Bam Bière
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Bam BièreBam Bière
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From:
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Saison
Ranked #499
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,960
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 11.45%
Reviews:
689
Ratings:
1,519
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 30, 2023
Added:
Feb 04, 2006
Wants:
  66
Gots:
  171
This delicious farmhouse ale is named for our Jack Russell, who struck by a car, bounced back in fine tenacious Jack Russell fashion, and is brewed for those of us who knocked down, have picked up, dusted off and carried on undaunted. Golden, naturally cloudy, bottle conditioned and dry hopped for a perfectly refreshing balance of spicy malts, hops and yeast. Please enjoy our beers in good health, And look both ways when crossing the street!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by taxandbeerguy:
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle served cold into a tulip. Purchased from the LCBO for $9.95 CDN, bottled December 29, 2015.

Appearance - a hazy pale golden color beer is poured with lively carbonation and a good sized white head nearing two fingers.

Smell - some barnyard funk, generally earthiness and loads of lime on this one. Interesting and fresh.

Taste - the lime doesn't shine through as much, but is still prevalent with some powdery yeast and a healthy grain bill. Some earthy funkiness here too but not to the extent of the nose.

Mouthfeel - well carbonated drying finish, a good example of the style.

Overall - quite enjoyable, but given the steep price tag, not quite worth a repeat purchase.
Jul 25, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sharkrescue
Reviewed by Sharkrescue from Michigan

2.43/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
Farmhouse Ale is not the right name. This beer is a sour, the smell is sour as well, with a dry sour finish. It is light though. The taste is funky.
I cannot recommend this beer.
Dec 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.98 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

3.14/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
It's among the worst of initial pours to empty the contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. The amount of stark white foam is nothing less than ludicrous. It need be mentioned how unattractive it is. The great white mass recedes rather quickly, irregularly and leaves sparse lacing inside the vessel. There's an aroma of musky wet clothes to accompany the visual. That includes an orange tinted amber that's full colored, dull and opaque. The oak barrel tannins aren't ridiculously out of control within the taste, but they comprise most of it. There's very little distinction of malt, nor even hops. Maybe there's a little presence of yeast, but that's not why most drinkers love beer. This would only be tolerable if there was an accompanying buzz, but with a 4.5% ABV, that's not going to happen. Overall, this is only for the few beer drinkers that don't want malt, nor hops to taste. Instead, yeastiness and oak tannins give them satisfaction. The best that can be said about this is the mouthfeel is pleasantly wet. This may work a little better on a hot summery day. In fairness, the last few gulps from the vessel displayed some stratified glass lacing. Too little, too late for this appraisal.
Sep 29, 2023
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

4.24/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: Pours a medium orange with a nice, sudsy head that builds up and settles to a lid, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Belgian yeast, light citrus notes, wet hay, leather, oak wood, barnyard funk, bready notes, and Brettanomyces
Taste: Starts off with a tart lemon-led citrus note that unfolds and is quickly joined by hay and leather. Brett picks up steam in the middle and bread is ever-present underneath the funky layers before sharp citrus and tartness close it out
Mouthfeel: Full but light, medium-high carbonation, and dry on the finish
Overall: This is a delicious and complex beer. I’ve seen these folks’ offerings for years and sadly, never tried one until now – which is a damn shame – as this is some tasty stuff. Nice Belgian yeast and Brett complexities throughout including the ubiquitous leather, hay, and tartness I find often in beers with Brett and subtly nuanced throughout. Recommended
Sep 24, 2023
Photo of CRombes
Rated by CRombes

2.5/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Seems like it’s going to be a really mild sour, but then immediately backs off and becomes a bit more bitter. After taste of water.
Sep 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.53 by StoutSnob40 from California

Aug 14, 2023
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
(16 oz can, pkgd 13/05/23?, oak aged * can conditioned; purchased single off shelf... decanted into a teku)

L: hazy, pale amber liquid; rather tight, slow-fading foam... thin collar keeps; random splotches of lace

S: oxidized Belgian blonde ale?!... musty tapestry... fruited, undercooked pancake... lovely, yet mellow perfumy overtones; just mellow overall, though it does significantly open up over time

T: delicately bitey up front, finish and aftertaste going through an unfolding of subtle nuances, apple skin and/or apple cake being most imagined... second sip on, arguably a near sour, wheaty foundation it seems; sourdough (starter) like... aftertaste gets vaguely (apple) juicy with burgeoning (crumb-y) bready tones... the oak (now that I'm looking for it) is rather prominent in the tannic, mid/front-palate arc

F: dry dry aft, near a parching vacuum mid-palate; juicy acids tingling the front and sides of the mouth... marginally silky swell up front, but the tannins stun the tongue, obscuring curvature... tart(?)-lip-smacky, and stealthly luscious, just electrifiably, mentholistically enlivening the palate

O: I can only remember having this just on draft about 10 years ago; so little memory or frame of reference... has more cidery than vinous overtones... gets remarkably better with each sip... still not terribly distinct, but quite impactful (2161)
Jul 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.14 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Jul 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.55 by lsudduth from Ohio

Jun 04, 2023
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Fattey Beer Company in Rochester, NY.

This one pours a light orange-ish color, with a small white head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like pear skin, orange, lemon, floral funk, clove, and grassiness.

This is absolutely a classic saison, and it’s a shame this is my first time trying it. It’s lightly funky and only light sour, with grassiness, clove-y and floral funk, lemon peel, orange peel, and pear/apple skin.

This is light bodied, crisp, mostly clean, and quite drinkable.

This is a classic new world vs old world saison, sitting squarely in both camps pretty comfortably.
May 18, 2023
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at The Brass Tap, Cedar Falls, IA. Served in a snifter.
Clear amber colored body, with a decent white head that left some nice lacing as it receded. A pleasant floral, almost perfume-y note predominates on the nose and palate, alongside light malt and yeast funk. Excellent carbonation, very dry, with lots of bitterness lingering on the finish. This is as easy drinking as a dry white wine. Highly recommended.
May 05, 2023
Photo of dano213
Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can purchased from the fridge as part of a 4-pack for $11.99. The canned on date is a bit hard to read; I think it says PKGD 01/31/23, which would mean that this is almost 3 months old.

Look: Pours a beautiful golden color, essentially clear. Small carbonation bubbles rising up the glass from all over, like keys playing on a piano. Very thin white layer of head along the surface of the beer. The beer became pretty cloudy after pouring the sediment.

Smell: It smells glorious! Tartness, spiciness, floral hops, and a bit of funk. I get bright notes of fruity, fresh apples, lively acidity, along with bubble gum and clove. Oak tannins.

Taste: Very tasty and refreshing. Up front, it has a lot of acidity and fruity complexity. Very nice lemony and peppery flavors. The finish is very dry, with mild to moderate bitterness from the hops with some pithy and peppery notes. At first, I thought that the finish was a bit short but it's actually long; my palate just needed to acclimate after the first sip. The sediment may have also helped with the flavor as it seems to round it out a bit.

Feel: It's light to medium bodied. It tastes like a "lighter" beer, at least compared to Oro. It's also not fair to compare an 8% ABV beer with a 4.5% ABV beer.

Overall: I like this, but it doesn't impress me as much as Oro did. That being said, I should be comparing this beer to other lower ABV Saisons. I think that it is good - tasty and refreshing - however, I also think that it has the potential to bring more flavor. I have had some other low and lower ABV Saisons that I have liked more. As an aside, I will really enjoy the rest of these cans especially as the weather warms up this Spring and Summer.

BAM BIERE
NAMED AFTER BAM, THE TENACIOUS BREWERY DOG.
FARMHOUSE ALE
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 24
TIME IN OAK: 2 Months
HOPS: Cascade & Crystal
GRAINS: Pilsner Malt, Pale Malt, Wheat Malt, Black Malt, Flaked Barley, & Crystal 75
CALORIES: 127 calories per 12 oz.

Bam Bière is a delicious, low-calorie, farmhouse ale named for our Jack Russell, who struck by a car, bounced back in fine tenacious Jack Russell fashion. This farmhouse ale is brewed for those of us who knocked down, have picked up, dusted off, and carried on undaunted. Golden, naturally cloudy, can conditioned, and dry-hopped for a tasty and tart balance of spicy malts, hops, and yeast.
Apr 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by BradtheGreat7 from Ohio

Feb 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.1 by shreead from Michigan

Jan 31, 2023
Photo of Navanation
Reviewed by Navanation from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Hazy golden yellow straw poured from a 16oz can. Half inch white head. Head dissipate quickly leaving no lacing. Consistent carbonation. Clean, dry finish. Granny Smith apples, pepper, citrus.
Dec 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.09 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Dec 02, 2022
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Champagne gold with steady pitted white head; white grape, wet hay, lemon peel, + a touch of funk on the nose; biscuit, yellow plum, slight canary melon, white pepper, citrus, some barn, grass; bitter, tart, clean, light-med.

4 4 4 3.75 4.25

Cascade

Definitely the farm end of saison; some funk, some green apple piquant, and earthy yeast presence.
While it’s dry, it’s also surprisingly chewy. That combined with some fast-fleeing carb makes this drink heavier + less refreshing than it should. And though there’s DH citrus hints, I’m not sure where the barrel is.
Great to have this in cans these days and at this ABV I can see it as a go-to. Idiosyncratic, to be sure, and well-integrated for what it is.

It just seems like a beer you need to love first before you always want to reach for it.
Nov 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.93 by 1mrbeer from Ohio

Oct 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.92 by Taenim from Maine

Sep 16, 2022
Bam Bière from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 1519 ratings