La Roja
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

La RojaLa Roja
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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:
2,032
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:
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

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, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of Gummybear
Rated by Gummybear

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, 2024
Photo of LeanneCL
Rated by LeanneCL

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, 2023
 
Rated: 4.1 by Mavigo from Michigan

Aug 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by Ananabiya

Jul 05, 2023
Photo of The_Snow_Bird
Reviewed 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
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, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

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, 2022
Photo of elNopalero
Reviewed 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
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, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Jul 06, 2022
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

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, 2022
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

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, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by PapaGoose03 from Michigan

Oct 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4.3 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Jul 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.9 by eagles22 from Pennsylvania

Jul 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by MaxOhle from Illinois

Jun 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 16, 2020
Photo of stcules
Reviewed by stcules from Italy

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, 2020
 
Rated: 3.87 by Stevedore from Oregon

Feb 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.13 by Griphon from Florida

Jan 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by rare_bird from Michigan

Dec 02, 2019
La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 2032 ratings