Bière De Mars - Grand Reserve
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Bière De Mars - Grand ReserveBière De Mars - Grand Reserve
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From:
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Bière de Garde
ABV:
7%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.34 | pDev: 7.6%
Reviews:
103
Ratings:
221
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 27, 2019
Added:
Jun 22, 2006
Wants:
  306
Gots:
  45
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SaucyA:
Photo of SaucyA
Reviewed by SaucyA from Michigan

4.17/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: 12 oz. Gold label that states it was aged in oak for 27 months. I purchased it at the brewery on March 21, 2008.

A - Deeep amber, with a slight film of head. Hardly any carbonation. Quite clear, and the speed at which the bubbles reach the surface is as bizarre as everything else about it. They look like they're moving through syrup. Interesting, to say the least.

S - Funk. If there is a beer that embodies funk, it's this. Smell is of brett, lacto, white wine vinegar, yeast, oak, and the usual JP wonderfullness. Seriously, this is a funky-ass beer.

T - Completely and utterly complex. Not necessarily a typical biere de garde, but a true farmhouse bretty wallop. The tartness in this brew is seriously one to behold. Runs the gamut from barnyard, nail-polish remover, lemons, oak, bad wine, sour fruits, yeast, barrel... it's really bizarre, but I just can't stop drinking it. Seriously, I hate it and love it in the same drink. Minutes after I have a sip, I lick my lips and it feels like they've been soaked in lemon juice.

M - Barely carbonated, yet it works. Medium bodied if not a little thick.

D - As insanely tart as it is, it makes me wanna drink more and more. By far the sourest beer I've ran across, yet it has the same effect as a giant hop bomb. You can't help but drink more because you NEED it.

Notes: I almost killed myself and my girlfriend obtaining this beer. Was it worth my life? Not really, but it's still a great beer.

Ron's wife said it was the sourest beer they've ever produced and I think I'm inclined to agree with them. If you like your sour tastebuds tickled, this has your name written all over it... I'm definitely glad I have a few more of these.
Jun 22, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of Falcon91Wolvrn03
Reviewed by Falcon91Wolvrn03 from California

4.36/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
"Blend 1 - Bottled 2-27-2013"
Opened on 12-26-2019

This beer has aged nicely.

Look – Pours a clear very dark brown with a little red and a nice thick foamy head.

Smell – A bit of tart fruitiness, though I struggle to identify the fruit. Grapes? It's a bit vinous. Maybe cherries? Also some oak and barnyard funk.

Taste – Not as sour as I expected; very easy drinking. Oak, light bourbon, and a lightly fruity funk (maybe grape).

Feel – Has a very nice light carbonation, goes down easy.

Overall – I like this. This gives the Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien (another Biere de Garde) a run for its money. I'd like to try these side by side.
Dec 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.61 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Feb 07, 2018
Photo of wethorseblanket
Reviewed by wethorseblanket from California

3.97/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
"Rediscovered" in the cellar. Bottled 2-19-10. Batch 346/348. Finally time to open this from a very long time ago trade.

Poured from a 330ml stubby bottle a dirty amberish copper with nearly 200 white bubbles around the rim and leaving a few spots of lace. Aroma is oak tannins, dark fruit skins, mild funk/barnyard, earthy and acetic. Flavor is mellow and mildly tart, oak corked wood, some oxidation as would be expected but not as much as I thought it might be. Semi-medium body and very light carbonation. Finishes tart and faintly fruity and tannic. Perhaps a shadow of its former self, but still very enjoyable.
Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by Gotti311 from Wisconsin

Sep 21, 2016
Photo of Kurmaraja
Rated by Kurmaraja from California

3.52/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Sadly, past its prime by the time I tried. This was bottled 3-4-2013.
May 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.3 by Dbrulet from Iowa

May 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.34 by warnerry from Michigan

Feb 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.99 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.07 by mig100 from Texas

Nov 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by djgustafson from North Carolina

Oct 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by michaeljstraub from Georgia

Sep 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by halo3one from Georgia

Sep 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by Arsenal0328 from Missouri

Sep 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by aedgett12 from Massachusetts

Sep 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by LAp from Ohio

Sep 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.53 by polishkaz from Connecticut

Aug 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by YalovaIA from Iowa

Jul 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.7 by dgeebs07 from New York

Jul 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Jun 19, 2015
Bière De Mars - Grand Reserve from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 221 ratings