Best Lei’d
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

 

 

 

 

 

 

750 ML bottle
Served in a Jolly Pumpkin snifter

It gushed a little upon opening. It was more of a slow ooze of foam that was very managable to get poured into my glass without a mess. Once in the glass it was a golden, hazy liquid with several inches of beige head that leaves

The first thing I smell is that Jolly Pumpkin distinctive funk. The funk dominates the smell until it warms a bit. Then the citrus begins to infiltrate the smell. The grapefruit is distinguishable.

The taste started out pretty funky as well. As it warmed the grapefruit came to the front, building with each sip. The finish became full of grapefruit along with grapefruit bitterness. The bitterness was not over the top though. It was just the right amount.

Effervescent mouthfeel with a clean, dry finish

I enjoy pretty much all of JPs beers. This one is not up there with their elite beers, but it is a fine farmhouse ale that hits the spot on a hot, muggy, Michigan football night. Go Blue!

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 12/13/2017. Bit of a gusher opener. Pours moderately hazy/cloudy golden amber color with a 2 finger dense and rocky white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of lightly tart grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/rind, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red/green apple, mango, melon, guava, berries, white wine, oak, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus/tropical/earthy hops, grapefruit, oak barrel, and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/rind, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red/green apple, mango, melon, guava, berries, white wine, oak, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; peppery yeast/oak tannin spiciness; and light Brett/fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/rind, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red/green apple, mango, melon, guava, berries, white wine, oak, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light leather/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus/tropical/earthy hops, grapefruit, oak barrel, and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and minimal hop/fruit astringency after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy, sticky/resinous/rindy/tannic, and lightly acidic/tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.9%. Overall this is an awesome fruited wild saison. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus/tropical/earthy hops, grapefruit, oak barrel, and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the moderately bitter/spicy/tannic/drying finish. Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, Hallertaur Blanc, & Centennial hops. Great balance of juicy/dank/earthy hops/fruit with classic JP house funky Saison/Brett complexity; nice oak presence and pale/wheat malt backbone. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.

At the brew pub in Ann Arbor, chalice glass, hazy yellow, white foam. Smell of grapefruit with a nice pith flavor and tart dry mouthfeel, Part of a project with Plans and Best Lei'd Plans, but this is the best part.