La Parcela - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First a wild ale, with a tribute to nutmeg in the finish. Aged about half a year. Decent drinkablity if familiar with JP ales. A good sized creamy head on brown.Lacey. Smooth.
Ken's bomber.Where is the pumpkin? Spicey smell is muted, without a trace of the pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 03:08:38 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.1/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 604. Bottled 8/17/10. Blazing jack-o-lantern orange with honey hued highlights and an expansive crown of alabaster colored cream. Despite the use of cacao, this is one the lightest versions of the style that you'll see. In time, fairly extensive sheets of shotgun-blasted lace appear on the glass.

The nose is pleasant... for an American wild ale. Olfactorily speaking, this brew really isn't even recognizable as a pumpkin ale, which is why the score is below average. The use of wild yeast in *everything* is one of the problems that I have with the way JPAA does business.

Seriously, what's the gourd damned point of La Parcela No. 1 Pumpkin Ale? If a brewery named Jolly Pumpkin is going to brew a pumpkin beer, shouldn't it taste like pumpkin? Or like pumpkin pie spices? It does a little (very very little), but the barnyard quality of their yeast dominates all and levels the flavor profile like a daisy cutter levels... well... a field of daisies.

It tastes like there's nothing darker than pale malt present, along with a fruity sourness, threads from a horse blanket, and extremely subtle spice. No cacao is appreciated at all. With a different name, a different label, and a different style designation (wild ale), this would be better than average beer. Maybe even good beer.

Even though the mouthfeel is nothing to write home about, there is nothing seriously wrong with it either. Given the ABV, it's big enough and holds on long enough. Capable carbonation too.

This was not an easy translation, but it seems as though La Parcela means The Patch. As in pumpkin patch, presumably. My view is that this seasonal brew needs a pretty massive patch of a different sort, since it's one flat tire of a pumpkin ale. Ease off the wild yeast already.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 12:44:26 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

big thanks to rich for the recommendation here, i decided to crack this one open with dinner last night as it just seemed to set the mood.

nice light brown/caramel colored pour with a touch of sediment and a nice and tight off white head. well done and really looked the part quite nicely. aroma is sour up front, but with an interesting kick as their are notes of pumpkin, light spices, hints of brown sugar and a touch of cinnamon that layer in on top of it. rather complex and definite eye opener. a little more subtle on the flavor as the sour seemed to dominate with a nice thin vingar like touch that masked that hint of spice and sweetness underneath. very light body was very well carbonated and having the mellow sourness and base that yielded a nice and clean, smooth finish that was nice and dry.

overall a nice light sour that had some good dimensions to it. a definite change of pace for me and one i am glad i got to try.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 03:44:30 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The pour is a hazy orange color with a short lived, fizzy white head.

S: Like most Jolly Pumpkin beers, some light tartness on the very front end. Quite fruity with some peaches, lemons, grapes, and even citrus zest. There's a bit of a spice character to this as well as some grass and hay.

T: The taste starts off with damp oak, grass, and hay. The tartness is mild, but there are still some good peach, green apple, and lemon flavors. Not too much in terms of pumpkin, but a bit of sweetness and some all-spice flavor, too.

M: The body is medium with a medium to high level of carbonation.

D: I'm sort of a sucker for Jolly Pumpkin beers, so I was pretty sure I would like this. Not sure if it's worth the price, but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 02:34:51 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Churchky.

Pours a really nice hazy copper-orange with an off white head. Decent amount of lace on the way down. Nose brings definite notes of pumpkin along with some oak and a bit of earth. Some funk but not too much. Taste brings some light pumpkin flavor and slight sourness. Mostly earth and oak along with accompanying funk. Feel is light and dry. Drinks quite well and one of the better and most unique pumpkin beers out there.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2010 22:21:40 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 610. Bottled On: 8/13/10.

Appearance: Pours a nearly clear, coppery body with a very tall, wispy, near-white head.

Smell: Lightly bready barley, maybe a sprinkling of wheat and hewn hay, infused with a note of oak barrels and hints of tartish green apples and shaved sour lemons. Any scents of pumpkin or spice certainly come across last and least appreciable.

Taste: Mild bready maltiness coupled with very mellow, very subtle spices and a nudge of lactic lemon. Staunchly dry throughout, with nearly no sweetness cross the tongue. Placid oak wood and faint earthiness midway. A sip of juiced Granny Smith apples rolls out a growing tartness (though never very much) on the back half with a sustained lactic touch. Occasionally, I perceive a vague vegetal, squashy tone, but I fear that's only because I'm looking long and hard for it. Gentle tartness on the rather dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: Those grumbling for ever less pumpkin and less spice character should consider giving this one a try, as both are virtually absent, at least in Batch 610. As always, it's another weird, wild ride from Jolly Pumpkin.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 17:40:22 | More by ChainGangGuy

UCLABrewN84

California

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Maui Brewing Company in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.

Pours a clear light orange with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a thin cap. Foamy chunks and rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of biscuit-like malt, spices, and some fruity aromas. Taste is of biscuit-like malt, spices, and some fruity pumpkin flavors. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good pumpkin ale that is much different from others I have tried in the past. This beer is not really that funky/sour like other Jolly Pumpkin beers but I still am impressed with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 04:12:16 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A surprisingly refreshing fruited beer that's full of character yet somehow effortless in drinkability.

Pouring a light golden, somehwat peach in color- the beer has a sprite and effervescent appearance while carrying a slight haze. A light and airy head quickly succums to the acidity of the beer without releaseing much lace.

Sharp lime-like sourness, bitterness, and bite is met with slight cidery vinegar notes, mild salty brine, medium grassy hop bitterness- and then with an added starchy, yeasty taste and feel of perhaps pumpkin additions. Where the sharp palate-stripping sourness is expected, the beer is also lightly creamy and gives a rise to light bready malt taste. White grapes, vinous notes, under-rippened berries, and dusty antique woods continue to deliver level beyond level of flavors that reveal themselves with each and every sip.

The powdery dry character and highly phenolic taste of Jolly Pumpkin ales give them their house character, but this slightly maltier or starchier example balances as well as any in their arsinal.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 18:47:13 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

There's been a lot of talk about this beer given the Jolly Pumpkin name, and the fact that it's their fist pumpkin beer. And having found it on tap I had to try it. But then again, from any brewery that only makes about 800 bbls a year, you kind of can't pass it up, right?

It was pretty much exactly as I'd expected it to be, but I'm kind of a fan of the brewery (and of the Brett), so there you go. And, as a brewer, I have more insight into what goes into it, and what comes out of, it than most other tasters. I certainly wasn't expecting a "pumpkin beer"...

So... hazy, dark amber in color with an orange cast and reddish highlights. Limited bright white head and retention.

Dryish, sharp, and lightly chalky nose. Brett-like nose. Subtle hints of tartness. Subtle hints of vegetable (I guess pumpkin is actually a fruit), but not much.

Basically, it's a regular caramel-accented ale not unlike their others - but perhaps a touch lighter in both flavor and body, and with the same subtle Brett character and underlying tartness as usual. Mild spiciness... but pumpkin spices? Who knows? They're too subdued. I get a suggestion of cinnamon but that's it. Oh, and maybe all-spice or nutmeg. What IS there just blends into the whole, which, I think, makes it a much better beer than those that throw down the cinnamon/all-spice/nutmeg gauntlet.

So I have two mind sets on this. One, if you just take the beer for what it is, forgetting about the pumpkin thing, it's pretty good (for fans of the whole lightly funky thing). And two, if you take it slowly and look for the pumpkin and spice flavors, you'll be really tasting it looking for subtle complexity - which is great too!

Hedonistically, I enjoyed my glass, and I'd have had another and almost did. Forget about the whole pumpkin thing and enjoy!

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2008 00:40:52 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Figured I'd try all the pumpkin beers at my disposal while they're here, so that means a probably sour one should be mixed in with all the spicy others. This one pours a cloudy auburn-amber topped by a finger or so of dirty white foam. The nose comprises lemon zest, nutmeg, clove, light banana peel, honeydew, tart pineapple, blood orange, and a touch of honey. The taste hols notes of melon rind, lightly sour grapefruit rind, pumpkin shell, lemon zest, iceberg lettuce, clove, and a hint of white wine grape. The melon and pumpkin rinds seem to overpower everything else, destroying any hope of spicing and even o'ertaking the sour aspects, which don't even try to resist being drowned out. The body is a limpid medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, this beer just missed the mark for me. There was definitely a pumpkin character, but it was all rind, and it conspired with the melon flavors to destroy pretty much everything else. Not a big fan, here...

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 00:03:51 | More by TMoney2591

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 610. Bottled 8/13/10.

The beer pours a yellow-orange-amber color with a white head. The aroma begins as your basic pumpkin ale. I get some nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin. However, since it is a Jolly Pumpkin beer, you know there will be some tartness and it is present in the aroma.

The flavor is pumpkin, brett, nutmeg and cinnamon. There is also a low amount of tartness in the flavor, but the beer is more funky than sour.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

A very nice, interesting take on a pumpkin beer. Glad I got to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 03:45:42 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a cloudy, orange/copper color with a two-finger, off-white head of buddly, soft foam. It left rings of sticky lace on the glass.

S - It smelled slightly fruity/acidic with a touch of spice and pumpkin.

T - It has a nice acidic sourness with a fruity flavor. Very mild pumpkin flavor.

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

O - This is a very tasty beer. Seems misplaced as a pumpkin ale because so little pumpkin flavor comes through. It is very tasty, though.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 20:20:34 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy orange in color; some particles are visible floating in suspension. Gently swirling the glass produces a rather large head.
S: The aroma is slightly sour and has some notes of funkiness.
T: Like the smell, the taste is rather tart and sour with notes of spices and oak.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The tartness and spices in this beer make it one that probably needs to be sipped.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 19:30:19 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.47/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 436 / 437; Sampled December 2009
A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a fat, two finger thick, pale amber, lightly tan colored head that leaves some lacing as it slowly subsides. The beer is a combination of rich copper and amber hues that shows a lightly hazed, gold-copper hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of spicy nutmeg, sweetly vegetal pumpkin meat, a touch of spicy ginger, some white pepper, hints of cinnamon, brown sugar, light toasted grain notes. Really though this beer smells of a light spiciness and caramelized pumpkin flesh; it is pretty nice and I like the light hand with the actual spices, plus I think the fermentation provided some of the spice notes too.

Suprisingly dry tasting, considering the nose, and there is a nicely soft tartness that says this wasn't fermented in a "clean" Sachoromyces only brewery. The spiciness comes through in a much more peppery, ginger kind of way in the flavor due to the lack of sweetness. There is still a touch of pumpkin flesh flavor in the finish, but it is much more subtle. The beer has a nice texture to it; the fair amount of carbonation couples with the light tartness to bring a peppery sharpness to this as it rolls across the tongue; this is definitely a lighter feeling brew, but it easily keeps from seeming thin. In fact there seems to be a touch of malt viscosity without any accompanying sweetness. The peppery note couples with a soft woodiness

My second pour of this that is drunk quite soon after the pour, is a bit too fizzy and carbonated; luckily a quick swirl of the glass releases the extra carbonation. The tartness is definitely lactic in nature, which pairs well with the rest of the beer. Perhaps a touch of lighlty smoky phenolics are noticeable as the beer warms up, but this can be exceedingly fleeting.

This is an exceedingly fantastic Pumpkin beer, definitely one of the best commercial examples that I have ever had. I like how appetizing and "sweet" the aroma smells, but that the flavor is dry, tart and not anywhere near over-spiced. The aroma actually reminds me of desert (perhaps obviously), but the flavor is, in the end, quite savory. I am definitely quite pleased to be drinking a bottle of this right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 16:43:21 | More by Gueuzedude

emerge077

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to el meatwad for the heads up on this one.

Into a stemmed 12 oz. goblet, this pours a hazy orange. Plenty of active streaming carbonation, feeding a decent sized head. Surface of the foam was soft and creamy with a little bit of lacing at the edges. As the glass is poured and filled, a crescent of fine sticky lace remains on one side. The color feels like autumn, it fades from a darker cidery brown/orange into a lighter orange/yellow towards the meniscus of the glass.

Aroma of wet stone, minerals, wine grapes, lemon, hay, similar to a lambic. Later on at room temp, the cinnamon/nutmeg is there, with some apple cider traces. Flavor has some earthy, squashy elements, but not a heavy pumpkin presence. Tart and dry with a drying residual spice and identifiable earthy pumpkin in the aftertaste. Upfront its more tart with some toasted malt/pumpkin seeds and spice in the middle, leaving the more complex elements to linger in the finish. Its slightly too astringent, but other than that it drinks very well. A 750 is no problem in a sitting, provided you enjoy sour ales.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 23:57:36 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750 mL bottle, Batch 610, bottled on my mother's birthday of all days,

A: Pours a dark cloudy orange with a huge white head, had to wait a bit to drink it. Leaves lots of lace.

S: Pumpkin flesh, very squashy with some lemon and acid. Some winter spice.

T: Sweet citrus with a moderate acid. The pumpkin and spice flavour is light (compared with the nose), but it is there.

M: Moderate acidity, medium-bodied, dry slightly bitter aftertaste.

D: Interesting beer for sure. I got more of a classic JP beer compared to a pumpkin beer; this is nowhere near as overt as most pumpkin beers on the market. But it is tasty, and with the dearth of pumpkin beers in CA, it was certainly nice to see another one.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 07:48:44 | More by Halcyondays

smcolw

Massachusetts

2.55/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Frothy white head that settles lumpily.

My first impression is sweet & sour sauce. Odd, eh? Leans to the sour side. I do not detect any spice or pumpkin in the smell. I think if I were blindfolded, I would guess this is a Cyser.

It tastes like a Cyser, meaning it seems to have soured apples, not pumpkins. Very sour flavor. I frankly don't know what to make of this--I detect no pumpkin, cacao or other spices here. The finish is similar to sucking a lemon.

My wife thinks its okay. I'm finding it difficult to finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 23:47:11 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pillowy four finger off-white head that fades very slowly leaving a good lace. Cloudy amber color with a ton of yeast left in bottle. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is tart spices and flavor is tart, spicy with some pumpkin, like a mellow farmhouse ale - not the usual pumpkin pie ale. Beyond expensive at $18.50 for a 750ml bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, ME. Batch 610, bottled 8-20-2010.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 23:32:00 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
Batch 871
bottled 8-31-2011

A- This beer pours a hazy deep orange body with a bubble beige head that breaks up and last as a broken film. There is a fast micro carbonation trailing up the side of the glass.

S- The sharp but gentle tartness has some white cheese rind notes and apple skins that come through. There is some white wine tannins that grow stronger in the finish.

T- The nice mellow vinegar tartness has citrus qualities that take on more apple notes as it opens. There is a vegital hint has a soft dry spice quality and a brie rind taste that lingers. The touch of white wine taste lingers after each sip.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a tough of astringency and a soft fizz prick in the finish.

O- The nice light tart beer has good depth and a gentle funk to it. None of the pumpkin, spice or cacao stood out but it did have lots of subtle layers that these probably contributed too.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 22:46:23 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Large bottle, purchased at DeCicco's, Ardsley, NY.

"Batch 160, Bottled 8-13-10" on a sticker on back of the bottle.

Pours heavily hazed, lighter brown, typical smaller head, leaves respectable lighter lace.

Lighly bretted nose, light vinagar note also coming through. Musty, earthy, funkyness burbling along just benenth the surface.

Interesting and tasty brew. Moderate sour note, soft brown ale characteristics, more light vinagar.

Pleasant bite, cut through, the earthy and tomato notes of my spicy chile. Nice wintery brew. Well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 19:55:43 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tulip.

a - Pours a golden color with one inch of fluffy white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of tart apples, sour fruits, and maybe light pumpkin, but not much.

t - Tastes of spices, light fruit, and a hint of funk/sour fruit. Tastes kind of watered down, which is disappointing.

m - Light to medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - A good beer, but didn't seem to have a lot of pumpkin to it and the taste was pretty watered down. Would try again but wouldn't seek out.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 23:57:55 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's...
Appears a hazy, orange toned amber with a fluffy white cap that doesn't fade out. Tons of scattered lacing left around the glass.
Smell is of funky citrus, lemon, pumelo, light melon, and raw sugar.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with sweet pumelo, and tart lemon zest coming through in the flavors.
Mouthfeel is tart, medium bodied, saison-esque, sweet, and mildly acidic in the flavor.
I really didn't detect any pumpkin, or squash in the nose, or flavor. My buddy, egajdzis, thought otherwise but I think the notion of any pumpkin being noticed in this beer is purely subliminal.
I heard many mixed reviews on this while it was on tap. Most disliked it but I found it interesting with the standout brett-filled funkiness that I was hoping for. If anyone expected to have a "pumpkin beer", they were probably let down.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2008 19:58:24 | More by weeare138

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"La Parcela means 'the patch' or a place where vegetables are grown. Even more interesting is that the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery has never before made a pumpkin beer! Known for artisanal and esoteric brews, this one uses fresh and pureed pumpkin in the mash, and more pumpkin in the boil along with traditional pumpkin pie spices and roasted cacao nibs. Crazy! Fermented in open stainless steel with lager yeast, then racked with more pumpkin puree into Jolly Pumpkin's oak barrels for extended "wild" conditioning. We're expecting a very funky sour beer with hints of chocolate and a spicy finish. 6.0%abv"

On tap at the Cambridge Brewing Company during their Great Pumpkin Festival, held on 10/31/08. Served on tap in a Pils style glass.

Pours a deep, hazy, amber rose color with a thin ring of brite-white head. Retention consists of a nice smattering of lace and oily residues when swirled. The aroma features some wild sour character right off the bat, being tart but not overly so. Underneath lie a waft of pumpkin spices and some chocolate sweetness.

The taste is much sweeter than the aroma was, with sticky notes of chocolate and vanilla. There are also some underlying hints of pumpkin meat and spices with just a touch of tart funk that intermingles in with the other flavors. Overall finish that is tangy and spicy. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a moderate carbonation that borders on the creamier side. There is a touch of beef to the feel but the ABV is hid pretty well.

Wow, this was really interesting and seemed to me that Jolly Pumpkin pretty much pulled off what they were shooting for with this. A Pumpkin Ale that is rich with notes of chocolate and spice but possessing their trademark "Wild" quality. I liked that the tartness didn't quite dominate the taste as much as it did the nose, allowing much more of the pumpkin qualities to shine through. A unique beer for sure that I'm glad to have been able to try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2008 15:15:01 | More by Kegatron

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's. Casey must have bought a bunch of this, as it's been on tap for over a month now.

The beer pours a slightly hazy, honey orange color with good head retention and lacing. The draft version of this beer seems to have developed a bit, as I'm not getting a bit of honey and sour funk, along with the pumpkin spices. It's attractive. On the other hand, the beer seems to have deteriorated a bit when it comes to the flavor profile. I now get very little pumpkin spice, and the sour and slight hoppy bitterness seem to dominate. The beer has something of a peppery finish, and is fairly dry. The initial light sweetness is barely noticeble in the face of the light sour and pepper. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit thin, though I'm sure the low abv. is partially rsponsible for that. The beer finishes fairly well, and drinkability isn't bad.

While still not what I was hoping for from Jolly Pumpkin, this is still one of the more interesting pumpkin beers out there (assuming this beer even qualifies - there really isn't a whole lot of pumpkin going on at this point.). Not terrible...

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 21:02:29 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Served on tap, presented in a 9 oz. wine glass, this beer was a hazy coppery-orange color with a small, wispy, white head, that left pretty much no lacing at all. I got very little aroma from this beer, but still, there were traces of funky yeast, light spice, and a gently breadiness, with a touch of apple skin. I was expecting something much more sour with this, but it was pretty mild and approachable in the taste actually. Grassy to be sure, woody, with hints of apple, peach, and lemon pith, a little barnyard funk, with a easy tartness that didn't make me flinch for even a second. Mildly spicy. I really got little to no pumpkin from this at all. Light-medium mouthfeel, and pretty drinkable, though there was a little twang in the aftertaste that just didn't sit right. Still nice overall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2011 22:11:47 | More by Rifugium