-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
La Roja
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
- From:
- Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Flanders Red Ale
Ranked #38 - ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #9,095 - Avg:
- 4.03 | pDev: 12.16%
- Reviews:
- 802
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 08, 2024
- Added:
- Aug 14, 2004
- Wants:
- 184
- Gots:
- 336
An artisan amber ale brewed in the Flanders tradition. Deep amber with earthy caramel, spice, and sour fruit notes developed through natural barrel aging. Unfiltered, unpasteurized and blended from barrels ranging in age from two to ten months.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jlindros:
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.12/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Blend 2, bottled 3-18-10.
Been eyeing this in the fridge for a long time, waiting for a good day to do it. After a really long day at work, and more work coming this weekend, and lots of pain trying to buy a new house, I figured it was time to do it.
The long neck forces a slow pour and nice creamy bubbly head that fades pretty quickly though. THe beer itself is pretty clear rosy reddish light maroon color.
The nose is really nice. it has some light sour fruit, a little raspberry, a little bolotin cherry, tart fruits, but very juicy. A very light dry farmhouse funk, lacto style funk, but very light even though this beer has a bit of age. There's a touch of oak and vanilla, with a light creamy malt in the background, and just a faint hint of bourbon.
The taste is lighter than the nose, but not by a large margin. It is fairly sour and tart, with lots more nice fruit, with a little berry, and some sour bolotin cherry. Some acidity comes through, with a light creamy malt taste. Some nice oak tastes with a touch of vanilla. A very light warming booze, with some sweetness as well. A light red malt taste. And of course some lacto funk, a dry and slight farmhouse wild yeast funk, making itself known, but not dominating. More so than the nose at least. Some light bitterness comes through with that, most likely from the yeast and acidic fruit flavors. It finishes with a little flemmy taste, and lots of lingering tart fruit, pretty dry at the same time too.
The mouth is medium to lighter bodied with decent carbonation.
It has an OK drinkability, nothing special, but for a wild at 7% it's fairly drinkable. Some of the flemmy taste gives it a tougher swallow, and a very light warming booze with the sour and tart fruits. But for what it is, it's fairly drinkable.
Sep 25, 2010Been eyeing this in the fridge for a long time, waiting for a good day to do it. After a really long day at work, and more work coming this weekend, and lots of pain trying to buy a new house, I figured it was time to do it.
The long neck forces a slow pour and nice creamy bubbly head that fades pretty quickly though. THe beer itself is pretty clear rosy reddish light maroon color.
The nose is really nice. it has some light sour fruit, a little raspberry, a little bolotin cherry, tart fruits, but very juicy. A very light dry farmhouse funk, lacto style funk, but very light even though this beer has a bit of age. There's a touch of oak and vanilla, with a light creamy malt in the background, and just a faint hint of bourbon.
The taste is lighter than the nose, but not by a large margin. It is fairly sour and tart, with lots more nice fruit, with a little berry, and some sour bolotin cherry. Some acidity comes through, with a light creamy malt taste. Some nice oak tastes with a touch of vanilla. A very light warming booze, with some sweetness as well. A light red malt taste. And of course some lacto funk, a dry and slight farmhouse wild yeast funk, making itself known, but not dominating. More so than the nose at least. Some light bitterness comes through with that, most likely from the yeast and acidic fruit flavors. It finishes with a little flemmy taste, and lots of lingering tart fruit, pretty dry at the same time too.
The mouth is medium to lighter bodied with decent carbonation.
It has an OK drinkability, nothing special, but for a wild at 7% it's fairly drinkable. Some of the flemmy taste gives it a tougher swallow, and a very light warming booze with the sour and tart fruits. But for what it is, it's fairly drinkable.
More User Ratings:
Rated by Gummybear
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dry, and tart with soft carbonation, puckering finish, dried fruit and a little funk. Super tasty, like a higher ABV Dutchess Petite.
Mar 08, 2024Rated by LeanneCL
3.92/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Almost looks like it should be a warm cider by the color and general appearance. Cherry came through, definitely sour. Good fall sour.
Sep 09, 2023Reviewed by The_Snow_Bird from Michigan
3.7/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light brownish red with no head on top. Gives off a fruity smell. Can taste raspberries. It starts off light in taste but as it warms up it get more sour.
Feb 23, 2023Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.64/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle, Blend 4 2008, ABV 7.2%, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Amber colour, moderate off-white head. Very nice sour & sweet & funky aroma. Moderately sour and oaky flavour, fairly light bodied.
Jul 20, 2022Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan
4.4/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Amber pour. Tart, effervescent and bright. Rolls off the tongue, with a gentle acidity.
I would gladly have another pint of this one, if given the chance.
Jul 20, 2022I would gladly have another pint of this one, if given the chance.
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
4.09/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Murky, mahogany color with a larger than average, off white head that left fair lacing. Woodsy aroma, malty, some spice. Medium bodied mouthfeel with an abundance of carbonation. Tart, grainy, earthy, musty taste along with some sour fruit. Dry, earthy finish. This one kept growing on me.
May 01, 2022Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
3.84/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Blend 11 bottles 6-7-12
Drank 8-11-22
Look - brown slight red with a nice white head and rimming. Shocked it looks this good after being 10 years old
Smell - oak tart possibly some dark cherry
Taste - bitter oak earthy possibly cherry like the smell
Feel - medium body with a lighter carb
Overall - shocked how good this lasted
Original 4
From untappd... I had this beer at the brewery
The beer is pretty sour and tart but with lots of fruity sweet cherry. Had a medium dry body with a lighter carb.
Jun 19, 2021Drank 8-11-22
Look - brown slight red with a nice white head and rimming. Shocked it looks this good after being 10 years old
Smell - oak tart possibly some dark cherry
Taste - bitter oak earthy possibly cherry like the smell
Feel - medium body with a lighter carb
Overall - shocked how good this lasted
Original 4
From untappd... I had this beer at the brewery
The beer is pretty sour and tart but with lots of fruity sweet cherry. Had a medium dry body with a lighter carb.
Reviewed by stcules from Italy
3.97/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep red, clean. A veil of foam.
In the smell acetic notes, with red fruit, wood, cherry stone. Fruitiness of cherry, sour cherry, a bit of raspberry.
Dry, acetic taste, wood and tannins, again red fruit and cherry stone.
A bit of astringency.
Very dry, very good.
Tannins and fruitiness in the aftertaste too, with acetic spikes.
Very well balanced. Great.
Apr 07, 2020In the smell acetic notes, with red fruit, wood, cherry stone. Fruitiness of cherry, sour cherry, a bit of raspberry.
Dry, acetic taste, wood and tannins, again red fruit and cherry stone.
A bit of astringency.
Very dry, very good.
Tannins and fruitiness in the aftertaste too, with acetic spikes.
Very well balanced. Great.
La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
2032 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!