolly Pumpkin I've ever opened that hasn't been a "gusher" with mostly foam filling the glass when trying to pour) that retains a short bit before settling to a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and light foam covering most of the surface.

S- Smells like sour grapes which was sort of expected. Some peach-like fruit notes accompanied by some barnyard funk (also expected). It's that smell of rotting sugar-based substances and spoiled alcohol. Yep, this is gonna be sour.

T- The start is a controlled shot of puckering sour but eases back into a crisp and fruity midsection. The finish is where things go kinda downhill where it feels like you've just chomped into a Warhead sour candy which leads to the Mouthfeel.

M- Tart to the point of the feeling that your tongue is shrinking. It salivates as soon as it can in order to attempt to replenish your palate with moisture. Dry doesn't even begin to describe it. When I swish, I get a look of pain on my face from the intensity.

O- I learned something today: It's more the mouthfeel of sours that I dislike instead of the actual taste. This beer tastes pretty good. It's just that sharp as hell sour bite that I just don't like. It would be one thing if the sourness was justified by the beer having a high alcohol content but, looking especially at this one's ABV, there plainly is not. Sorry, but I just have to really be in the mood to drink a sour beer, which is hardly ever.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 02:38:05 | More by Immortale25

BigMike

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours about as light of a yellow as you can get before being almost white. Hazy with nice carbonation streaming. A soapy pure white head tops it off but doesn't stick around long.

S: Oh yea. Thats what i'm talkin bout! Brett out the ass on the nose. Kind of has that Russian River Temptation aroma. Smells tart, funky. Lots of peppery sour apple. White grape skin. Lemon zest. I'm dying to try this.

T: Yes! Just what i was hoping for. Tons and tons of Brett. SOur, tart funky. Juicy Grape skins.

M: So light on the tongue that you almost can't tell it's there. Finishes very dry which is awesome.

Overall: This may verywell be the quintessential "summertime" beer. So light and easy to drink. It's dry at the back end which makes you just want to keep drinking. At 4.5% abv you can!

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 22:22:22 | More by BigMike

Bendurgin

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip. Pours a hazy very light golden straw color with three fingers of pillowy white head. Good retention leaves a thick cap of foam throughout the drink.

Wheat and grains in the aroma with a little bit of butter and spices. Good amount of barnyard funk in the background. Light and funky on the pallet with a good grainy flavor. Spicy hops round this out with a little bit of lemon acidity.

Nice light body with good carbonation. Overall this one's great. Really an enjoyable light drink here.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 22:19:23 | More by Bendurgin

Halcyondays

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle, bottled 6-29-11,

A: We've got a gusher, a big one. The first pour is almost all head. Once it comes down it reveals a light gold beer, cloudy and translucent. Good head retention, though on the fizzy side, spotty lace.

S: Farmhouse, Bretty/earthy smell, hay, light spice.

T: Lots of lemons and grass. Has an unsweetened lemonade aspect which is interesting. Tangy wheat flavour is exceptional, Bretty finish, really good.

M: Light-bodied, very refreshing, crisp but ultimately soft carbonation, dry/brut overall, light acidity makes it very approachable.

O: This is a great summer seasonal if they bring it back. Low ABV, thirst quenching, more so than Bam Biere, I think the wheat helps a lot. The $10 price tag is annoying, I'd love it at $6-7 since it isn't high gravity, but it's well worth a purchase.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 23:39:54 | More by Halcyondays

cosmo4u

New York

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours a crazy hazy light orange peach sort of color, with a thin white head that fades to a ring rather quickly. nice bretty nose. the funk dominates, sort of gueuze-like, though it never quite attains that sharp zest, though there are some lemony notes, and a bit of ginger ale. tastes surprisingly like a hefeweizen! the banana/clove section isn’t playing as loudly, but the taste is mostly a normal, eminently drinkable wheat beer. wheat malt, some hefe esters, and a hint of funk lurking around the edges. the finish is the best part. slightly dry, with a perfect almost creamy, but noticeably bubbly mouthfeel. no real bitterness or sweetness standing out. great, refreshing beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 19:25:06 | More by cosmo4u

beerhan

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Had a 10 ounce snifter of this.

A-Huge white foamy head that was a little much with this yellow color that is a bit urine like with a lot of carbonation. To me I thought it looked like urine with alka selzer.

S-Smells like hay, grass, and lemon.

T-Pretty average taste. Not very sour but sour enough where it is not enjoyable. Very herbal and lemony with this grass like taste with an almost creamy aftertaste. There was even a little orange and coriander.

M-Nice carbonation, lots of it. Probably the best thing about this beer.

O-This probably was the least enjoyable beer I have had from jolly pumpkin. A real waste of money and just not that special.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2011 17:59:03 | More by beerhan

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First pour erupted into all head, white, and subsequent pours gave a half inch. Body is a hazy lemonade yellow. Smells primarily sour and then the follow-up is the traditional spice, banana, clove of the style. Taste mirrors the smell and I have to say the sour is 2 folds stronger than all the rest of the flavors. Body feels rich and quality, better than other wheats. But the sour aspect just is not my thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 08:35:58 | More by MoreThanWine

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to RBlaszak for sending me this bottle.

The beer pours a hazy yellow color with a white head. The aroma has a lot of funky wheat along with some apples and lemons. The funk and tartness in the aroma are very inviting.

The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of tart lemons and sour apples, as well as some wheat and some barnyard funk. There is also some yeast character in the flavor that is pretty nice. The beer is very easy drinking and is very dry.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 23:57:23 | More by Mora2000

LadyOfMuchBeer

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Much, much thanks to muskabeatz for this one, a surprise in a trade.

750 into two stemless red wine glasses, splitting with my bf.

Pours a hazy gold, not quite cloudy, but certainly not clear. Heavy visible carbonation. Good one inch head, white, decent retention.

Aroma-wheat and sour citrus, lemon, lime, grapefruit. certainly sour on the nose.

Taste-Sour, tastes like fresh lemon juice, yeast, hops on the back, just enough funk to love, especially hoppy when I lick my lips...rather interesting. Clover. Nice true belgium flavor. Definite wheat-y grain and pleasant lighter spices.

Mouthfeel-thin, refreshing. This could be the one brew that is thirst quenching.

Overall-I could drink a lot of this.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 01:46:14 | More by LadyOfMuchBeer

allforbetterbeer

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 capped bottle bought at Coaltrain Liquor in Colorado Springs for $10. Bottled in June, 2011.

Pours initially with three fingers of white head over a cloudy very pale golden body. After a few minutes, the head rose out of the glass and formed a mountain of light, airy, white foam that stood 3 inches above the rim of the glass! Amazingly, it never spilled over the side, it just stood there. I am extremely stingy with perfect '5's, and I have only given them to a few categories ever (and never yet across the board). But I can't see how this would look better, and the most authentic Belgian version in my imagination would look just like this...

At the beginning of the review I couldn't smell much of anything because the beer was topped by some much highly stable foam. After drinking some, the nose was detectable through a much decreased layer of foam. The expected notes of warm bread and pale malts with some light mild hops is present. In addition there are subtle notes of wild yeast, but these are rather mellow and not forward.

The flavor is interwoven with flavors of brett and other wild bugs. I have come to believe that I am especially sensitive to these flavors, and often they stick out to me more than to others. Regardless, in this beer they are present but not overbearing. Very pale malt and light wheat form a toasty pale base of flavor which is crowned with fruity, slightly funky, pasture notes of brett. I love the living notes of grassland and the touch of warm soil that these flavors present. The typical fruitiness and spiciness of a saison or "hefe" wheat beer are melded with the brett flavors in a beautiful and intricate web of flavors. The aftertaste in particular is delicate and presents a dry, fruity, toasty, wild-yeast infused wash of flavor.

The mouthfeel is light and highly carbonated, but also dry and smooth (especially when the carbonation died down somewhat).

Conclusion: Maybe I am a total sucker for wild yeast, but I love this beer. Take what I imagine was a lovely saison and infuse it with some wild bugs by aging it in oak, and I bow down in supplication to the resulting flavor. I love the dry flavors, the light notes of brett and crackery pale malt. This is my first Jolly Pumpkin beer, and I am impressed.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 23:36:45 | More by allforbetterbeer

zeff80

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a clear, golden-yellow color with a one-finger, white head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled funky, phenolic and yeasty. Some nice caramel and grains aromas.

T - It tasted funky and spicy with a good wheat sweetness. Very tasty.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a great tasting farmhouse ale. Jolly Pumpkin is so good at Belgian ales.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 01:01:57 | More by zeff80