Saison S
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

im being too harsh on this, its way better than i am about to make it sound, but it is my first beer after a significant break from beer, and for the level of anticipation, it was somewhat of a letdown for me. a little sourer than i thought it might be, somehow not quite as mature as i am used to from these guys, despite a nice oak profile, and somewhat different in terms of the fermentation profile than the usual jolly pumpkin mix of funk and bacterial elements that i could pick out of a crowd of a million beers like this. the multigrain mash is evident both in the body and the cereal complexity of the base, and thats my favorite part of it. its interesting there and different, but the aroma is funny, it has a little sweaty sort of stink to it, a weird almost amateurish thing i have never experience in a jolly pumpkin beer before, but maybe i am more sensitive to it now given the hiatus and all. lots of brett, but light sweat and cheese too, more in nose than flavor, but slightly in the finish too, some mild oxidation and even an egg element to the funk, but lots of rye spice, new oak, and white wine notes too, subtle apricot, its good, but its not that good. its also weirdly flat on the pour for these guys, and less than fully alive in feel. somewhat middling for jolly pumpkin overall, cool beer, but well below my very high expectations given the brewer and the circumstances...

edit: 2017 edition now two years old is tasting about the same, not quite as funky and bright as their best beers, a little tartness and some citrus to this, but pretty similar to what it was like when it was fresher, less evolution over time than i have known in some of their other beers. tasty but not their best as far as i am concerned.

edit: another year or so on and this continues to be relatively static, unexpectedly so, a little cereal dust character and slight oxidation and fade too, this may have its best days behind it now. tasty, i love the fermentation profile here, always do from these guys, but this lacks the wow factor so many of their beers have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 10/12/2017. Slight gusher upon opening. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, green apple, white wine, citrus peel, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, floral, grass, wheat, and cracker; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, oak barrel, earthy hops, and light-moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, green apple, white wine, citrus peel, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, floral, grass, wheat, and cracker; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast/oak tannin spiciness, herbal/grassy bitterness, and light lactic tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, green apple, white wine, citrus peel, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, light vanilla/funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, oak barrel, earthy hops, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance; and zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and light tartness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately grainy/sticky, and lightly silky/acidic/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.8%. Overall this is an outstanding wild saison! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, oak barrel, earthy hops, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and pretty refreshing to drink with the modestly spicy/drying finish. Awesome well rounded classic JP fruity/funky Brett complexity and oak barrel presence, with a solid pale/wheat malt backbone. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example. They rarely make a beer I don't love.