Plans
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

 

At the Ann Arbor brewpub in a chalice glass, clear yellow beer, white foam, smells like citrusy hops, grapefruit and a hint of cherries. Tastes a bit too dry hopped for the body leading to an overpowering hop presence, this ruins the taste for me. Mouthfeel is spot on, tart and dry. Overall not as good as Best Lei'd or Best Lei'd Plans, the other beer that are part of the 3 part series.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 12/13/2017. Slight gusher opener. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tart grapefruit, cherry, fruit skin, lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, red/green apple, white wine, peppercorn, pine, oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, fruit, oak barrel, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart grapefruit, cherry, fruit skin, lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, red/green apple, white wine, peppercorn, pine, oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. ight-moderate peppery yeast spiciness; pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and light fruit/Brett tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart grapefruit, cherry, fruit skin, lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, red/green apple, white wine, peppercorn, pine, oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, cracker, white bread, leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, fruit, oak barrel, and moderate pale 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 bready/grainy/sticky/tannic, fairly crisp, and lightly acidic/tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.9%. Overall this is an excellent fruited wild saison. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, fruit, oak barrel, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the moderately bitter/spicy/tannic/drying finish. Amarillo, Cascade, & Citra hops. Great balance of juicy/dank/earthy hops/fruit with classic JP house funky Saison/Brett complexity; nice oak presence and pale malt backbone. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.