Noel De Calabaza
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Noel De CalabazaNoel De Calabaza
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From:
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #553
ABV:
9%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,134
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 11.41%
Reviews:
443
Ratings:
1,060
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 21, 2024
Added:
Oct 21, 2007
Wants:
  83
Gots:
  183
Wild Dark Strong Holiday Ale

22 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Craig_Martini:
Photo of Craig_Martini
Reviewed by Craig_Martini

2.9/5  rDev -28%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
This beer is gorgeous when poured. Rich, dark, Amber with a hint of red and a medium thick head. Unfortunately the good stops there. Lighter than expected, too much carbonation, not very complex. Didn't get much fruit until it warmed a bit. Just not very interesting. Drinkable, but that's the most I can say for it.
Apr 14, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by CreightonSM from New York

Jan 21, 2024
 
Rated: 4.14 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Nov 17, 2023
Photo of mkh012
Reviewed by mkh012 from Colorado

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Fizzy brown-red pour with a thin off-white head. Subtle nose. Hints of cherry, cranberry, grape, orange, lemon, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Mild to medium tartness and bitterness. Light to medium feel with a moderately dry finish. Though the above range of notes is present on both the nose and taste, this beer is ultimately a bit muted to my palate and is good but not great.
Nov 13, 2023
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown with a reddish tinge, topped with a beige head.

Smells of Flemish yeasts, oak, and acidic cherry.

The taste follows the nose. Balance of sour and sweet, reminds me of Duchess de Bourgogne. Honda of oak and dark toasted notes.

Medium to light body with moderate carbonation.

Excellent brew. I got it in Grande Rapids MI and am drinking in Phuket Thailand, Feb 7 2023.
Feb 07, 2023
Photo of DarkLordScott
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin

2.92/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Sampled from a can labeled only as "Noel", not Noel De Calabaza.

Pours deep amber, bright but not see through. Aroma is oaky, cherry and spice (cardamon comes to mind). Taste is highly bitter, extremely low carbonation, cherry and spice. This is a brew that is likely an acquired taste.
Nov 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by dd53grif from Michigan

Nov 14, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.4/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
750 ml bottle, blend 3, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy dark brown colour, huge off-white head. Strong sourish aroma of red wine vinegar, lemon, farmhouse, spices and hops. Sour flavour, some malts, hints of brown kandij sugar, oak, moderate hops. Okay, but I’m not excited.
Jul 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by EdFed from Illinois

Feb 14, 2022
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Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri

3.97/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark amber colored with a quarter inch of beige on top. The aroma is of brettanomyces, oak, and nutmeg. I’m tasting cherries, oak, and nutmeg with a lingering tartness. The mouth is heavily carbonated and very crisp and dry.
Jan 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.83 by QuintusHorace from California

Dec 10, 2021
Photo of BigIronH
Reviewed by BigIronH from Michigan

2.52/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.5
Pours a dark amber with a finger of caramel head reducing to a ring. Smell is sour and oak. Taste is so absolutely sour and tart nothing else is distinguishable. Is is very crisp feeling, but hard to drink. I took a few drinks and dumped it.
Aug 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Mar 18, 2021
Photo of BB1313
Reviewed by BB1313 from Ohio

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16oz can poured into a tulip. Pours a very dark brown/amber; off-white head that fades leaving nice retention and lacing. The aromas have a nice amount of funk and vinegar leading the way. Hints of cherries and dark fruits. Yeasts and malts do their thing. The flavors follow the nose. They're tart and sour. More vinegar and funk. More cherries and dark fruits. Some raisins in the mix. Hints of oak. It's sweet, but not cloyingly sweet. Zero bitterness. Yeasts and malts do their thing. Alcohol is ultimately well hidden for the most part. Mouthfeel is very nice. It's full-bodied with active carbonation. It's sharp but soft. It's fluffy, smooth and dangerously drinkable.

This is a nice brew. It definitely seems more like a "sour" than a traditional "Belgian Dark Strong Ale", for what it's worth. Either way it's enjoyable stuff and fun to drink. The craftsmanship is on point. Well done. I like it.
Jan 12, 2021
Photo of WunderLlama
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts

4.01/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Beer received in bif12.5 from @whyteboar

Pours a deep ruby cola brown into a chalice thin taupe island immediately evaporates , no visible carbonation

Aroma is red grapes, Pinot noir , barley wine perhaps

Taste is red grape, wine , tart cherries

Low sudsing, small fizzy bubbles, dry finish , tart , quenching , abv is well hidden
Dec 27, 2020
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Can, 2020 vintage, from Uptown Market.

A clear, dark mahogany with a dense, off-white head with excellent retention and lacing, this looks great. The nose is classic dark sour, a blend of dark malts, mild nuttiness, dried cherries, a touch of cocoa, a moderate, meaty, lactic bite, a kiss of oak and vanilla, burnt sugar, a touch of sharpness thats a little yogurt-like. Candied orange peel and nutmeg are also noticeable. The palate opens with a blend of sweetness and tartness, a blend of dark brown sugar, honey, dark caramel, toffee, lactic acid, a tart, bright yogurt character, a light lemon sharpness. The mid palate has oak, vanilla, and a mellow funk, earthy, dusty and classic JP with a delicate spicy horseblanket. A touch sweet on the finish with a lingering acidity. Excellent.
Dec 19, 2020
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.04/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Carried my can to the curb from Beermiscuous. (Now called "Noel" no Calabaza. The label has the same Santa pumpkin.)
Any brewer of tart ales should use this as their standard when brewing a BDSA. While this Noel is tarter than this sweet style, its tart is respectful.

Noel opens invitingly, but the barrel/tart/yeast differences take away the style's typical foam. Smells of oak, then tart fruits, then holiday spices then traces of malt and alcohol. Tastes also are balanced; a nice tart that merely dries out at the finish. Pleasant in the mouth, enough bubbles to work through the holiday fats in the appetizers.

This is my tenth from Jolly Pumpkin. I am not a big fan of how they brew (I'm a traditional malthead.) I have rated nine below the BA average. But, I like JP because they are among America's masters of tart and represent the epitome of diversity in the Belgian tradition. Cheers and A Votre Sante'.
Dec 14, 2020
Photo of Junior
Reviewed by Junior from Michigan

4.49/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L - Dark amber brown with a thin tan head.
S - Candied fruit and spice. This smell fantastic.
T - Candied fruit and bread malt, slightly tart.
F - Full bodies and heavily carbonated.
O - Great beer, very complex and well crafted.
Nov 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Jul 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 16, 2020
Noel De Calabaza from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 1060 ratings